Make a Decision

What do Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Former Labor Secretary Elaine Chao and four of ten women who served as CEOs of Fortune 500 companies (2006) have in common? They are all graduates of women’s colleges. And if you are considering a women’s college, you can join this distinguished group!

History and overview
Women’s colleges have a place in our nation’s history beginning in the early 1800s when an interest in finding additional educational opportunities for women developed. Higher education institutions were few and far between until the mid- and late-19th century when women’s colleges were founded in response to women not being admitted to most all-male institutions. 

After World War II, the number of schools increased to meet the demand of rising higher education and in the 1960s and 1970s, several schools that had been all-male opened their doors to women. Interestingly, many women’s colleges either became coeducational themselves, merged with all-male or co-ed schools or closed due to declining enrollment. Some of those that survived became a hotbed for political movements, and therefore the notion that “only a feminist would choose a women’s college” took hold. 

Campus climate
Today you will find a whole new world at a women’s college. A 2004 study by the National Survey of Student Engagement showed that the biggest difference between an all-female school and a co-ed campus is “related to experiences with diversity.” The study reported that students at women’s colleges felt more encouraged and supported than their counterparts and that they had a greater understanding of “themselves and others, general education…and desire to contribute to the welfare of the community.” The study concluded that these colleges appear to create a climate where women are able to become involved in aspects of campus life, both in and out of the classroom.

Rachel Gonnering, director of admissions at Mount Mary College (www.mtmary.edu) says, “The dynamic is different at a women’s college. Women’s colleges provide for exceptional support, leadership development and personal and professional growth opportunities. Women who attend women’s colleges tend to be more engaged, more academically-focused and have exceptional success in their careers.” 

In the classroom
The reason you are going to college is for an education. Presumably, you will choose a major before you choose a college. Your chosen field may lead you to a women’s college. A higher percentage of students at all-female schools are enrolled in the math, science and engineering programs that are traditionally dominated by men. In 2012, the Girl Scouts of America revealed research that shows women are underrepresented in STEM careers (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Interestingly, employers are vying for women graduating from STEM programs and, overall, women in STEM careers are better compensated than in other fields. To pursue a STEM career on a women’s college campus will provide you with ample opportunities upon graduation.

Hon. Renee Forgensi Minarik, a New York State Court of Claims Judge and a graduate of Wells College (www.wells.edu), said that while she “wasn’t specifically looking at women’s colleges…I loved the campus, the energetic and friendly students and the library building. The women there were very serious about getting an education, all leadership positions were held by women, students weren’t self-conscious…[and] they didn’t hold back in class.”

To Minarik’s point, the National Survey of Student Engagement study also found that women’s colleges offer greater opportunities for and participation in student leadership roles. Student government experience will boost your resume and show potential employers that you can work well with others, deal with adversity and plan events, among other skills. 

“At Mount Mary, faculty members have a personal commitment to the students to see them grow as individuals and professionals while they are on campus,” Gonnering also said. “Our professors create a positive environment that helps students gain confidence and find their voice.”

Unique opportunities
A recent Forbes magazine article regarding the relevancy of an all-female campus mentioned that, “most of these colleges are part of a consortium. Students at Bryn Mawr College (www.brynmawr.edu) outside of Philadelphia, for example, can take classes at nearby co-ed Swarthmore College (www.swarthmore.edu), Haverford College (www.haverford.edu) and the University of Pennsylvania (www.upenn.edu). Wellesley College (www.wellesley.edu) students can cross-register at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (www.mit.edu) or even earn a double degree: a B.A. from Wellesley and an S.B. degree from MIT over the course of five years.” Use the exclusivity of the schools and their partners to your benefit and find a consortium that works well with your goals. 

The bottom line
Jane Nordhorn, director of recruitment at Saint Catherine’s University (www.stkate.edu), offers this advice: “Get on campus and visit. Many students are apprehensive about a women’s college thinking they won’t have a social life or have a “normal” college experience. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Our students are engaged socially on campus, with surrounding colleges and the community. One visit will show the vibrant and exciting campus life we have that is paired with excellent academic and internship opportunities.”

Minarik also suggests asking “all the same questions you ask on any college search, [such as] do they have enough courses/professors and the student teacher ratio you want? But also check and see where the alums are now and if they are mentoring current students and recent grads.”

