College acceptance letters have been rolling in to seniors, and with so many options, many of them are having a difficult time choosing the right college.

When choosing a college there are many factors to consider.

Cost

Students should always be aware of the price tag that comes with their favored college. Many students choose to go to college in state because it costs half as much.

Senior Tyler Frasher is taking cost into his decision-making process.

Frasher said, “I come from a single-parent household where the money is not really there.”

Senior Carryn White is also worried about the cost that comes with college.

“It is important for my family and myself to come out of college with as little debt as possible,” White said.

Others just want to get the best education possible, no matter the cost.

Either way, seniors need to be looking into scholarships (both nationwide and by school), loans, and grants. Every senior should fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is a free form that can get students loans, grants, and even work-study programs at their designated college.

Mrs. Karen June, counselor, urges all students to fill out the FAFSA.

“Even if a family believes they will not qualify for any federal or state aid, they should still fill out the FAFSA,” June said. “Some scholarships require it, and if you need to take a loan, the rates are better through the government loan than through a bank.”

Cost is an important factor, but for many students it is not the most important.

Majors

When selecting a college, seniors need to be aware of which majors and programs a college offers.

For example, if a student wants to be an English major, Kettering University is not the best choice since Kettering focuses on STEM and business fields of study.

Senior Taylor Stockton has been paying a lot of attention to the majors a college offers.

“If I end up not liking my current major, I want to have many choices to choose from if I want to switch,” Stockton said.

It is easy to find out what programs a college has. Just go to the college’s website and look under the academics tab.

Location

Location is another major factor affecting a student’s choice. Some people would not mind the hustle and bustle of a college in the city, while others want a scenic college, with sprawling lawns and ivy decorating the walls.

And sometimes it is about being close to home or, on the flip side, as far away as possible.

Stockton wants to go to school near her home.

“I want to stay close to home so that I can visit my family,” Stockton said.

Frasher, on the other hand, wants to get away.

“I want to be farther away from home,” Frasher said. “I do not want to be local.”

Food

As superficial as this may seem, food can affect whether or not a student will choose a college. Think about it, if a student goes to a college, he or she wants to be able to eat the college’s food; the student will be there for the next four to six years.

Stockton believes it is important that the college she attends has good food.

“I will be living at this college. It will be my home for several years,” Stockton said. “They better have good food.”

Others just might be eating Ramen noodles for the next couple of years.

Frasher is not as concerned about the food as Stockton is.

Frasher said, “It’d be really nice to have good food, but it won’t determine my choices.”

Graduation Rates

Graduation rates may not be the first thing that comes to a student’s mind when considering a school, but it should be. If a school has low graduation rates, that is not a good thing — it either means that school has bad professors or a really tough curriculum.

Frasher said that he should be looking into the graduation rates more than he has been.

“I should look because I want to see what my chances are at actually being successful,” Frasher said.

Students should choose a college where they believe they can succeed.

White also believes that graduation rates are an important factor to consider.

“It is important that I make the most of my money,” White said.

Size

Big or small? This is another question to consider when choosing a college. Do you want a university with  huge lecture halls and upward of 100 students in a single class, or do you want a college with smaller classrooms and only 30 students in a class?

With a smaller school, students can make better connections with professors and get more help with subjects in which they are struggling.

Stockton prefers a smaller school with more access to her professors.

“I want to go to a small school where I can have the ability to have more personal time with my professors,” Stockton said.

However, a larger college may be more renowned and, therefore, lend to its students’ resumes.

For Frasher, larger schools could also offer a better social atmosphere.

“I am very social and love to be around tons of people, so large class sizes are nice,” Frasher said.

White feels that she would be fine in either circumstance.

“I would be OK with either,” White said. “If I do have a class that has 300 kids in it and I know that I am struggling, I know there are places I can go for help.”

Accreditation

Some seniors have chosen to attend a community college for the first two years to try and save money, but they should make sure that the credits they get there will transfer to the university they plan to attend afterward.

Others plan to go on to graduate school, and they should also make sure that the program and college they get their bachelor’s degree from will impress a university they plan to attend to get their master’s degree.

White has looked into this in the colleges she is considering.

“It is important to get into a good grad school,” White said.

Employers also look at the school a student attended to make sure it is accredited.

Stockton knows the importance of a school’s accreditation.

“If you don’t go to a school that is accredited, then employers won’t want you,” Stockton said.

Religion

For many people, religion will not affect which college they choose to attend, but for others it plays a very important role in their decision.

Senior Alysa Figgins wanted to go to a Christian college before changing her career path.

“A Christian college would allow me to strengthen my relationship with God in a way that other colleges wouldn’t,” Figgins said. “I would also be able to connect with other Christians in a way that I can’t at a non-religious school.”

Those who are religious want to be surrounded by people who share their beliefs and morals. On the other hand, people who are not as religious may feel uncomfortable with the idea.

Extracurriculars

In high school, a lot of students take an interest in activities such as sports, debate, and drama. When making college decisions, many students may not be thinking about anything other than the necessary curriculum. But that could be a mistake.

Just because it is college does not mean that students should not enjoy it. In fact, it means that they should enjoy it more than high school because they are studying an area they are interested. Extracurriculars can play an important role in a student’s college experience.

Stockton has looked into the extracurriculars offered at schools, if only a little bit.

“I want to do intramural sports in college, so I am looking for a college that offers that,” Stockton said.

Frasher, on the other hand, believes that any extracurriculars will just be an added bonus after he has already chosen a college.

“I do look at those because it’s nice to see what I can be a part of once I’m there,” Frasher said.

It is easy to discover what kind of clubs a college has; just look under the Life tab on the college’s website.

Dorms

At most colleges, freshmen are required to live in the dorms, so when choosing which college to attend it is important to know what the dorm rooms look like, how many people will be rooming together, and the restroom/shower situation.

Some schools have newer dorms, while others are as old as the school.

Frasher knows that he should be doing more research on this subject, especially since he plans to go away for college.

“I need to do a lot more research in this area, but I have glanced at some details,” Frasher said.

White thinks that it is extremely important to like the dorm rooms at the college she will be attending.

White said, “My dorm is very important to me since I will be there most of the time.”

The important thing to remember is to look at all aspects of college life, from the academics to the social scene and everything in between.

June also has some advice for students who, even after considering all of these factors, still have no idea where they want to go.

“If a student is unsure of where they want to go or even what they want to pursue in college, I would advise starting at a community college,” June said. “This is the most cost effective while you are deciding.”