Selecting the Right College
According to the Institute of Education Sciences, the number of degree-granting institutions in the U.S. in 2010 was 4,599*. Out of those, 2,870 are 4-year colleges and 1,729 are 2-year*. Looking at those numbers, choosing a college can seem rather difficult and overwhelming. But don't let the high numbers fool you. With the right tools and process of selection, you can narrow your options down considerably. Here's how:
BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND.
Think about it. What is the whole point of college? (Besides self-discovery and independence?) It's to get a job, to get paid to do what you love, right? If you're not sure where you're going in life, that's okay; but, at some point, you'll need to do a little self-searching and try to discover what career is best for you.. Once you do that, it can help narrow down your college choices. Why? Because not all colleges are the same, and not all of them offer the same classes. For example, did you know that UNO has a School of Engineering, but not a School of Nursing, or that Southeastern has a School of Nursing, but not one of Engineering?** Maybe you've thought about a career, and perhaps you've even take a career inventory to help you figure out what suits you best. Whether you have or have not, these steps can point you in the right direction:
Think about it. What is the whole point of college? (Besides self-discovery and independence?) It's to get a job, to get paid to do what you love, right? If you're not sure where you're going in life, that's okay; but, at some point, you'll need to do a little self-searching and try to discover what career is best for you.. Once you do that, it can help narrow down your college choices. Why? Because not all colleges are the same, and not all of them offer the same classes. For example, did you know that UNO has a School of Engineering, but not a School of Nursing, or that Southeastern has a School of Nursing, but not one of Engineering?** Maybe you've thought about a career, and perhaps you've even take a career inventory to help you figure out what suits you best. Whether you have or have not, these steps can point you in the right direction:
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* National Center for Education Statistics: http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=84.
** Southeastern DOES, however, a pre-engineering program, just as UNO offers a pre-nursing program.