THE COLLEGE SEARCH: CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLEGE
“Remember that the source of happiness is within ourselves. Nothing outside can give it, even if you make your circumstances ideal. You will be happy if you will it.” Janet Erskine Stuart, RSCJ When generating an initial list of colleges, self-awareness is key. As you examine different options through the exploration process, you will also need to constantly analyze your own needs, interests and values in order to make the most truly thoughtful decisions. It is important to take personal considerations into account: your interests and career plans, along with your academic aptitude, strengths, and weaknesses. There are over 3,600 four-year institutions of higher learning in the United States that offer an excellent academic program. Look for a college that will challenge you, but will also offer you a chance to be satisfied and successful. Each student and her family should embrace this journey as a personal, individualistic process. No two pathways, approaches, or decisions are the same. The following are factors that may help you put a list together:
Student Body • • •
Size of a school It is a good idea to visit both large and small campuses to see what size environment feels most comfortable to you. In very general terms, a small school is considered to be one with 2,500 or fewer students, medium is generally one that has approximately 2,500-10,000 students, and a college is considered large when it has a student enrollment of over 10,000.
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