Ten ways to ‘Test Drive’ a College Before Applying
Choosing the best institution or online college is a difficult and time consuming task. Since most schools have an application submission fee, it can get quite expensive if there is no way to narrow down the choices.
Wading through the tons of brochures and on-line advertisements will only give a prospective applicant a superficial idea of what these colleges have to offer, after all, each school is putting their ‘best foot’ forward so to speak. Here are ten ways that a person can ‘test drive’ a college before submitting an application:
1. Check On-Line websites Use the internet to its full advantage and research the college of your choice on-line. Visit their web-page (all accredited colleges should have one) and read every single article, blog and link that they offer. Obtain information on the student population and various student related activities that are offered both on and off campus.
2. Visit the campus (if possible) If the school has a campus nearby then make it a point to drop by. What type of facilities do they have? Is there a student union? If so drop in and get a feel for the type of students frequent it. Go to the student library. Is it crowded or was it empty most of the time you where there? Even on-line schools have a main campus, drop by if possible and get a feel for how they operate.
3. Does the college offer on-line courses? Can you take classes on-line? Can you secure an online degree? Are these courses equivalent to on-campus courses? Are they comprehensive in scope and content? If possible enroll in an on-line course to get a feel for the class work load.
4. Determine who in your chosen field of employment have gone to the school. Research how many people in your chosen occupation have actually graduated from the college or university. If a high percentage of professionals in your chosen job have attended the school then it is an excellent recommendation for you to do likewise.
5. Find someone who has attended the college Talk to a former graduate (or drop-out) and find out how they liked it. Did they find it hard? Was the faculty accessible? What about the work load? Where they able to take exams or submit papers on-line via the internet? If the individual had drop-out or transferred, try to find out the reason.
6. Find out what financial aid is available What financial programs does the particular college offer to the student? Do they have their own scholarships and grants available or do they rely mainly on governmental grants? Call the financial aid office and talk to someone about acquiring assistance. Are they helpful? Remember you are probably going to have to be dealing with these same people in the near future!
7. What is the school’s academic standing? Go on-line and try to determine what the school’s academic reputation is. Find out if it has a large graduate population and devotes a majority of their energies towards research. Is the student population composed of mainly undergraduates where an emphasis is placed on teaching and learning?
8. Find out what the course requirements are. Make sure that the school of your choice will prepare you for your chosen occupation. Some schools require a well rounded course load while others are well known for producing students with a specific expertise of knowledge and will allow them to proceed directly into the core classes of their chosen major. Many accredited institutions are now offering online degrees to accommodate working students.
9. Visit the town or city that is associated with the school. If you plan to attended classes on-campus then, if possible, tour surrounding areas which cater to the college’s student population. Go and visit the stores, shops, and eateries. Get a feel for what the prices are of everyday items that you will need to purchase. Is it possible to find off campus housing? Can you afford to live off campus?
10. Conduct comparative research. Determine on-line how your chosen school stacks up with similar colleges. Does it offer the same or similar courses? Are the courses transferable to a large number of other institutions?
It is becoming very popular for students to blog about their experiences. We invite you to create a student blog with one of our green web hosting partners, Proper Hosting LLC. They feature one-click Wordpress installs that will have you blogging within minutes.
If, after following some or all of these steps, a particular college or set of schools just feels right, or if you find that you just have a good feeling about what you have discovered after comparing the information you’ve gathered about on-line schools; then trust your instincts and go with the feeling.
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