{"id":46167,"date":"2020-06-05T14:53:49","date_gmt":"2020-06-05T18:53:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/?p=46167"},"modified":"2022-03-16T08:24:42","modified_gmt":"2022-03-16T12:24:42","slug":"how-to-choose-a-college-amid-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-a-college-amid-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose a College Amid COVID-19"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re a rising high school senior, summer<\/a> is typically time to start narrowing down your college list. In just a few short months, you\u2019ll be sending in applications!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, choosing where you want to study and live for the next four or five years of your life is never an easy task. And it\u2019s particularly difficult this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With that in mind, we at The University Network (TUN) are trying to make things a bit easier for you. Considering the closures and disruptions caused by COVID-19, we\u2019ve listed nine tips to help you find the school that\u2019s right for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

1. Consider your chances of acceptance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This can be the most discouraging part of the college search, but you shouldn\u2019t waste your time, money, or effort on applying to a school that you don\u2019t have an honest chance of being admitted to. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have any interest in attending a specific college, take a look at that school\u2019s criteria for admissions — things like the average GPA and test scores of students admitted — and ask yourself, \u201cwill the school accept me?,\u201d said Joe Korfmacher<\/a>, a director of counseling at Collegewise<\/a>, the nation\u2019s largest college counseling organization. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you haven\u2019t already, you should categorize the colleges you are most interested in attending in three sections: \u201csafety,\u201d \u201cmatch,\u201d and \u201cstretch.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

List a college as a \u201csafety\u201d school if you exceed its typical criteria for admissions. List a college as a \u201cmatch\u201d school if your grades and test scores fall close to the 50th percentile of those admitted. And list a college as a \u201cstretch\u201d school if you still fall within the college’s criteria for admissions, but you\u2019re towards the bottom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Consider the location<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When deciding where you want to go to college, you are choosing where you want to live for the next portion of your life. So, it\u2019s very important to consider \u201cgeography,\u201d Korfmacher explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are able to afford an out-of-state college, you should consider which parts of the country you know, which parts you have family in, and where you are comfortable exploring, Korfmacher continued. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe you\u2019re someone who lives in the East Coast but has family in Southern California; you should look at some schools out there,\u201d Korfmacher said. And if you like snow and snowboarding, maybe consider schools in Vermont or Colorado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those who are more adventurous, you can venture abroad if international travel is an option for next year. You can apply to foreign universities directly. Additionally, some U.S. schools, such as Marist University<\/a>, grant students the possibility to study abroad for four years.The government is currently advising all U.S. citizens to avoid international travel, and many colleges and universities have postponed current study abroad programs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While you\u2019re stuck at home due to COVID-19, consider using Google Maps to your advantage. You can virtually hover above the beach next to Flagler University in St. Augustine, Florida, or take a virtual walk through the streets surrounding UCLA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Consider the campus and community environment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Even in your home state, colleges can have drastically different settings and cultures. So, when choosing your college, you should self-reflect and pick the one that is best fit for, specifically, you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Say, for example, you\u2019re from the state of Georgia. If you decide to attend Georgia State University, you will be living in the bustling city of Atlanta, but if you choose Georgia Southern University, you will be living in the small south-eastern town of Statesboro, Georgia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you have the financial means to leave the state, and feel comfortable doing so amid the COVID-19 uncertainties, the same rules apply. You just have many more options. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGoing to NYU, right in the middle of the country\u2019s biggest city, will be a very different experience than if you went to, say, Villanova, which is 20 minutes outside of a really big city in Philadelphia, but it is very much a suburban campus,\u201d said Korfmacher. \u201cAnd those two are very different than, say, Miami University of Ohio, which is in Oxford. You drive an hour through corn fields, and once you get there it is a great, beautiful campus, but your life is on campus there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, it is important to find a college with a culture that matches your interests. For example, if you are a huge fan of college athletics, and enjoy tailgating and going to live sporting events, you may consider attending a school that prioritizes athletics, such as Penn State<\/a>, Ohio State University<\/a> or the University of Alabama<\/a>. Or, if you are very interested in seeing or playing live music, maybe it is best to seek out schools with an impressive orchestra or a local music scene. