Choosing a College

Curious asked:


I’ve already been accepted to a collge (Stockton College) but have decided to change majors. But it is already too late to apply to the college i want to go to. (Rowan). So i plan to go to Stockton for the fall semester than transfer to Rowan for the spring. Is that a mistake?

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Shello asked:


Does the Air Force Reserve pay for any college of my choice? I want to join the Air Force reserves and during that time I would like to go to college. So can I go to college while being in reserves? and will they pay for some of it?

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Mary Tran asked:


College degrees once warranted crack-of-dawn classes and armchair chats during professors’ office hours. These days, crisply-rolled diplomas are much closer at hand — mouse-clicks and keystrokes within reach.

For the last five years, record numbers of students have booted up their computers in pursuit of Associate’s, Bachelor’s, even Master’s degrees.

“The options are numerous, all with subtle differences,” says Jerry Slavonia, CEO of CampusExplorer.com, a Web-based college resource. “Evaluating the programs on your own can be challenging.”

Online schools took root in the early 1990s. According to a recent study by the Boston-based consultancy EduVentures, eight percent of post-secondary students — more than 1.5 million people — are currently studying for cyber-degrees.

The University of Phoenix-Online Campus has become the largest post-secondary institution in the U.S.: With more than 117,000 students, it’s twice the size of the second-largest U.S. college.

The biggest benefits afforded by such schools, experts say, are access and flexibility. The college-age population now clocks in at historic proportions, and is expected to grow continually during the next decade; bricks-and-mortar classrooms are crowded. Meanwhile, government education subsidies are shrinking. Online schools let students don the college cap after working hours.

“If we get clear evidence that they can allow you to complete your degree quicker, or get you a comparable salary at the end of it, and if tuition rises continue to outpace inflation,” says Richard Garrett, Senior Research Analyst at EduVentures, “I think people less able to pay for a traditional college experience will see online as a more and more attractive option.”

Forensic science, health care and homeland security are among the many Bachelor’s of Science already sought by online learners. Westwood College Online, in Denver, offers one in fashion merchandising, while the Art Institute of Pittsburgh-Online Division, in Pennsylvania, trains aspiring video game developers.

Though many programs may appear similar on-screen, insiders caution that online schools take a myriad of forms. Factors to consider include a school’s reputation and accreditation. Where are its alumni working? What about job-placement rates? Are traditional services like counseling and tutoring available to online students? The next generation of education focused web sites like CampusExplorer.com are helping students navigate these issues.

Kate Kelleher, Pittsburgh’s Online Division Vice President, says mirroring a traditional college program is essential to her school’s success. “By offering services via social networking sites and the like, we try to provide a holistic experience, versus just plugging into the wall.”



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Joe asked:


I just recently applied for a Naval ROTC scholarship and on the application they ask for five colleges I would like to apply the scholarship too. How good are the chances that I am able to apply the scholarship (if awarded) to my first choice school? Thanks for the help.

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Chris Stout asked:


Choosing a college can be very taxing on your nerves. The decision will flavor the rest of your educational and professional development. Selecting a college is not something to be taken lightly, but making solid judgment calls require clear thinking. You cannot fill your mind with stress and anxiety, or you will impair your ability to make a sound decision.

Just relax. Take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay, there’s really no need to freak out. Here are five tips that’ll help make your college decision a little bit easier.

1. The choice is entirely up to you.

You can’t choose a college t please some one. Your family may want you to go to a certain institution. Your friends may all be requesting your presence at this or that university. Everyone will have more than two-cents worth of advice to give you when you make this decision, but the choice is yours and yours alone. You are in control. You have the first and final say. Consider the opinions of others, then let go of all the advice and just follow your heart.

2. Apply to multiple universities.

You have to keep your options open. This means filling out multiple applications to different types of universities. You should have picks that you know are a sure thing. These safe bets are your fall-back plans. Apply to a few schools where you think you have a chance to be accepted, and apply to at least one or two schools that are an absolute stretch. These reaching options may surprise you. You can’t rule out the impossible when applying to college, so be sure you have enough options to account for every contingency.

3. Explore course offerings outside your major.

You have to match up your college choices with your intended area of study. Rule out any place that doesn’t have your major, but don’t stop there. While you are in school, there are classes outside of your major that you are going to want to take. Want to take one class in video editing? Don’t choose a college based on the availability of one elective, but don’t assume that the courses in your major are all you will ever be interested in. The more you know about the entire course catalog of the college you’re considering, the easier it’ll be to compare and contrast the curriculum of different universities.

4. Talk to people.

Ask as many questions from as many qualified people as possible. Find out what alumni and current students have to say. Consult with counselors, academic advisors and faculty members. Don’t let one person’s opinion make the decision for you. Take the opinions of others and balance them with your own observations.