When looking for a college that is the right fit for you, do not limit yourself to a traditional co-ed school. You may find that a women’s college can meet your academic, economic, social needs and so much more.

Kelli O’Connor is a freelance writer based in Rochester, New York.

It’s that time of year: time to get serious about the college application process. And, as you’ll soon find out, picking colleges can be as complex and daunting as taking standardized tests and writing application essays. How do you know which schools are good? How do you know where you’ll fit in? What should matter? How do you pick the best college — for you?

The selection process can be complicated, but we’re here to shed some light on it. Here are the categories you need to consider as you figure out where you should apply.

Rankings
A ranking is a list of colleges, typically in numerical order, that tells you which schools are considered the best and which don’t quite measure up. Once you start the college selection process, you’ll likely become very familiar with different ranking lists. Rankings are a great starting point because they will give you an idea of public opinion surrounding a school. That is, which schools are considered great and which are not. However, only use them as a starting point. Figure out where you’d like your school to fall within the rankings and then move on to more personalized, important characteristics.

Location
How well do you deal with sweltering summers? How about freezing winters with literally tons of snow? Do you want to be in a big city? Do you need to be near your parents? All of these are very important considerations to keep in mind as you decide where to go. A school’s location has a pretty big impact on how happy you will be during school — and your happiness will have a pretty big impact on how well you perform academically. Choose wisely.

Available concentrations and departments
Start thinking about the general direction in which you want your academic career to go, and then check out each school you’re thinking about. Make sure they’ve got the departments and, if a department is not available, the concentrations in your fields of interest. The last thing you want is to get to your dream school only to find out you have to change your whole academic plan!

Your potential major
If you already know exactly what you want to major in, then double-check each institution you’re interested in to ensure they’ve got what you need. Better still, check out rankings and college guides for your specific major — you can often find lists of which colleges have which majors, and who has the best programs. Use these lists to eliminate the schools that don’t have what you’re looking for.

Costs and financial aid
With the hefty price tag on college, costs and financial requirements should be high on your list of considerations. State and public schools are often much more inexpensive than private schools, while many private institutions have “need-blind” policies (which means that they’ll accept you regardless of your ability to pay and will then put together a comprehensive financial aid package to help you meet the cost). Other schools may not have the lower costs of a public university, or the ability to help you with considerable financial aid. Determine where you feel comfortable in terms of college cost and then make sure your potential colleges fit into your comfort zone.

Faculty
The quality of the instruction at a college is just as important to your academic performance as the availability of majors or the school’s location. The better the professor, the better you will understand the material. Do some research on sites like www.ratemyprofessor.com to find out which profs rock and which bottom out. Also, take a look at how many members of the faculty are actual professors and which ones are graduate students. If graduate students are doing most of the teaching, that’s a big red flag.

Your overall prospects after college
Sure, going to college is great, but getting a job after you graduate is even better. Think about where you’d like to work and what you’d like to do, and make sure that the schools you’re considering can help you in that path. If you’re visiting the schools, take some time to stop by the career services offices and ask what kinds of resources they have. A school that can’t help its graduates get good jobs is a school you should cross off your list.

Remember, it’s not just about a pretty campus, or about where your parents would like you to go (although both of those are still important considerations). It’s also important to think comprehensively about the school, its offerings, its location and how well it complements what you’re trying to achieve academically and professionally. Keep the points above in mind, and you’ll be sure to fill your list with schools that fit like a glove!

You've been accepted to college and the selection process is over: you’ve mailed the check and signed the dotted lines. But instead of relief, you’re more anxious than ever, and questions plague your mind: Did you make the right choice? Will you miss your best friend? Will you fit in?

Don’t ruin the fun of senior year and summer vacation with unnecessary stress.  Here are five common pre-college jitters.

Did I pick the right school?
You were ecstatic when your acceptance letter arrived. Now, that you are accepted to college that college is looking large and looming. Was that really the right choice for you?

It’s natural to feel stressed before stepping into the unknown, says Major General Henry M. Hobgood, USAF Ret., president of the Randolph-Macon Academy (www.rma.edu) in Front Royal, Va.

Banish that worry by looking beyond the first few days. “Focus on the goal…going to college and doing well,” says Hobgood. “Do not start changing things…professors, courses, roommates, etc. These issues will arise and be solved in due time. Don’t out-guess yourself before you have the experience.”

Am I smart enough to survive at college?
You had it all under control in high school. But now that you have been accepted to college will it all come together in a new environment?

