How to Find your College Soul Mate
No one wants to spend 4 years in a bad relationship and college is no different. Before you commit to a four year degree make sure the college is a good match for you. Don’t get into a toxic relationship where you sink tens of thousands of dollars and your “best” years into an institution that doesn’t respect you or support your dreams.
Go on some dates! There are thousands of four-year colleges and universities across the country and even more abroad if you are open to international options. Check out every college that piques your interest. If you can, go see them in person and make sure you vibe. At the very least check out their virtual tours, find influencers from the school and try to get an idea of what daily life would be like.
Know what you want out of a partner school. Are you into quirky liberal arts colleges, traditional outgoing state schools, pious religious institutions, erudite elite universities, or exotic international campuses? You can narrow down your search by reflecting on whether you would feel the most comfortable in a small, medium, or large campus environment. I personally would not have thrived in a large campus with 50,000k students, I was much more at home at a medium sized school.
Find someone who supports your dreams
Find a school that not only offers the degree you are interested in pursuing but has a presence in the industry. Look up their “network” – are the Professor’s at the school renowned in the industry? Does the school publish a lot of research and thought leadership on the subject? Do they have prominent alumni working in the area? You can judge someone by the company they keep so check out your school’s network to know what type of support you will have outside of the classroom. The university I chose had an excellent center dedicated to the area that I was interested in and very respected professors in the field.
Choose carefully
Don’t get caught up in the lush landscaping, ivy covered walls, architectural elegance of a campus, look deeper. Give in to a good social media stalking session and really research the school. How many students attend, what is the student/teacher ratio, what is the average cost, what is the graduation rate, what is the employability rate of recent graduates, etc.
Once you know what you want out of a college then figure out how to attract your partner with an authentic and confident student profile. More on that topic in my next blog post!
Best,
Sophie
Hi I am Sophie Roth,
As a college counselor, recruiter, and consultant over the last decade, I have worked with over 18 Universities all over the world. I have been in admissions roles at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral level. I have worked with Universities in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia, recruiting both domestic and international students. I have experience in public and private Colleges and large and small institutions. With my extensive and diverse experience, I have a unique understanding of the College landscape.
