The first big decision in many people’s adult lives is what to do after high school, and the options seem endless. For most people, the answer is college, but what college should you attend? With post-secondary education costing around $40,000 total on average, the pressure to make the right decision is massive. So what should you be looking for in a college, and what steps should you be taking right now to ensure the best path forward? Whether you’re a Senior who feels lost in the world of college applications, visits, scholarships, financial aid, and the difference between In-State and Out-of-State, a Junior just starting the process and making a list, or just looking for a few tips to get ahead, this article should be able to help you along your journey.
Another option that has been gaining more popularity now than ever is going into Trades. With the cost of college soaring, and the demand for degrees faltering, many people are turning to Trade Schools, which offer a more specialized education for the workforce at a lower cost and in less time. Trade programs prepare you for more hands-on work, like welding, plumbing, or electrical. These jobs are in demand and well-paying, which creates a smoother transition once graduated, compared to college. This makes trades a great alternative to college if you prefer hands-on work rather than lectures and studying.
The trade-off, however, is the lack of flexibility that comes with a trade education compared to a college degree. Someone educated in welding will have fewer diverse career opportunities than someone with an Engineering degree.
But you’ve decided you want to go to college. The next step, what major to choose. This comes down to personal preference and what you are good at in high school. Generally, you want to choose a degree that has stable job prospects. Majors that focus on the arts, for example, tend to have lower earning potential, so only focus on them if you have a true love and talent for the subject. If you are prioritizing income, your best bet is to choose a major that has applications in many different fields. Something like Business and Social Science is so popular because of how relevant they are in a multitude of different fields.
So you’ve chosen your major and you know what you want to research. But where do you research it? The next step is the most fun and most complicated of all the steps. Choosing which colleges to apply to and which to attend. The three biggest things to consider are the cost, campus/experience, and closeness to family. The combination of these depends on your own personal preferences.
There are also four general types of colleges, which are Community Colleges, Small Colleges, Medium Colleges, and Large Universities. Each experience has its own benefits and drawbacks. The differences are that larger schools tend to have more student organizations and activities, but also have larger class sizes and tend to cost a little more.
Large Universities are what many people think of when they hear about college. Think UMD or Virginia Tech. Campuses the size of towns with tens of thousands of students. Lectures given in rooms the size of a high school auditorium. Multi-million dollar sports programs and stadiums that fit over 50,000 people. The benefits of this experience are the sheer number of options you have to customize your experience. Hundreds and hundreds of different clubs for every interest, and the opportunities to make friends and build connections are endless. But the large crowds aren’t for everyone, and some people thrive under more direct interaction with professors.
One step down is a medium-sized college. Salisbury, for example, is considered a medium-sized school with around 7,000 full-time students. While still offering many different clubs and group organizations, the class sizes become much smaller. Around 25 students per professor in the case of Salisbury.
Small colleges are generally very specialized in a specific area of study. Saint Mary’s College of Maryland, for example, is focused on Liberal Arts, though there are other programs. Schools like this tend to be the most expensive, contrary to what you might expect, due to less public funding.
The last option is a Community College. Though it’s not the most flashy option and has a bad perception, Community College does have some major benefits. It’s the cheapest option while also usually being the closest to home. This makes it a great starting ground, even if you plan on transferring later on. Getting the early classes done at a community college can save you thousands.
Try to imagine where you would be the most successful. Are you someone who loves socializing and needs a large school to fully spread your wings? Are you more comfortable in a place where you know everyone and can have conversations with your teacher? Do you want to stay close to home or get as far away as possible? So pick out a few campuses you’re interested in and start planning your visits. Every school has a system set up to allow you to tour the campus. Many smaller schools have open house days. Larger schools have constant tours you can sign up for. Compare different classrooms and meet the professors. And once you’ve narrowed down your choices, you can start applying.
This is the most confusing and stressful part of the process. The general rule is to have three different types of schools you’re applying to. A reach school with around a ~40% or less acceptance rate that you’re unlikely to get into. A target school that you can likely get into. And a safety school, which you are guaranteed to get into. Make sure to choose schools that you would be happy attending. It’s important to say that this is a general framework, not a rule. If you have multiple schools that you wish to apply to, and you have the money, do it. Having options is better than not. But the worst thing that can happen is you get rejected from all the schools you applied to, and all your work goes to nothing. This model ensures you will have a place to attend, while also giving yourself the chance for a lower acceptance rate school.
The next detail is Early Action (EA) and Early Decision (ED) vs Regular Decision. EA and ED applications open earlier and get preference over Regular Decision. The difference between EA and ED is that Early Decision is binding. If you submit an Early Decision and are accepted, you must attend that school. So if you have a single favorite school, or one that stands out, make use of the Early Decision to improve your chances. Early action isn’t binding, and you can use it in multiple schools.
Some schools also have Rolling Admissions. This means applications are reviewed as they come in. This means there is an admission window to get your application in, ending when capacity is reached. This gives priority to earlier applicants.
The application itself can be difficult. The biggest things you need to be on top of are Essays and Letters of Recommendation, as these are the most time-consuming parts of the application. Colleges give prompts for essays. Whether those prompts change on a yearly basis depends on the school. This means you can end up writing multiple essays for different schools. Letters of recommendation depend on good relationships with teachers. And try to be understanding. Teachers can end up writing dozens of letters over a school year. This also means you want to be early, so talk to your teachers as soon as possible.
College is known for being expensive. If your parents aren’t millionaires, you need a plan to pay for it. Different colleges have different costs; the biggest difference is In-State vs Out-of-State tuition. Out of State can cost over twice as much as in-state. The rules for In-State are based on one’s domicile. Meaning you are only eligible for In-State tuition for the state you actively live in. Having grandparents or other family in a different state does not make you eligible for In-state tuition.
The best way to afford college is through financial aid programs and scholarships.
Cost. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, is the form that must be filled out in order to apply for any financial aid from the government. Doing so determines your eligibility for different grants and loan programs.
Scholarships are a massive way to improve your financial situation during and after college. Lists of scholarships can be found through your high school career center, the library, and different public institutions. There is no harm in applying for multiple scholarships. Common advice is to apply for one a week. Different scholarships have different requirements. But you can start applying as early as your Junior year.
Hopefully, this article helped you gain a better understanding of the general college admissions process. If you have any more specific questions, don’t hesitate to talk to your high school counselor. Here at LHS, Ms. Wilson in the Career Center is the best person to talk to about your post-high school plan, even if you aren’t planning on attending college.
Helpful links:
Ideal College Application Timeline