Mary K. Sadler of Front Royal, Va., recalls this anxiety the summer before she attended Roanoke College (www.roanoke.edu). “I stressed that I may not be as smart as the other students, whether or not people were going to like me and more,” she recalls.

She reeled herself in by thinking rationally. “I just came to the conclusion that I had to be smart because I got in and got scholarships…I just had to take the knowledge I had and learn how to apply it properly.”

Am I going to gain weight?
Everyone hears about the dreaded freshman 15—pounds that creep on as a result of cafeteria food, late night pizzas and too much junk food.

Over the summer, get more involved in making your own food choices: prepare a meal at home, or do the shopping.

Plus, fitness is a sure way to fend off the freshman 15 and burn off steam. Find out what resources are available at your future school such as the pool, weight room and indoor track.

Will I miss my best friends?
Changes to some of your current relationships are inevitable, so talk about the topic early, rather than letting anxiety ruin your summer.

“Facebook, e-mail and cell phones have made it easier to stay connected to friends and family,” says Sadler.

Did I choose the wrong major?
“Deciding on a major is a big decision, and many students do not realize the time and self reflection needed,” says Dr. Sarah David, director of Career & Transition Services at Lone Star College System in The Woodlands, Texas.

Do what you can to become familiar with your career choice, but don’t worry if you continue to feel unsure. You’ll likely spend the first year taking core courses which apply to most majors, meaning you can easily shift your major later.”

The summer before college will be a time of stress and impending change.  Don’t let that overshadow your vacation. Do things you enjoy and go off to college well rested and relaxed.

Debbie Swanson has published more than 100 articles in national and regional magazines, including Dog Fancy, The Christian Science Monitor and Highlights. Visit her website at swansonwriting.com.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) students with disabilities are entitled to accommodations. The majority of the time, the parents advocate for the reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. 

After high school, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) insures that a person with a disability who is “otherwise qualified” is not precluded from any of the benefits a university has to offer because of their disability. But it is your responsibility during the college admissions process to be your own advocate. Mom or Dad cannot do this for you at the college level. Work with the college during admissions to find out how to get reasonable accommodations, such as a separate and quiet testing location, time and a half on tests and Power Point slides of the lecture. 

Most colleges have a disabled student services (DSS) office to insure compliance with the ADA, but the interpretation of what reasonable accommodations are varies from college to college. To insure a good fit between your needs and what the college offers, ask someone who works at the DSS office how the college uses technology to support students with disabilities. Ask what kinds of support services the college offers, or ask to meet students with disabilities to hear about their experiences at the college. 

Here are a few more questions to help you decide: 

1. What are the percentages of the different types of disabilities on campus? If the person you are speaking to does not know the answer, then this might be an indicator that serving students with disabilities is not a priority. 

2. How is your DSS office organized? This will give you an indicator of how much importance the college places upon serving students with disabilities. If the person who is the head of counseling services also doubles as the person in charge of handling disabled student services, then this college may not be the best choice. 

3. What is the average number of students a DSS counselor works with? The higher the case load, the less individualized attention and support a student is likely to receive. 

4. What kinds of reasonable accommodations do you typically offer? Listen for the accommodations you need. If the person does not mention the accommodations you need, ask them if they are willing to provide them. 

5. What has the college done to promote universal access? Look for ramping, lifts, automatic door openers, etc. How much of the campus, including residence halls and student activity centers are accessible to all of the students?

Finally, a student should ask themselves during the college admissions process, “How do I feel in this environment?” and “Can I picture myself going here with these other students?” Selecting a college is a personal decision that relies upon answering some questions and how good the fit feels. 

Dr. Ernst VanBergeijk is associate dean and executive director of New York Institute of Technology’s Vocational Independence Program. He has been a research associate at the Yale Child Study Center’s Developmental Disabilities Clinic and was assigned to the autism unit.

In front of you are glossy brochures that represent X University and Y College, your top two choices, both of which have already told you they love you back. Congratulations! Here are some questions to ask yourself as you try to choose between them.

1. Are You Hardcore? - Curriculum
   If you’re curious about what the wisdom of the ages could do for you, X University with its core curriculum could be the better choice. Having to glance at Aristotle and Toqueville might lead you to pursue something you wouldn’t have considered otherwise, and you might enjoy the camaraderie that comes from having to suffer through the same classes as all of your friends. On the other hand, if you get starry-eyed at the prospect of never having to take another math class, Y College, with its fewer academic requirements, could be the school for you. 
    
