College Rankings and College Selection

What do college rankings have to do with it anyway?

It is about this time of the year when colleges are ranked and students and their families sit up and take notice once again of the highest ranked schools in the nation. The comparisons are based on numbers reported by the colleges which tell just part of the story. As you know, choosing a college is lot more than just numbers and statistics.

Take a moment this year to forget about rankings and look at colleges in terms of what is best fit for the student. That best fit college will be THE best college for the student regardless of any ranking by popular press.

How do you begin to choose a college?

To begin, students should take the time to contact schools of interest by writing them a letter to ask for more information about the college. Not only will you be able to find out more about a college, the college will also notice you! Colleges love when students show interest in their college.

Now begin some real research into the colleges that interest the student the most based on their needs and personality. Here is where some of the numbers colleges provide are quite useful. The four and six year graduation rates are very important numbers. The graduation rates indicate the percentage of students who graduate in four and in six years. Those schools with higher four year graduation rates are more apt to get your student out of college in four years. Another number that is quite important is how much merit-based aid the school averages per student or how much of the financial aid package consists of merit-based aid. Review the strength of the academic programs at each school and research other aspects of campus that are important to the student such as location, groups and associations, and class size.

Don’t buy before you try!

When you have a list of schools narrowed down, go to visit the campus. Go on the campus tour but also set up appointments with Admissions, Financial Aid, Professors, and perhaps with current students. During your visit specify why you want to attend that college and come with a prepared list of questions. Anytime you visit a campus, be sure to notify the Admissions staff. They like to keep track of interested students and it could make a difference at admissions time.

Time to decide.

Choose carefully because college is a major investment in many ways. With all investments, you expect a big return, so choose a college which will yield the biggest returns in experiences, job placement, and career success. Base decisions on the best interest of the student and their career goals, not where their friends are attending or which college is closest to home. At this point, it may be time to go back and visit the campus again to make sure there is a great fit. When all is said and done, the college you select will be the best college for you.

Brad Asbury
Access College Foundation
basburycsa@yahoo.com