GETTING READY

SMALL, MEDIUM OR LARGE

College Is Not A One-Size-Fits All Decision

By Veronica Toney

Choosing a place to pursue higher education is the first major life decision many people make. With so many choices out there, this can be quite a daunting task. However, picking the right school comes down to answering three questions: What do I want to be when I grow up? What is my favorite class in high school? What type of learner am I?

People have probably been asking you what you want to be when you grow up since you were 5 years old, but that doesn’t make it any easier to answer. Yet, answering this question is the quickest way to narrow down schools. If you’re lucky enough to know the answer, focus on schools that offer that subject. If you’re like the majority of people who have no idea–or too many ideas–narrow your choices to two or three areas of interest and find schools that offer these subjects.

“Before you begin looking for a good college ‘fit,’ take stock of your learning style,” says Peter Van Buskirk, author of Winning the College Admission Game. “Just as each student might have a slightly different learning style, colleges offer different styles of instruction.” Knowing if you are a visual, auditory or tactile learner will not only help you choose a school, it can also help you pick which classes you are likely to succeed in and determine effective study habits. When using textbooks, do you focus on the diagrams and pictures or read the text? If you prefer diagrams, then you are a visual learner. If you would rather have someone explain the text to you than read it, you are an auditory learner. If you prefer to figure things out by doing, then you are a tactile learner.

Visual learners will succeed in classes where the professor uses PowerPoints and photographs of the subjects. Flashcards are great study aides for visual learners. Auditory learners do well in discussion or seminar classes. Study groups are the way to go when preparing for a test. Tactile learners excel in laboratory classes.

“Students should do a self-inventory: who they are, how they like to learn, what type of environment they like to learn in and why they want to go to college,” Van Buskirk recommends. “Through self-reflection, they should understand what they want to get out of college. This creates a mental checklist they can use when looking at colleges. This way, they can make decisions objectively rather then based on emotion.”

Now that you’ve identified your major options and learning style, it’s time to pick a school from the stragglers on your list. Universities—private and public—offer the best of both worlds. They are made up of smaller schools and offer both large lecture classes and small discussion classes. These schools give students more freedom, but require students to be more proactive and take initiative when they need help.

Colleges are smaller and offer more discussion classes. Students get to know their professors, but these schools offer fewer classes and majors then universities. Community or junior colleges are training grounds for four-year colleges and universities. Students take two years of classes in a more personal environment. This is perfect for students who aren’t sure if four-year schools are right for them, have other obligations such as jobs and children, or want to study a trade and enter the workforce after two years.

If you like the back row or the idea of taking notes, studying on your own and succeeding without a lot of personal interaction with a teacher, then a large school might be the perfect setting. However, if you love interacting with other students, discussing topics and being on a first-name basis with a teacher, then a smaller school is the right fit. While the level of interaction is the main difference between big and small schools, it should not be the sole factor in choosing one school over another. Student-teacher interaction can change from class to class, major to major or from underclassmen to upperclassman.

“Students need to visit each campus and step away from the choreography of campus tours and talk to current students.” Van Buskirk says. “Ask students what their favorite classes are, what they like best about the school and what they find challenging. Having this type of sidebar conversation will help the student form his or her own opinion.”

Taking time to evaluate your interests and learning styles is essential to the college decision process. Choosing the right school insures that students will have a better chance of succeeding, be able to study what they want and have a better overall college experience.

*Story from Fall 07 issue