2. Do You Love the Spin Cycle? - Politics
   Let’s say XU is, overall, politically apathetic, while YC is more like a Sunday morning talk show, with extremists from both sides trying to score points. Is it more likely that that your XU friends’ refusal to turn off lights and reuse plastic bags will drive you bonkers, or that YC’s protest-overload will leave you exhausted? Also, would you mind if you’re the only person wearing a “Draft Al Gore!” button either place? While receiving college admissions information, does one seem better at engaging with minority viewpoints than the other? 
    
3. Would You Like a Car to Go with that Bumper Sticker? - Prestige
   Though XU has name recognition, and not everyone will have heard of YC, in certain circles YC is more prestigious. How important is it to you that your diploma be a status symbol? How much do your friends’ and family’s reactions to your school’s name matter to you? And—if XU, while providing college admissions information offers you a better financial deal—would you be willing to pay more for it?  
    
4. Do You Party? Hearty? - Social Life
   XU might feel more like High School: The College Years than YC, especially if other kids you know are matriculating there. Do you want that kind of experience, with Beer Pong tournaments starting up sometime Thursday and ending late Sunday? If the Greek scene is dominant, would you consider pledging? Since YC is smaller, can you be creative about coming up with things to do to entertain yourself there? Will you get tired of constantly running into your exes? Will you need to escape to a city regularly for the change of scene?
    
5. Whether Weather Matters - Winter
   Remember those daffodils waving gently at you from alongside the paths when you visited YC last June? For most of the year they’ll be buried under snowdrifts. Will that sap your will to live—or, at least, to make it to class? If you can rock the fleece-lined boots, or if you can’t get enough of those Double Black Diamonds, an arctic four years at YC might not be too much of a challenge. But if long underwear cramps your style, consider more temperate climes.
    
6. Malkovich Malkovich, Malkovich? - Diversity
   The question of diversity often boils down to, Are most of the other students on campus like you? Are you cool with wearing khakis and a button down every day if that’s what’s expected for men at XU? Would it unnerve you to be the only woman in Sociology 101 wearing make-up at YC? How important is it for you to come in contact with new and unusual points of view, or do you want the comfort that comes from being a Jew at Brandeis or a Mormon at Brigham Young?
    
7. Do You Want to Look Any Further than Your Own Backyard? - Novelty
   If your mom was a Tri-Delt at XU, do you want to follow in her footsteps? Or do you feel compelled to blaze your own trail at YC? What experiences have your friends or older siblings had at either XU or YC, or at similar schools, that you can mull over as you make this choice? Learning from other people’s experiences is an art.
    
8. Do You Have Varsity Dreams? - Sports
   This won’t apply to everyone, but if you played sports in high school and want to continue in college, keep in mind that there will lots more competition for varsity slots at XU schools. Would you rather ride the bench there or lead the team to victory at YC? What if at YC no one comes out to cheer? Would you still rather play or go the intramural route at XU and on Sundays be part of a huge crowd of fans in the stadium?

But most importantly, when getting college admissions information, consider the intangibles: the right school for you should just feel right. So go with your gut.

This article is provided by Unigo.com, a website that gives unprecedented voice to America’s college students and provides that information free to America’s high school students and their families.

College acceptance dates had passed and Hannah Kinskey found herself with two of her top choices, she was delighted. But as spring rolled around and her friends were all mailing in deposits, Hannah’s happiness turned to anxiety. Each day, she grew more and more unable to decide which school to choose.

She had weeded out many of her deciding factors months ago. Both schools were in good locations and had sprawling, rural campuses. Both offered strong academic programs, a good selection of sports and activities, and were comparable in price. That left Hannah in gridlock. One day she’d decide on one, then a few days later, she was sure she should pick the other.

Sound familiar? If so, first congratulate yourself that college acceptance dates have passed and you’ve been accepted to two strong colleges. Then relax, take a step back, and seek a fresh look at the situation.

Try to get personal

Since you’ve probably considered the more pressing factors prior to the college acceptance date, your final decision might rest on personal choice. Assuming you’ve already had the official tour, revisit the school for a more informal impression.

