Selecting a College

Guttentag posits that a pivotal criterion in the college selection process should revolve around the question: Will the chosen institution provide a harmonious blend of comfort and challenge? This principle, he suggests, should be universally applied to each college or university under consideration. Guttentag further advises prospective students to contemplate three distinct dimensions of college environments:

1. Physical Environment: Assessing whether a college is large or small, old or modern holds significance. Determining personal preferences in this regard is vital, given that the chosen institution will be your academic home for four years.

2. Academic Environment: Scrutinizing whether the college offers the programs or majors aligned with your aspirations is essential. Equally crucial is gauging the academic rigor and the faculty's expectations of students. Additionally, understanding the prevailing academic atmosphere, whether intensive or more relaxed, is key.

3. Social/Cultural Environment: Delving into whether the university is situated in an urban or rural setting, as well as determining its ideological inclinations (conservative or liberal) and religious affiliations, is pivotal. This process invariably circles back to the question of personal comfort. Guttentag encourages students to perceive campus diversity as a valuable aspect, bridging the gap between the homogeneity of high school and the multifaceted diversity of the wider world.

In the process of evaluating colleges, it is prudent to candidly assess the odds of admission to a specific university. Guttentag asserts that unraveling this information requires diligent research. Commence with perusing the institution's official website to ascertain whether it furnishes a profile of the incoming class or discusses the qualities sought in prospective students. An on-site visit to the university can also yield profound insights. A campus tour often proves decisive when students are faced with the pleasant predicament of having to choose between multiple desired colleges.

Undoubtedly, parental concerns often extend to the financial facet—how much the university costs annually. While this is a legitimate consideration, Guttentag advises high school students against allowing cost to deter them from applying to a preferred institution. He stresses, "Do not allow the initial 'sticker price' of a school to dissuade you from applying. Generally, the less affordable a university appears, the more substantial the potential financial aid." Guttentag suggests that need-based financial aid might be surprisingly beneficial, even without scholarships.

Once a university of interest has been pinpointed, the subsequent step involves embarking on the actual application process. Let us delve into the intricacies of this procedure.