Selecting a college might seem like one of the hardest decisions you will ever make and in a certain sense, it definitely is. What is strange, however, is that students tend to devote weeks and even months of their lives considering all sorts of statistics, rankings, and factors related to campus beauty, ignoring those that would impact their life on campus in terms of actual happiness, academic success, career opportunities, etc.
The thing is, all of these things do not matter much if the person is unhappy living at his or her campus, does not have enough opportunities for development in the desired sphere of activity, or feels uncomfortable due to social reasons.
The National Survey of Student Engagement found that students who actively engage in educationally purposeful activities tend to report stronger academic development and overall satisfaction with their college experience (“Engagement Insights: Survey Findings on the Quality of Undergraduate Education”). However, most students recognize this fact only later when it is already too late.
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Get notified of top trending articles like this one every week! (we won't spam you)Research Opportunities Matter More Than Most Seniors Realize
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Many students consider research labs to be relevant only to future scientists, but that is truly an out-of-date opinion. Nowadays, there are research opportunities in such spheres as psychology, business, engineering, political science, environment studies, media, and even the humanities.
Engaging in research provides students with mentorship, better resumes, networking opportunities, and sometimes even internship and graduate program options. The thing is that most universities offer "research opportunities" to all applicants, however, few of them provide them to undergraduate students.
Here come in handy questions regarding research opportunities: Are freshmen permitted to engage in research programs? Are the research jobs paid or unpaid? Do professors usually mentor undergraduates or prefer their graduate students?
It is crucial for students to understand that there are some colleges that pay attention to undergraduate students' needs. For example, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University offer undergraduate research programs because they realize their importance. The Council on Undergraduate Research claims that “undergraduate researchers have a greater tendency to stay in their major and continue their education” ("Council on Undergraduate Research Findings").
The other important thing that students often overlook is the access to opportunities based on their location. The universities located in large metropolitan areas often have associations with the hospitals, media houses, startups, or non-governmental organizations in close proximity. For instance, students at universities in NYC would probably have greater exposure to internship opportunities in finance, media, or even the fashion industry compared to students attending university in a smaller city.
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Dorm Life, Meal Plans, and Campus Culture Can Make or Break Your Experience
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Students fail to realize how significantly living in a dorm influences their mental well-being and academic success. In the process of selecting a school to attend, students do not simply select an institution; they select where they will live, eat, study, and spend years. Nevertheless, the majority of students neglect researching housing options even after applying and being admitted.
The importance of guaranteed housing should not be overlooked. At some schools, guarantees are made for the first year only, and students struggle to secure apartments at an adequate price in the subsequent years. Some other universities force students to leave the premises after just one year of residence.
Another interesting consideration is meal plans. While students often complain about having to eat "bad cafeteria food," it really does make a difference. In the results from, the Hope Center’s national survey found that many college students struggle with basic needs such as food and housing insecurity (“The Hope Center Student Basic Needs Survey”). It is worth asking incoming seniors about their preferences regarding meal plans and how the food tastes at different campuses. More often than not, Reddit pages will say things the brochure wouldn’t dare to mention.
Finally, there is also campus culture to think about. Even though the school’s website might look amazing, sometimes it just does not work out. Campus cultures can range from very competitive and stressful, to being collaborative and laid-back. It can also be filled with sports, or Greek culture, or just parties everywhere. Colleges that offer club involvement, cultural activities, and opportunities for assuming leadership roles can help with making friends and becoming socially involved. Research in higher education has consistently linked students’ sense of belonging with stronger motivation, academic persistence, and overall well-being (“Improving Sense of Belonging in Biomedical Engineering Students Through Student-Faculty Lunches”).
Internship Access and Career Support Are Often More Important Than Rankings
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One of the best questions that could be asked when researching colleges is: What will be after I graduate? This question needs to be asked since the purpose of your university education should be to create a seamless connection from education into the professional realm. Interestingly, even very good schools lack strong internship connections in some particular spheres, whereas lower-ranked schools might have excellent relations with employers.
The career center is extremely important and much more important than many students realize. Does the school have regular networking activities? Are its alumni involved in mentoring programs for current students? Are internships part of the course?
Schools with well-developed cooperative education programs, such as Northeastern University, offer students a chance to get hands-on experience alongside their studies, giving graduates a significant boost when entering the labor market. Internship experience is widely considered one of the strongest predictors of post-graduation employment success.
On campus employment and internships are also key, particularly if financial assistance is needed. While some colleges employ a lot of students in laboratories, offices, libraries, and research teams, others barely have any positions available. Colleges affiliated with big hospitals, businesses, and cities usually have more off-campus employment opportunities that can help a person gain experience in addition to learning.
Another area where students need to look at is alumni careers. What does it take to become an alumnus after studying in a particular college? LinkedIn is likely to prove the most accurate source when searching for information about alumni of certain institutions. When analyzing the careers of alumni, a student will get much better insight about what studying in a college will lead to in terms of future careers.
Conclusion
Somewhere along the way of the college decision-making process, it’s common to feel pressure from rankings, reputation, and other peoples' views. However, the truth is that the best college isn’t always the one that comes out on top in the rankings. It's the college that gives you opportunities, community, personal development, and the ability to truly flourish.
Research facilities, residence halls, dining options, organizations, internships, campus climate, these factors might not seem like much compared to college rankings at first glance. In reality, however, they often impact the student's everyday life more profoundly than expected. Surprisingly, those students who make the effort to dig into these underrated aspects typically end up with a better choice.
Four years is not a short amount of time. You owe it to yourself to pick the school that not only sounds good on paper but feels right for you in real life.
