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Once I became so bored with my own story that I began plagiarizing the plotline of The Wizard of Oz, passing it off as my own. He is a tough, but forgiving audience, mostly finding a matchbox car more entertaining after about two lines in to the tale. I weakly protest but ultimately acquiesce in the effort to get him off to dreamland. What’s more valuable is how well a college’s academic style fits you.My two year old son likes to ask me to tell him stories right before bedtime. Don’t get stuck on things like a college’s reputation, rank or selectivity.
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Do I want to be around lots of different kinds of people or people with interests similar to mine?.Do I want to be at a college where students stay on campus most of the time? Do I want to live in a dorm?.Do I see myself at a college with lots of students or in a smaller community?.
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Whether or not you already have a mental image of what college life should be like, visiting a college and talking to students is a great way to get to know a campus. Many students say that campus size and feel was a big part of their college choice. Am I staying close because I think it will be less expensive? Sometimes out-of-state schools are more affordable.If I look just a little farther - a few more miles or another half hour away - what other opportunities open up to me?.
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Do I want to stick to a setting I’m used to or try something new?.How close to home do I want to be? Close enough for meals and laundry, to visit on weekends, or to only come home on breaks?.Keep your mind open and think about these questions: This might be an easy way to narrow the many options out there, but it doesn’t mean you’ll find the best colleges for you. Many students begin their college search by setting a limit on how far away from home they want to be. And private colleges are not always more selective. Financial aid can sometimes make private colleges as affordable as public colleges. Am I limiting my choices by focusing on whether a college is public or private? Many students exclude private colleges because they think they're more expensive, but that's not always the case.Many students begin at a two-year college on the path to a bachelor's degree at a four-year college. At a four-year college, students can earn a bachelor's degree. Do I want to go to a two-year or four-year college? At a two-year college, students can earn an associate degree.More than 1,600 colleges - mostly community colleges - accept almost all high school graduates. As you do so, keep in mind that you have lots of options. Most students start by thinking about the kind of college they want to attend. Get advice from college students and educators.Answer questions to discover what's important to you.Learn about some key college search categories.You Can Find Colleges That Are Right for YouĪlthough there's no magic formula for choosing a college, you can start by asking yourself some questions that help most students find the right fit.
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