5. Worst case scenario: you can always transfer!

While nothing can seem as final as your final college selection, the truth of the matter is you always have options, even once you’ve already started taking classes at your new university. If you absolutely hate life at the school you chose, you can always transfer somewhere else after two years. Make sure that you that you’ve put forth every possible effort to make it work before you decide to transfer. If after careful deliberation, you still decide that you want to bail, by all means do so. College is an opportunity, not a sentence. If your school of choice isn’t working out the way you envisioned, change your scenery.

If you chill out, you’ll be in a better position to make an important decision. Just do your homework, keep your options open and explore. In the end, you’ll know what to do. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, but don’t let anyone else decide your future for you.



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Justin asked:


Not to sound like a slacker or anything with this question ( i got a 99 on math a regents, 93 math b regents, 96 chem regents, 96 bio regents, 97 global history regents, 93 spanish regents) but do these numbers actually have any impact whatsoever on the choice a college makes to accpet you or not? It seems to me they don’t really care… but im not totally sure.

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J. C. asked:


People who go to college are either they have decided that they want to get into a career that require certain education or people who have no idea what to do after highschool. Smart successful people would not like to spend the 4 prime years of their life reading textbooks and doing standardized tests and exams, but use it to kickstart their career path, start a business make their moves to make money.

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Chris Stout asked:


Preparing for college can seem pretty overwhelming, but if you take the time to work on your approach, you can easily get into the college of your choice. Here are 10 suggestions that will help you successfully prepare for college.

1. Get excellent grades in high school

High school’s important. Your academic performance during your junior year is especially noteworthy. If you want to make sure that you can go to your number one college choice, then you need to make the grades in high school.

2. Take college prep courses

Getting good grades is important, but having excellent marks in college prep courses is truly the way to go. When you take Advanced Placement (AP) classes, then you can boost your overall GPA. If you get decent grades on your AP tests, then you can avoid taking certain classes (i.e. Writing 101) in college. College Prep courses improve your academic skills and pump up your transcript.

3. Engage in extra-curricular activities

Your college application needs to illustrate more than just academic aptitude. You need to show admissions officers that you are a well-rounded applicant. Consider joining a sports team or school club. Do some volunteer work or take an internship somewhere. Have a part time job, become a photographer or learn a musical instrument. Whatever you do for a hobby, spin it so that you look like the busiest, most productive student in the country.

4. Apply to multiple universities

Be sure you apply to more than one school. Have at least one safe pick, a guaranteed sure thing. Apply to a couple of places that you think will accept you, and choose at least one or two schools that may appear out of your reach. You just never know.

5. Visit the universities that you are considering

Make sure you visit the places you are considering. Check out the layout, the student body and the surrounding city area. If you have a specific geographical requirement (i.e. you want to go to school by the beach or near a major metropolitan city), make sure that the school you’re considering can provide the learning and living atmosphere that you’re looking for.

6. Secure as much free cash as possible

Apply for financial aid early and annually, and make sure that you fill out applications for every grant that you are eligible for. Look for scholarships until you find one that caters to your specific situation. There’s so much money to be claimed out there. Make sure you collect all you can.

7. Consider the career implications of the major you’re considering

While it’s always a good idea to follow your interests, be sure that you’ve explored the career choices that your degree will open up to you. If you have dreams of being a Nobel Prize winning physicist, then Painting is probably not the major that’ll get you there. College is an investment. If you are looking for a particular return on that investment, then you need to know what you can do with the specific degree that you’re considering.

8. Consider attending a community college and transferring to a four-year university

You can save a ton of money by taking your general education requirements at a local community college. Transferring from a city college to a top-notch four-year university is solid strategy (especially if you didn’t get into the school of your choice the first time around).

9. Be true to your own education and career goals

Don’t pick a college because you like the football team, or because your parents attended the same university. Pick a school that suits your own academic and professional goals. College is an intensely personal experience. It’s a time to mature and to be exposed to new things. You are the one who is ultimately in control of you future, both in college and beyond.

10. Relax

Don’t stress yourself out too much. College is important, but it’s only a fraction of your life. Your college experience will mold your future, but it will not set it in stone. Life changes regularly. Don’t think that your entire existence hinges on where you go to get your degree.

If you take the time to prepare, you will notice the results. If you start planning your college preparation today, you will enjoy the options that you have tomorrow.



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DoubleD asked:


I will be attending Cleveland State University this coming fall on a full ride in academics for a major in Accouning. I was just doing some research and discovered that it is a tier-4 college. Is this going to play a huge factor with my success in finding a job out of college? Is it bad to go to a tier-4 school?
My other choice would be the University of Toledo (my hometown) where I also was given a full ride. And if it were not for the full ride I would most definately without a question be taking out loans. (single mother home)

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David N asked:


I have a huge problem. I have the choice of going to Temple University or Rutgers University. I live in New Jersey, so Tuition for Temple obviously costs more than it would be if I went to Rutgers. However, my whole family goes/went to Temple and lives in Philly. I know it’s the perfect college for me. However, my parents won’t let me attend Temple, even though they both met there. So how do I persuade them to let me attend Temple?

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