What criteria do young adults ages 17-25 consider when deciding which undergraduate college or university they will attend. Note that the list is not in priority order since every student is unique.
A. Student Life: dorms, parties, Greek organizations, access to fun on-campus activities, etc.
B. Sports teams: recruited as an intercollegiate athlete or enthusiastic fan.
C. Academic reputation—local, state, national, international.
D. Cost, scholarships, grants and other financial aid: will the student or parents be responsible for paying the balance after all financial aid has been allotted?
E. Location—region, state, city, proximity to home, weather, proximity to a city’s or region’s fun activities, access to an airport or train station.
F. Where are your closest friends planning to attend?
G. Demographics: most people are the same as you—stay in your comfort zone; most people are different from you—expand your comfort zone; a mixture of same and different as much as possible?
H. Where did parents or older siblings attend college? Do you want to follow them or chart your own course?
I. Desire to be an officer by attending a service academy: US Naval Academy (Navy and Marine Corps), US Military Academy—West Point (Army), US Air Force Academy (Air Force and Space Force), US Coast Guard Academy, and US Merchant Marine Academy.
J. Desire to be a military officer by attending a civilian university then enrolling in ROTC (Army), NROTC (Navy and Marine Corps), or AFROTC (Air Force and Space Force).
K. Unique academic programs—architecture, design, fashion, pre-med, aviation, politics, etc.
L. Performing arts: Marching band, dance, choir, etc.
M. Entrance requirements: High school GPA, ACT/SAT, etc.
N. Networking opportunities.
O. Academic credit portability: Probability that credits will transfer to another university.
Regardless of the criteria you use, please complete our Real College Plan Career Field Interest Survey as soon as possible.
Herb