Picking the right college can seem very daunting as a senior in high school, a time in my life I remember very stressfully. Looking back on my senior year, I was very confused about what I was supposed to be thinking of when picking a college. I didn’t have much direction or an idea of what kind of degree I wanted at 17. Somehow I ended up here at Nazareth, a school where I’ve made memories I wouldn’t trade for the world and received an education I’ve been engaged in and can be proud of when I leave. So here are my tips for choosing the right college for you!
1) Do your research. Talk to your guidance counselor about what types of schools may be a good fit for you. Should you go to a bigger school with a larger student body, or a smaller school with more interaction with your professors and peers? Make sure to look at each college’s website including their student life and academics pages to see if anything interests you. At many schools, including Naz, you can sit in on classes with current students to see what a smaller classroom is like, or meet with advisors from academic departments across the college.
2) Talk to admissions. Checking in with the admissions department at each college you’re interested in, even after you’ve been accepted, will make a good impression no matter your GPA or test scores, plus can help you get to know the people who work at each school. Talking to an admissions counselor can also help you become more familiar with the programs at each college and how you could fit into them.
3) Visit! College visits are one of the top factors in most people’s college decisions. Actually seeing the place you could be living and learning at can have a big influence on whether or not you see yourself there. Check out the dorms, the academic buildings, and the dining halls because you’ll be visiting them or living in them for the next few years. At Naz, most freshman spend a majority of their time in one of three first-year dorms – Lourdes Hall, Kearney Hall, or building one of the O’Connor Complex – and at the Nazareth College Dining Hall on the first floor of Lourdes. Golisano Academic Center, or GAC as most students refer to it, Peckham Hall, Smyth Hall, the Arts Center, and Lorette Wilmot Library are the most frequented buildings on campus that house multiple departments, labs, study rooms, and thousands of books for you to take advantage of during your college career.
Lastly, make sure to go with your gut. During my first visit to Naz, I just had the feeling I could belong and here I am, four years later, about to graduate from a school I love. If you find the college you can see yourself at for the next four years, do everything you can to make that dream your reality. For any questions about admissions, academics, and student life at Naz, check out the website, naz.edu, or feel free to attend or set up a tour or info session!