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And to get a better sense of the type of people who go to the college or university you\u2019re interested in, check out the social media pages of some of the clubs the school offers. If you\u2019re feeling extra ambitious, reach out on social media to students majoring in the subject you\u2019re interested in to ask them about their experience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, it\u2019s important to get creative. If you\u2019re a foodie, for example, look up the menus at local restaurants. Or if you like to collect records, do a Google search to see if there\u2019s a nearby record store. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Try to get a feel for the school culture<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The best way to gauge the culture of a school is by touring it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, in-person tours aren\u2019t really an option for this summer at most colleges and universities. Instead, nearly every school is now offering virtual tours, which are relatively informative and can give you a good feel for what the campus you\u2019re interested in looks like. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you’re going to spend the next four years somewhere, you might want to see it in person, rather than just on a computer screen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take a summer road trip and make pit stops at your choice schools along the way. Chances are you won\u2019t be able to tour campus buildings, but you can still get a feel for the environment and the people by, say, hiking in the surrounding woods or by walking through the city streets. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll want to stay as safe as possible while you do this, though. So, if you\u2019re visiting a school in a rural setting, consider bringing a tent and staying at a local campsite. Or, if you\u2019re going to visit a college or university located in a city, rent an Airbnb so you can sanitize the place yourself without having to run into other people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Consider your academic interests<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You don\u2019t need to go into college with an idea of what you want to major in. Plenty of students start college undecided. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, your academic aspirations should play a role in your decision on where to attend. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are bent on engineering, for example, it\u2019s advisable for you to prioritize colleges that specialize in engineering and technology. In contrast, if you aspire to earn your degree in English, attending a tech school may not be in your best interest. Instead, you might consider a liberal arts school where they specialize in humanities-based education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help you decide, reach out to professors in your desired field at your choice schools to try to set up a time to speak via Zoom or a phone call. They\u2019ll explain the program to you and, hopefully, give you an honest opinion about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And if you anticipate going into college undecided — as many students do — \u201cyou want to be at a school where you have a lot of options that you can explore,\u201d Korfmacher said. Typically, big state schools are a good option for undecided students, as they often offer a wide variety of majors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Consider the school\u2019s size and enrollment <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to choosing your college, you should absolutely consider size. Colleges range in enrollment from less than 200 students<\/a> to upwards of 68,000 students<\/a>. And the number of students a college enrolls can have a huge influence on its academic and social culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Academically, large colleges often offer a wide range of majors. However, students who choose to attend big schools will likely have to spend their first semester or year taking classes in huge lecture halls with hundreds of other students, said Korfmacher. This can make it difficult for students to speak up in class or arrange a time to meet with their professor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At a smaller or medium-sized college, however, students may start their freshman year taking classes with fewer students than they did in high school. So, if you\u2019re someone who learns best in intimate classroom settings where you can actively converse and meet with your professors and peers, a smaller school may be best for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The size of the school will also impact your social life. At large schools, it\u2019s easier to remain relatively anonymous to most people on campus, and just be someone in the crowd. At smaller schools, however, faces start to seem familiar really quickly. By the time you graduate, there is a good chance you\u2019ll know, or at least recognize, most people in your graduating class. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Consider and compare each school\u2019s cost<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cost plays a huge role in deciding where to go to college for many students. But, it shouldn\u2019t affect where you apply to, according to Korfmacher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat I tell students is, from the beginning, when you just start searching don\u2019t look at that price tag, because they are going to be very scary and very large,\u201d said Korfmacher. \u201cYou don\u2019t want to look at that. You want to look and see what school will match you, which will be a good fit.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, once the time comes to make a decision, you should absolutely consider the cost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before May 1, when you have received all of the information about acceptance, financial aid reports, and scholarships, it\u2019s very important to sit down with your parents or guardians and have a conversation about which school will be the best social, academic, and financial fit, said Korfmacher. