How to Choose a College That Suits You

**The media below contains the opinion of an individual student and therefore does not represent or speak to the values of Vestavia Hills High School and Vestavia Hills City Schools**

As a perpetually stressed out junior, deciding between colleges can seem extremely overwhelming. As much as I’ve tried to avoid thinking about college, questions at family gatherings like “Where are you going to college?” or “What are you going to major in” remind me that I have to think about college eventually. So, here’s my tips for choosing a college.

1. Don't stress out over specifics and statistics at first

When trying to figure out where you even think you want to go to college don't focus on the specifics. Try to ignore google’s acceptance rate statistics because they’re not always accurate. Also, try not to get discouraged from applying to a college because their acceptance statistics are low, because ACT scores and GPA are not the only factors that colleges look at on applications.

1. Choose a college based on if they have majors that match your interests

Try to find potential colleges you may be interested in by their programs, levels of education, and majors. If you can’t decide what major you may want to pursue, think about what school subjects or hobbies you enjoy. Then, see if any colleges offer majors that correlate with your interests.

1. Think about geographical location

If you like big cities, then apply to a college in a big city. If you like a more reserved town, apply to a college in a more rural area. Think about whether you want to go to college far away from home or not. Take into account if you want to be close to family or not.

1. Look at colleges' social media pages

Most colleges have social media pages. They also may have different social media pages for their different areas of study. Looking at a school's social media page can give a ton of insight, information, and current student perspective on possible colleges. Looking at a school’s social media page can make you figure out if you’d fit into the college’s environment.

1. Don’t pick a college just because that’s where your friends are going.

Don’t choose a college that you don't really want to go to just because your friends are going there. When most people get to college they don't know anyone else either so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to make new friends.

1. Visit prospective colleges

You’ll never truly know what college you want to go to until you visit. You may be surprised by colleges you previously wrote off, and colleges you were dead set on may not seem so great after a tour. You can also talk to real students about their college experience.

1. Think about the more serious aspects of college last

When you’re first looking at colleges try not to think about things like financial aid, on-campus jobs, deciding on a specific major. These things will stress you out and make the college searching experience even more difficult. Thinking about more serious college aspects like financial aid and scholarships will be easier once you’ve narrowed down your college list.

Finally, stay positive and don’t be pessimistic in your college search. Try to dream big and believe in yourself. Picking a college is stressful but hopefully these tips will lessen your anxiety.