Colleges are located throughout the country and in all types of communities from small, rural towns to large cities. Some colleges have tens of thousands of students enrolled each year while others only have a few hundred. There are also private and public schools. Many, but not all, private colleges are affiliated with religious institutions. There are also gender-specific schools for men or women only.
The type of college you choose is a personal decision based on your individual needs, career goals and passion. When selecting a school, consider the following questions:
• Why do you want to go to college?
• What do you hope to achieve by going to college?
• Do you have an idea of a career you would like to prepare for based on your PASSION?
• Do you want to stay near home, in the same state, or move to a different state?
• Do you have a preference of environment, such as urban, suburban, or rural?
• Would you be happier at a small college or a large university?
• Would you be happier attending college online?
When making college selections, you also want to consider the nature of the education that is offered. Many schools have a philosophy or specific educational program that they offer. Consider what your career goals are and the school’s areas of specialty. You also want to determine how long it will take you to complete your chosen program.
Another important factor to consider is to determine if the college is accredited and what type of accreditation they hold (Regional or National). For this purpose, accreditation enables companies to filter those individuals who have obtained a degree from an accredited institution from those who have not. The accreditation process also offers students a better chance of having their credits transferred to other reputable institutions should they decide to obtain a graduate or doctoral level education (50States.com)
Whether you are interested in being a student of an online university, traditional “brick and mortar” college, or an online training program, it is important to be directed to a credible source to obtain the right degree. Knowledge of the accreditation process will help you avoid “diploma mills” or other institutions that grant degrees without providing students a quality education. To avoid these issues, be sure to conduct your due diligence and read up on the body responsible for accreditation at your college/school before you sign up. You can also find a wealth of information on accrediting bodies at the Council for Higher Education Accreditation’s website, www.chea.org. CHEA is recognized as an advocate and institutional voice for self-regulation of academic quality through accreditation (50States.com).
Finally, what admission requirements does the college have? Schools may require specific courses and standardized tests. They may also require you to submit certain items with your application. Be sure you know what each college you are interested in requires. You also need to determine if the college is accredited and eligible to participate in federal student aid programs. Remember: Not all schools require the SAT or ACT. If you are not interested or comfortable taking an these exam, look into a reputable college that don’t require scores. Reference back to the link I shared in Tip 2: http://abt.cm/omJ8CL on colleges that don’t require the SAT or ACT.
I personally didn’t take either of these exams. It was a personal choice of mine to attend a reputable college that didn’t require scores, but rather made it an option.
I hope this information helps. Tomorrow we will cover Tip 4! C-ya then!
Knight International, Inc.
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