Choosing the Right College For You
Choosing a college after high school can be difficult. You may not be entirely decided on what type of degree you want to pursue. You are probably overwhelmed at all of the different college options. You have to make decisions such as where you will live, how you will get to and from college and what types of classes you will make. You also have to go through the process of applying for college, waiting on acceptance or rejection letters. How do you go about choosing which college is right for you and your educational goals?
Choosing to work towards a secondary education is a major accomplishment in itself. You have chosen to further your education. This will help you in your financial future and will open up all types of new job opportunities. In fact, in a 2012 Pew Research report, workers with at least a bachelor?s degree had median annual earnings of $45,500, well over the medians for people with only some college ($30,000) or a high school diploma ($28,000).
Having a college degree also lowers your chances of being unemployed. Not going to college will cost you about half a million dollars (when you take into account average additional wages, etc). The type of work that you are employed in will depend on the degree that you complete and the type of internship experiences you participate in during your college education.
Location is an important part in choosing the right college for your needs. Although you may be tempted to choose a college campus that is far away from home, this is not always the best idea. The support of family and friends nearby can be helpful in completing a college degree. College in Rhode Island with family nearby can make completing the degree easier. It may also be beneficial to go to college in the city you hope to work in once you graduate. This where you will do all of your networking and will create all of your career relationships. College in Rhode Island will open you up to professional references and career opportunities in the state of Rhode Island.
If you have a program of study in mind already, you may want to research schools to find one that has a good program in your intended field of study. For example, if you have decided to major in and achieve a family studies degree, you will want to find a program that offers a family studies degree in your college level.
It is also important to find a school that has programs for your level of college. If you are pursuing your Masters degree, for example, you will want to find a college with your intended field of study in a Master program. It is more crucial that you have an intended plan of study at the Master?s level of education than it is when first entering college.
If you plan to live on campus, you will want to do the necessary research into the college dorms or apartments. You will want to look for housing options that provide you with all of the needed amenities and any recreational activities that you enjoy. A college student with good social and living support tends to do better in school. This is also where you will develop your interpersonal skills. Adult education varies from high school in that you will be living with some of these people for four years. You will want to choose wisely. When choosing college in Rhode Island, you may also look at neighboring apartments too.
Approximately 83% of all college attendees say earning their degree has paid off. Completing a college degree tends to translate to higher earnings and better job satisfaction. When choosing a college in Rhode Island or anywhere else in the country, you will want to carefully select the right college for you by choosing one that is in a good geographical location, provides good social and interpersonal support for you and has convenient living options.
