Picking a College

[DW]

Man, this is tough. My inbox just started getting crammed with stuff from colleges that want me to apply/come for a visit, all that. One in Minnesota's looking good, but it's pretty far...also got asked to apply to one that Blank (HA2ers will know him) was accepted to...tough decision.

What's the important thing to look for?

[darkphantomime]

First of all, you'll want a public college. Much cheaper and usually better than a private college.

Second of all, you'll need to think about what you're interested in. A college suited to what you want to do is something to look for.

Proximity to home (like in the same state) is usually a plus.

Don't believe the bull**** that schools put out so you'll notice them (IE: "High achieving" "Success", etc)

Do your research on the colleges that look interesting. Sometimes going to a college far away isn't worth it, unless it's a high-rated school. Going to school out of state can also be more expensive (tuition rates higher)

Hope that helps.

[alical]

I'm not exactly sure how the American college system works so if any of this doesn't apply over there, sorry.

I think the first thing you should do is find the course you want to do.
Then search for the colleges/universities that offer that course and have good scores on it/ high employment rates after studying it there etc.
Then out of those ones you should pick the ones you feel best about, depending on what is important to you, i.e. proximity to home, size, area.
Good luck.

[Darth Wyndisis]

If you know what you want to major in, this is a good resource:  http://www.a2zcolleges.com/  It tells you what colleges in which state have which major, among other things.

[DarkZelda]

I'm in the same boat.
I'm a senior this year, and have had tons upon tons of messages about colleges.
I chose (and got accepted) to the local college in my area.
I'm majoring in music, and they have a wonderful marching, symphonic, and jazz bands as well as other ensembles.
Close enough to home yet far enough to live away.
Works for me.
:-)

[Pyrgusfinn]

Same here DZ.  One important thing that you should do before deciding which college you want to go to is visit it.  A friend of mine who graduated last year got accepted to her first choice school, thought she would love it and never visited.  She HATES it.  haha. you don't really get to see what the college is really about unless you get a chance to see it out of brochures and talk to the students there.  You should also try and look for places that are going to be reasonable budget wise.  I'm going to a private school, but they are pretty much giving me a full ride because of grades and scholarships.  You don't want to not apply somewhere because you don't think you can pay for it, but you should try and find something reasonable.

feel free to pm me with questions if you want.   

[DW]

Well, the amount of material to read through has more than doubled since yesterday. Apparently every single college is 'for individuals'.

...

College is going to be full of emos, isn't it?

[Darth Wyndisis]

There aren't too many where I'm at, but I guess it depends on where you go.

[DW]

Got another round of emails...so far I'm up to fourteen. Mostly trying to decide how important a school with drama is to me, and to what degree I want to study acting. There's always the AADA, assuming I audition well enough to get in, and that would devote me almost entirely to acting. I could probably get a career acting if I went through there. There are still other subjects though...hmm. Moving far away wouldn't be that fun either.

[Hi no Seijin]

Do you have any other interests besides acting?

College is going to be full of emos, isn't it?

For the most part, I avoided people.

[darkphantomime]

Acting is a highly competitive field. I'd advise with something a little more 'concrete', if you know what I mean. That way, you don't starve.

[DW]

I'm good with math, history, physics, literature...well, I have a lot of strengths. I enjoy physics, but honestly I think the jobs that come with that field would bore me. Too much solitude and loneliness. History...wondering what I could do with that field. I like philosophy, but the only philosophy class we have here is at the other high school, and I'm not allowed to take it. *grumble*

Got my PSATs back today. 98th percentile.

[Pale Dim]

Is that good or bad?
You could work on becoming a Historian...That's what I'm gonna do if I don't get successful with acting or art.
But yeah. Something concrete, like JQ said, and it usually has to be something you enjoy. That way, time actually flies when your working, and you know what they say:"Time flies when you're having fun!"

[darkphantomime]

PSAT's are nothing.

Good luck on the SATs though.

If only college were one 100% free joyride.

[Pale Dim]

If that was the case, my Dad wouldn't be taking online courses from the University of Phoenix.

...At least, anymore.