“Try to go beyond what is published in their brochure, Web site or on their official tour,” offers Chris Lydon, dean of admissions at Providence College (providence.edu). “Explore the campus on your own; visit the areas you didn’t see on the tour. Talk to students, visit the library, eat in the café, seek out faculty in your major.”

Pick up a copy of the newspaper, read postings and bulletin boards and observe the students. Strike up a conversation with any of the students or faculty, yet take care not to let one person sway you in a particular direction. Instead, seek out a variety of people and consider the overall tone of their responses.

Consider extracurriculars

Though you’re heading off to college for an education, don’t feel guilty if it’s nonacademic issues that are keeping you up at night. Many students are torn by where their friends are heading, what activities are offered or other nonacademic issues. If that’s what holding you back, spend some time making an honest assessment of how important these issues are to you.

“Factor in your personal priorities,” urges Lydon. “For example, you’ve always been active in drama. One school offers an active drama club; the other school’s program is less active. How happy will you be doing one production a year versus multiple productions? Or if you’re torn by where a set of good friends are going, ask yourself if you’re ready to move on, or do you really want to stay with these friends?”

Face parental pressure

Parental pressure can be a roadblock when you lean toward one school, but Mom and Dad hope you choose the other.

A bit of research may be all that’s required to break that barrier. “Gather information from the school that you’re in favor of, then sit down at the kitchen table with your parents and use that information to convince them that the school you’re leaning toward is the right one for you,” says Lydon.

Calmly presenting them with researched facts and information may bring them over to your side, as well as impress them with your motivation.

Conquer those nerves

Dragging your feet at making that final commitment might just be a bad case of nerves—understandable when you’re making a major decision! One way to get past that is to collect your thoughts on paper.

“Try to overcome nervousness by logically weighing the pros and cons of each school. Compose a written list. This way, the information will be clearly laid out, and you can visually compare the two schools,” suggests Ann K. Masterman, admission counselor at the University of Miami (miami.edu).

Still nervous? Remember that nothing is cast in stone. You can always transfer if you’re unhappy. Just reminding yourself of that option might ease your mind and enable you to come to a decision.

Does it matter to you if your school is well-known?
Let’s face it: We live in a society where many of us are driven to buy something based on the brand name.

Sometimes the name brand is superior in quality; sometimes it’s no better than the lesser-known label.

The stakes are a lot higher when choosing a college because of the hefty price tag involved.

Take a minute to answer the following to see if brand name is something that’s factoring into your college choice.


QUIZ

1. How important is it that peers recognize the name of your college?

    1         2                         3         4

(Not important)        (Very important)

2. How important is it that your college is nationally recognized?

    1         2                         3         4

(Not important)          (Very important)

3. How important is it that others are impressed by the name connected to your specific program?

    1         2                         3         4

(Not important)         (Very important)

4. How important do you think the name of your college is to employers who will hire you right out of college?

    1         2                         3         4

(Not important)         (Very important)

5. How important do you think the name of your college is to employers who hire you more than five years after you graduate college?

    1         2                         3         4

(Not important)         (Very important)

6. How important do you think the name of your undergraduate school is when you apply to a graduate, medical or law school?

    1         2                         3         4

(Not important)         (Very important)

7. How important is the price tag of your education?

    1         2                         3         4

(Not important)         (Very important)

Total your answers and match them to the descriptions on the next page to see how a college’s name affects your choice during the college admissions process.

Numb to name
7-11 points: You most likely feel that the name of your school truly doesn’t have much, if any, effect on your future. You are not influenced by brand names. You know a good value and will make your decision during the college admissions process without being influenced by its name.

Focused on fit
12-16 points: You are only slightly influenced by the name of a college. Sure, you think about it, but you most likely will not give in to the pressure during the college admissions process by choosing a college based solely on its name.

Pondering prestige
17-22 points: You believe that the name and reputation of your college is going to be a factor in determining how easily you can get an interview for your first few jobs. You appreciate that typically, a well-known name indicates a good product. You won’t hesitate to consider this in your college decision.

Brand name or bust
23-28 points: Brand names and brand recognition are very important to you. The popularity and success of a brand-name college provides reassurance that you are making the right choice.

Were you surprised by your score? It’s important to understand what factors are influencing your college choices.

From the trenches
“It’s nice if someone recognizes the name of my school, but that’s only because I believe that they must understand the amount of hard work that was required to be accepted to such a selective university,” says Branden, a neuroscience major at Brown University (brown.edu).

