By Robert A. Scott
At this time of year, many families with high school students visit colleges. Some visit nearby campuses that are within reach academically and financially, while others travel to what they consider more prestigious institutions. Whichever the choice, it’s imperative for parents and prospective students to plan carefully.
Students and their families should consider how far from home is acceptable. Will the student be most comfortable in a large city, a suburban setting or a rural area? Will he or she live on campus, in the town or at home?
How large a campus is acceptable? Some universities have 50,000 or more students, and some colleges have fewer than 1,500. The best fit is one that is not only challenging for academic and personal growth, but also caring and focused on student achievement.
The cost of tuition, fees, room, board, books and supplies is another consideration. Some families are willing to borrow to send their child to a prestigious college. If a good education and preparation for life are the goals, that isn’t necessary. It’s better to find the best fit for the student.
Families and students should use publicly available information such as college guides and the federal College Scorecard to decide on a list of colleges to visit and examine more closely. A high school guidance counselor should have a library of materials, and should know about where former students have gone to college.
According to the National Survey of Student Engagement 2017-23, students at most colleges, the least selective as well as the most selective, rate their campus experience about the same on measures of critical thinking and analysis, quantitative reasoning, collaboration with peers, access to diverse perspectives and student-faculty interactions. On the following measures, however, more selective colleges provide the biggest impact: internships, leadership opportunities, working on research with faculty, and studying abroad.
The federal College Scorecard can be a useful tool for examining general data about colleges and comparing institutions, but it cannot convey the personality of an institution. A publication such as the “Fiske Guide to Colleges” gives a fuller picture of a campus.
After deciding on where to visit, call for an appointment, ask to sit in on a class, talk to a faculty member and current students, tour a residence hall, and check out the dining facilities. Afterward, reflect on the following:
Feel: Were the students, faculty and staff you met on campus friendly and spontaneous, or were they cold and scripted?
Admissions: What weight is given to test scores? Of what influence are athletic prowess or alumni connections in the admissions process?
Academics: Are students assigned a faculty adviser? How easy is it to change majors? Who provides guidance on graduate studies and careers?
Who teaches? Do full-time faculty teach undergraduates, or is most instruction done by graduate assistants?
Enrollment: Is the student body economically diverse?
Financial aid: Will financial aid awards be adjusted for tuition increases?
Health and safety: Does the campus have a health center? Does the college provide transportation to go shopping off campus?
Housing and food service: Is there sufficient residential-hall space to house all undergraduates, or must students live in fraternity and sorority houses or off campus? Does the dining hall offer meals three times a day, seven days a week when classes are in session?
Social life: Does the campus offer a rich cultural life and support a variety of clubs and organizations, or do Greek societies dominate the social scene? Do many students leave campus on the weekend?
Career placement: Does the career office offer information about jobs on campus and in the summer? Does it have information on internships, both paid and voluntary? Who are some successful alumni in the student’s fields of interest?
While college graduates have improved outcomes in income, employment, health and civic engagement, college requires an investment of time, energy and intellect as well as money. So it’s important that the college and the student “fit” together in a way that is not only challenging but supportive. The right fit is more important than prestige. College is intended to enrich your life as well as your wallet.
Robert A. Scott is president emeritus of Adelphi University and a co-author of “Letters to Students: What it Means to be a College Graduate.”
