Top 7 Mistakes Students Make When Choosing a College

Last month, we talked about the top mistakes that students make on their college applications. This month, we’ll talk about a more grave issue: the top mistakes students make when choosing a college. This is when the school is not the ideal match for the student.

Here are the mistakes you can make.

You slack off in high school and don’t meet the minimum academic criteria for college. Ensure that you are taking the minimum amount of high school classes to meet college criteria. Having the right grades, good teacher recommendations, and acceptable test scores will give you an edge.

You’re fixated on one school. Believe me, MIT might be the school of your dreams, but it’s not a realistic view for most of us. You need to consider other schools and not get upset if you don’t get in your #1 school. Have a few other colleges lined up and safety schools as well. If you are really adamant about applying to the school of your dreams, you could transfer after a year or so. People do that, but many of them end up being so happy in their current college environments that they never switch.

You do it because your friends are doing it. Sure, we all love our high school friends, but for many of us, it’s time to move on. Don’t participate in a college program that isn’t right for you just because your friends are doing it. Chances are, you’ll make better friends in college.

You don’t seek out the community. College is more than just for yourself. It’s a decision you’ll be making and will be sharing with peers. Speak to college students and see if the school you’re choosing is right for you. At the same time, make sure you understand what you’re in for. You can get a wealth of information by asking the right people. One of my biggest mistakes in college was being unaware that the “unlimited meal plan” would not be as worthwhile as a point system where I could allocate some points to buying brain food for late night studying.

You don’t look into the school. Harvard University may look great on paper, but is the curriculum good for you? What if it doesn’t offer classes that you’re interested in whereas UMass does? Make sure to research the school thoroughly and visit the campuses. Brandeis University is huge and some people like smaller schools like Columbia University where everything is located within a mere few blocks. Consider the academic environment, the course offerings, the population (”I’m looking for a religious school — is it for me?”), the campus, the location, and any other factors. Believe me, they’ll actually matter. It is four years, after all.

You let finances dictate the way. Okay, so a school is $9,900 a year whereas another school that is within your range of consideration is $28,000. That doesn’t mean you should ignore the $9,900 school because it has inferior course offerings. On the other hand, don’t discount the more expensive school because financial aid is available too!

You screw up your college application. Remember, this is it. Your personality is put on the table for the admissions department to review. Don’t mess up. Don’t make mistakes on your college application. Put on your best dress because this is the one chance you have to shine.