Wendy, a political science sophomore at Dartmouth College (dartmouth.edu), says a name-brand school can be an asset when it comes time to network with alumni.

But consider your major before you think a brand name is a must-have.
“In the art world, your artwork says more than your school name,” says Benjamin, a senior art major at SUNY New Paltz (newpaltz.edu).

And SUNY Fredonia (fredonia.edu) senior Ashley reminds us that, “College is what you make it. If you work hard, you will get a lot out of it regardless of where you attend college.”

In the professional realm
“There are clearly colleges geared toward specific professions where the college name helps the student pursue further education or specific jobs,” says Michael Miller, CEO of One Beacon Insurance Company. “However … it is the experience and the opportunity to learn and be exposed to a variety of things that is much more important than the name of the college you attended.” Understand the many factors that go into your college decision, including how much emphasis you put on the school’s name. Remember, it’s only a name!

Megan Osinski is a senior at Pittsford Mendon High School. She enjoys art, community service and student council.

Are you sitting at your dining room table surrounded by a stack of big, fat envelopes from several colleges? Congratulations!

Take a minute to consider how a school’s financial aspects will affect your decision.

Consider: The school’s location
Location may play a role when deciding if you can afford to attend a college.

Living in a big city means even simple expenses like shampoo, soap and going out for dinner can eat your budget quickly. Students on more residential campuses might find a more affordable standard of living, more student discounts or fewer off-campus money-draining opportunities.  You may want to receive college admissions counseling to discuss these concerns.

Brian Bonci, who took classes at Corning Community College in western New York before moving to New York City’s Pace University, says that his spending shot up when he made the move to the Big Apple.

“There is so much you can buy, and people are willing to pay more for them, so things cost more,” Bonci says of New York City. “It helps if you set a budget week by week. You can even be a nerd and make an Excel spreadsheet to calculate and track your spending. It’s all about budgeting.”

Kate Morris, a sophomore at Pace University, says she feels the tug of being a college student in a big city when it comes to paying for food and entertainment.  College admissions counseling may shed light on these issues.

“In the city, there is more to do, so you spend more,” Morris says. “The cost of living is higher; dorming is more expensive. I also spend a lot on the subway—$20 every week or so. Not to mention, there is Starbucks on every corner that begs you to come in and buy a $5 cup of coffee.”

Consider: The other students’ wealth
“There are people who are really affluent, and they set the trends on spending,” Bonci says. “Students either try to keep up with them or feel somewhat uncomfortable if they can’t.”

By no means should you feel like you shouldn’t attend a college that attracts people wealthier than yourself. But if that is the case, decide before you go how you’ll react to the peer pressure of spending. 

Consider: Public and private schools
You can’t judge the quality of a school’s education based on whether it’s private or public. And you can’t judge the cost to attend a public over a private school until you review your financial aid letters from both and receive college admissions counseling on some of the details.

“I do know people who chose schools that perhaps offered less immediate opportunities but saved them a lot of money to pursue things in the future that they couldn’t have done if they were in debt,” Morris says. 

Consider: Making up the difference with student loans
“Students should be wary of getting in debt, but if it’s a good program for what you’re studying for, [student loans] might be worth it,” says Morris.

When you look at your financial aid statement, first count up the grants you’ve been awarded. Grants are “free money” that you will not have to give back. Add in your other free money—scholarships—and consider any work-study amounts you’ve been awarded. Then subtract that total from the school’s cost to attend (include tuition, room, board, travel expenses, etc.). The rest is how much money you will be expected to pay—or borrow.

Do this exercise for every school that offers you a financial aid package. When you’ve factored in each package, you can compare how much each college will cost you out of pocket.

Are you willing to pay that much for that degree? Will you be able to repay your student loans without problems? If student loans will be a big part of how you pay for college, do your research before accepting them. Determine your rates, when and how much you’ll start paying them back and how to contact the lender with questions.

Do your homework on student loans so you borrow only what you need.

The colleges have made their decisions about whom to admit; now it’s your turn to decide and, if necessary, get college admissions advice. And to help you make that decision, you’ve probably received three trees worth of glossy pamphlets and brochures inviting you to open houses, tours and other events.

To narrow your choices, review the qualities that are most important to you and receive college admissions advice if you need more details on your college.

What kind of environment do you like best?
A sprawling urban campus will offer different experiences than a campus that’s the focal point of the town.

