So you’re three quarters into Junior year. The big question’s been looming over your head and, try as you may, avoidance is no longer an option. College: which one? The answer is ambiguous at best, unattainable in truth. You’ve seen all the websites, you’ve been to all the info meetings, you’ve taken every single pamphlet they’ve shoved at you and yet, to your amazement, none of them stand out. Why? Now that answer, thankfully, is relatively simple.
Marketing tactics. All the colleges use them, and if you’ve been doing your research children, you’ll notice that they’re all the same. Big, beautiful campuses, school spirit, rampant diversity, fitness programs, campus clubs, catchy slogans and professors that “care”. You’ve seen it all before. Every college presents this information as if these aspects are entirely unique to them when in reality a vast selection of other institutions offer the exact same features. Oh you have intermural sports? So do the ten other schools I’ve visited. What’s that? Your students strive for excellence? Well that’s what UCLA, USC, and MIT said too. You have dining halls? Doesn’t every school? How do you expect me to find a “stand out” school if I keep seeing the same happy-go-lucky faces in the same bent-over-book position on every flyer, every website, every email?
I recently attended an info meeting presented by a coalition of some of the nation’s top universities. University of Chicago, Columbia, Brown, Rice, and Cornell now seem like one in the same. Each school representatives had nearly identical speeches, with a few adjectives switched around for good measure. Phrases were recycled, sometimes with the same word content and order, and each school emphasized the exact same things. Shouldn’t colleges be trying to differentiate themselves from the competition? How are you different? How are you unique? Why do you keep telling me the same things as all the other guys? How many times must I be told to explore, transform, or “be here”? I know you all have students of color (a great factor to be sure). I know you think you’re in the best college town. I know you have multiple residence halls. I know you all want the best of the best. But tell me, dear colleges, what makes you so special?
There are only a select few factors that vary vastly from college to college, and if you’re trying to sort out the good from the bad, you should sniff these out. Start with the numbers. Acceptance rates, student-to-faculty ratio, and student population span the entire number spectrum. Research schools tend to have larger student populations and class sizes, while liberal arts colleges are usually on the smaller side. Acceptance rates can range anywhere from 80 to 8 percent.
Another piece of advice: go find the course listings. College websites have sections for every department of study, all of which typically have lists of available courses from the last few years. Most lists have small summaries of the class curriculum, although some summaries are more in-depth than others. Some colleges offer a vast array of selections, while others’ options are quite limited. Find the school with the most appealing and seemingly beneficial course offerings for your major. Also take note of major requirements. Although in general they tend to be somewhat similar, some schools have stricter criteria than others. Decide whether or not you’d prefer more structured major paths or looser programs that allow you the freedom to create your own, personalized schedules.
Location is the most obvious source of variation. While this should be secondary to program quality, it’s still an integral factor. If all goes well, you’ll be living there for the next four years of your life. You should probably be somewhere that fits your lifestyle. Hot weather or cold weather? Beaches or cities? Access to medical facilities? Historical sites? Find a location that accommodates your personal and academic interests. Visiting is highly recommended. If there’s one aspect of college advertising that actually speaks to prospective students, it’s the location emphasis. Some campuses are more aesthetic than others, and while it may be tempting to choose the one with the most beautiful scenery, remember that you’re there to learn.
When it comes to studying abroad, the programs will be nearly the same anywhere you go. However, some colleges do offer special internships or study programs abroad. If you’re looking to get to London for a semester, anywhere will do. If you’re interested in Netherland castle life, Emerson College might be for you. If London’s still your dream destination, some colleges even offer internships in Parliament. Now THAT’S a bell ringer.
Ignore anything about student living, dining halls, intermural sports, or student clubs. Unless you’re a varsity athlete hoping at a shot in the big leagues, all schools should meet your fitness requirements. Dining halls are all the same. Student living may vary slightly depending if the school is in a rural or urban area, but singles, doubles, and triples are the usual pickings. The number of student clubs may also vary depending on school size, but even the smallest liberal arts schools have at least 80 or so clubs, ensuring that there should be at least one that interests you. Also know that most schools have the exact same clubs, although I will say that the quality of school performing groups and newspapers do differ. If you are interested in either of these types of activities, do extensive research by contacting members, viewing performances, or visiting the newspaper websites.
When it comes to financial aid, your family income, state of residence, and potential of success will almost always determine the amount of aid you’ll receive, no matter where you go. There are some “need blind” institutions, though they’re often difficult to get into.
School spirit and tight knit communities are advertised at every school, so it’s almost useless to include that in your dream school criteria. Don’t even get me started on the whole “Don’t walk over the seal or you won’t graduate in 4 years” sham. Don’t let your first college campus tour guide fool you. It’s everywhere.
Every school stresses how much their professors care, but there’s really no way to test that unless you’re one of their students. Sadly, the quality of your instructors should be a major deciding factor, yet it is nearly impossible to determine.
Your college search is an intimidating and oftentimes frustrating experience. Successful marketing calls for the regeneration of suspiciously similar slogans and nearly universal factors. The school that’s the best fit for you is often hard to find, and X never marks the spot. So dig a little deeper, avoid mass marketing attempts, and focus on what the college reps aren’t telling you because chances are they’re all reading from the same script.