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two schools could be very similar academically and socially, but one school could end up costing you $30,000 more. If you could see yourself happy at both schools, it is \u201c100 percent advisable\u201d to choose the cheaper option, said Korfmacher. This makes financial sense, particularly if you have to take out student loans to pay for the more expensive school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To get a sense of where you stand in terms of financial aid for the 2020-21 school year, you should fill out your FAFSA<\/a> (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) when FAFSA applications open on October 1, 2020. You should also research the deadlines for state aid and financial aid from the schools you\u2019re interested in, and submit your application as early as possible, to maximize aid from those sources. Schools often award aid on a first-come, first-serve basis. And there are a few documents you\u2019ll want to get together before filling out your FAFSA. A full list of the documents you\u2019ll need is available in TUN\u2019s complete guide to the FAFSA<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Be open in terms of your college options <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are more than 2,000 four-year colleges in the United States, so don\u2019t just focus on the Ivy League universities. While the other schools may not have existed for hundreds of years or be the best at marketing themselves, that doesn\u2019t mean you won\u2019t get a good education. Also, don\u2019t limit yourself to the schools your high school friends are going to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your college experience is what you make of it. Instead of attending a school for its name or history, choose the college that is the best academic, social, and financial fit for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Learn all you can about your choice schools<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You may have learned about certain colleges through your high school counselor, by watching their athletic teams on TV, or through a personal connection. But there are so many different colleges, and your perfect fit may still be out there waiting to be discovered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, it’s easy to learn about new schools through your community\u2019s college fair<\/a>. But with those currently canceled, you\u2019ll have to get creative. Spend some time online researching schools. Start by looking up all of the colleges and universities in your home state, where schools will likely be the cheapest, and venture out from there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If any college or university catches your attention, reach out to your high school\u2019s college counselors to ask if they can provide any further information. Additionally, you shouldn\u2019t be scared to reach out to college admissions offices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAdmissions officers are here to extend to you good information,\u201d said Gil Villanueva, the associate vice president and dean of admission at the University of Richmond. \u201cWe\u2019re here to let you know what we have available. And if we don\u2019t have the answer, we\u2019re happy to refer you. Let\u2019s say you want to learn a little more about financial aid and you have specific questions. Well, guess what, we have a financial aid staff. We can connect you with them and they can answer your questions.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Choosing where you\u2019ll study and live for the next four or five years is an exciting and overwhelming task. And, unfortunately, closures and disruptions caused by COVID-19 have made it all the more difficult. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But rather than dwell on the fact that you can\u2019t go tour the libraries and dormitories of your choice schools, try to make the best out of a bad situation. Use the tips provided in this article to choose the school that\u2019s right for you. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re a rising high school senior, summer is typically time to start narrowing down your college list. In just a few short months, you\u2019ll be sending in applications! Of course, choosing where you want to study and live for the next four or five years of your life is never an easy task. And […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":46190,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[580,662,682,230,229],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ace-college-prep","category-ace-high-school","category-choosing-a-college","category-news","category-lead-stories"],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/university-campus.jpg",830,533,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/university-campus-224x144.jpg",224,144,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/university-campus-300x193.jpg",300,193,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/university-campus.jpg",830,533,false],"large":["https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/university-campus.jpg",830,533,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/university-campus.jpg",830,533,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/university-campus.jpg",830,533,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Jackson Schroeder","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/author\/jackson-schroeder\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"If you\u2019re a rising high school senior, summer is typically time to start narrowing down your college list. In just a few short months, you\u2019ll be sending in applications! Of course, choosing where you want to study and live for the next four or five years of your life is never an easy task. And…","featured_media_src_url":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/university-campus.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46167","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46167"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46167\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/46190"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46167"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46167"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46167"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}