“At first I thought I wanted somewhere really metropolitan,” says Chantal Little, a senior at Clayton A. Bouton High School in Voorheesville, N.Y. “I went to look at McGill [in Montreal], but once I got there I realized that I didn’t really think that through. I needed something more rural. Meanwhile, I was looking at Colgate University, which I initially felt was in cow country, but I ended up really loving it when I visited it and realized that I wanted something more rural.”

How important is the school’s reputation?
In your future career field, how far will a college’s name get you?

Does it pay to attend a name-brand school, or is name recognition not that important?

Tova Markovitz, a high school junior from Newburgh, N.Y., made sure the schools she visited were “places that had students who worked as hard as I did to get in. I really want to be in classes where I know that the students aren’t slacking and really deserve to be there.”

Tracy Phutikanit, a junior and tour guide at the University of California-Riverside, says even students who think they’d prefer big-name campuses should consider smaller schools, too.

“When doing college visits, I personally learned about myself that I didn’t like the competition at the big-name schools and wanted a smaller campus and a smaller school,” Phutikanit says. 

What size school are you looking for?
Knowing what kind of experience you prefer can help you narrow your choices.

“Because Voorheesville is so small, I knew I wanted to go somewhere bigger, but not so huge that I’d experience a real culture shock,” says Little.

What’s your major?
You don’t absolutely need to know your major when making your final college choice, but make sure you choose a school that has several options you’d strongly consider.

“The major was a big part of the schools I decided to visit,” Little says. “I wanted to go to school for science or nursing, and I needed to make sure that wherever I went had those majors.”

Does this school mesh with your budget?
Take a good look at your financial aid package. Be aware of how much you’ll pay out of pocket for college, and how much your family can help you toward those costs.

Have you visited yet?
If you haven’t yet visited all the colleges that have accepted you, now’s the time to go and receive college admissions advice.

Chantal Little initially had written off Colgate University for its rural characteristics. But after getting a feel for the campus, she says it’s now one of her first choices.

“We really want you to come visit,” says Tracy Phutikanit. “Virtual tours and word of mouth are good, but you get the best impression from coming here for the day and letting us show you around.”

By the time April rolls around, you will have received a few important e-mails from the colleges you’ve applied to. In the next few weeks, you’ll be making one of the most important decisions of your life: Which college will you be writing an acceptance letter to spend the next four years?

Here are some tips to help you make the right choice before the May 1 deadline.

Read the fine print
Skip the glossy brochures and focus instead on the details of each college. Ask yourself questions in the following areas:

• Academics: Do they have the courses of study you want? If you change your mind, are there other majors or academic departments that interest you? Browse course information online. Also, go directly to the site of the department you are interested in for detailed information about research opportunities, course offerings and unique academic programs.

• Social/extracurricular activities: Does the college offer the social life you want? How far do you want to be from home? Read the campus paper, ask recent alumni about their experiences or talk to students on campus to get a feel for the social scene.

• Finances: Can your family afford the investment? Make an appointment with a financial aid officer to ask questions about your unique situation before writing your acceptance letter for college.

Visit your top three campuses
You probably can’t visit all the campuses to which you’ve been accepted. But do try to attend the spring open house for accepted students. If you can, bring an adult you trust to campus. This person can help you pay attention to aspects of campus life you might otherwise overlook. When you are on campus, ask yourself these questions:
• What is the academic culture like?
• Where will I study?
• Can I handle the work?
• Do students like their teachers?
• Will I enjoy campus life?
• What student groups will I join?
• Where will I live?
• If I need advice, who will help me?

Talk to other seniors
You will meet seniors who are in love with their colleges. You will also meet students who aren’t. Listen to their reasons and hear why they made their decisions before writing your acceptance letter for college.

Get feedback from people you trust
One day you may prefer one school. The next day, you may change your mind and prefer another. This is quite common, so get an outside point of view. Ask your confidants why they think a certain college is the best choice for you. Listen to their advice, but remember you are the one in the driver’s seat.

Pay attention to your gut feeling. Trust yourself. There is no such thing as the wrong choice. Like any experience, college is what you make of it. Take advantage of opportunities, become involved in your interests and your decision will be the right one.

ApplyWise (applywise.com) is an online college counseling program that helps students create a winning college application. It is based on the methodology of Dr. Kat Cohen, one of the country’s leading admissions counselors.