College Bound » Questions on Selecting a College

Questions on Selecting a College

  1. What constitutes a typical freshman program of study at this college?
  2. Are courses readily available to the students? 
  3. Are freshmen classes taught by regular faculty or graduate students?
  4. What is the average class size?
  5. When will I declare a major and can I change my mind?
  6. Will I need my own computer and do I purchase it now or at college?
  7. Is the college on semesters or quarters?
  8. What kind of housing is available for freshmen?
  9. How are roommates chosen?
  10. What is the faculty academic curriculum advising program like? Do professors maintain office hours? How is tutoring handled?
  11. Is there counseling available for career planning and for personal concerns?
  12. What technology/technical support is available for students?
  13. What are the college’s strongest academic departments and majors?
  14. What is the average percent of freshmen returning as sophomores?
  15. What percent of entering freshmen typically graduate in four years?
  16. Do graduates usually find employment immediately following graduation?
  17. Is campus security an issue? Feel free to ask for mandatory statistical data.
  18. What kinds of extracurricular activities are available?
  19. Is there a campus infirmary with health services available?
  20. What cultural opportunities exist on and off campus?
  21. Are scholarships, work-study, and grants available? How does one apply?
Selecting a College or University
How to Choose the right college for you
1. Assess your personality to see where you might fit into a career. You can take a personality quiz on the riseupms.com website.
2. Engage in career assessments. You can find these at the following sites:
www.careercolleges.com/career-assessment-test
www.assessment.com
www.123test.com/career-test
• The following Colleges and Universities haveCareer Centers: Delta State, MSU, Mississippi University for Women, Ole Miss, Southern, Belhaven, Blue Mountain, Millsaps, and Mississippi College.
3. Research different Occupations
www.careerinfonet.org
• The Occupational Outlook Handbook: www.bls.gov/oco
4. Get actively involved in areas you are most interested in pursuing as a career.
• Job Shadowing
• Volunteering
• Internships
• Part-time Jobs
5. Find a Degree Program.
6. Apply to the College/University you have chosen.

To-Do List for College Visits:

• Take an official campus tour and an unofficial tour as well.
• If possible, visit academic buildings and sit in on some classes.
• Eat in the cafeteria.
• Visit dorm rooms not on the official tour.
• Ask students why they chose the college.
• Ask students what they like most and least about the college.
• Answer the questions above about selecting a college prior to the visit by catalog, telephone, and online or conclude answers while on the actual