college 101
school search
P U BL IC
VS
PR I VATE
HOW TO FIND
THE RIGHT SCHOOL
Made your college list and checked it twice, but still can’t decide between
attending a public or private institution?
by Jasmine York
Public and private institutions are relatively equal on many
levels, including the quality of the education and access to job
placement resources. However, if students aren’t aware of how
these schools typically differ, it can either make or break their
experience. Consider our list below before making your college
decision.
Make sure two or three desired
majors are there. Before choosing a college,
narrow your career interest to two or three fields.
Studies show that about 50-70 percent of students switch majors,
so even if teens aren’t 100 percent certain on one major, they
should be sure to attend a college that offers degrees for their
backup interests, too.
Consider the class-size. The size of
an institution can definitely impact the college
experience. Students looking for a small, closeknit “home away from home” may feel more comfortable at a
smaller private institution, since public universities tend to be
substantially larger. Students looking for a wider selection of
course offerings and student-led organizations might want to
consider public institutions.
Location. Attending a college far away from
home may not be for everyone. Some teens aren’t able
to shake their homesickness and find the distance
especially difficult during sick days, holidays (if they don’t have
the means to go back home) or family emergencies. Additionally,
not every college is located in a “college town,” which can be
important for students looking for that experience.
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Student Life. Most colleges have a budget
for campus-wide events and activities to create an
active student life. Prospective students can get a
sneak peek into what student life may be like by checking out
the events calendar on the institution’s website, reading bulletin
boards during their campus visit or even stalking the school’s
social media pages.
Look beyond the sticker price.
Oftentimes, the sticker price doesn’t accurately reflect
the net price students actually end up paying for their
education. Some colleges tend to be more lucrative than others
when putting together a student’s financial aid package, so it’s
important to meet all financial aid deadlines and consult with
representatives.
“I encourage students to begin the FAFSA process early,
therefore, if any extra documentation is needed they still have
plenty of time to submit it. This is another reason we encourage
students to not wait until the last minute to choose their
institution. FAFSA is a lengthy process, but almost every college
campus has a financial aid office with skilled professionals ready
to assist students with any q Y\