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Tough Questions Checklist

When you decide what college to go to, it helps to take stock of what's important to you and ask yourself some tough questions. A checklist like this can help you get started. When you set up your checklist, create a separate column for each college or university you’re considering. Answer as many questions as you can for each one.

ISSUE	Option 1	Option 2	Option 3
*Academics*
Does the college have a good academic reputation?
Is it fully accredited?
Does it offer many opportunities to pursue your intended major or subject areas of interest?
Will you be able to meet with professors and advisers outside of class?
Does the school provide academic support services, such as tutoring, writing, or math labs, that will help you succeed in your coursework?
If it is a four-year college, what percentage of students graduate within six years?
If it is a two-year college, is an associate degree enough to help you get a good job in your field?
If it is a two-year college, will you be able to transfer your credits to a four-year college later?
Affordability
Is the financial aid package enough to pay for your essential expenses?
Does the financial aid package include a higher percentage of grants and scholarships than loans that you are obligated to repay?
If you need to get a job to help with expenses, will you still have time to study?
If the campus is outside of Washington, DC, how much will it cost to go back and forth for holidays and vacations?
If you live on campus, how will you pay for expenses not covered by the campus housing and meal plan — for example, movie tickets, school supplies, snacks, and shampoo?
If the campus is in a warmer or colder part of the country, will you have to buy new clothes?
Will you need public transportation or a car to get to class?
If you’re living on campus, how will you get your clothes and other stuff to campus in the fall and back home in the spring?
Location
Is the campus in a part of the country that you know — or would like to know better?
Is the campus the right size for you — not too big or too small?
If the climate is different from Washington, DC’s, will you be willing and able to adjust?
Are there geographic features, such as mountains or an ocean, near campus that relate to your interests or that you would like to explore?
Will you easily be able to get transportation home for vacations and holidays?
Do you have friends or family who live near campus who you can call or visit?
Social Environment
Does the campus offer social organizations like fraternities and sororities or DC student clubs?
Will you be able to participate in sports as a player or a fan?
If the school emphasizes certain religious, political, or social values, are these compatible with your own beliefs?
Do you feel at home with the mix of students from different geographic areas, religions, socio-economic groups, or cultures?
If you have disabilities or family needs, such as child care, does the school offer services that will help you concentrate on your education?
Do you feel the campus offers students enough to do without spending a lot of money?

Finding Answers

Use these tools and links to help you investigate your options.

Academics
- Use a college search tool such as the one provided by the College Board and visit the U.S. News and World Report College Rankings to see information on a variety of academic criteria.
- Check the school’s Web site to see whether the school provides support services and opportunities to help you succeed academically. (Find out more about what to look for in a supportive college.)
- Check the graduation rates of four-year colleges and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) most frequently attended by students from the District of Columbia. (See a list of DC students' top college choices.)
Affordability
- Some Web sites, such as the College Board and Sallie Mae, provide online tools that can help you compare your financial aid award offers and figure whether an award offer is enough to meet your needs at that school.
- Create a personal budget for each school. Add up the costs for each of these categories: tuition, room and board, books, travel, and personal.
Location
- Ask the admissions office to put you in touch with current students or recent alumni who can give you the true facts: What’s it really like on the hottest (or coldest) day of the year? What’s there to do on a Saturday night?
- If your campus is out of town, check a travel Web site like Orbitz.com or Expedia.com to see how much it costs to go from here to there.
Social Environment
- Consider visiting — or revisiting — the campus, this time with specific questions and issues in mind. Or if you can’t go in person, see if the college offers a virtual tour on its Web site. Try to put yourself in the picture: Does it feel like the right choice for you?

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Rosalind

Rosalind's daughter, a Hyde Leadership grad, is going to Jarvis Christian College ... view video (1:42)

TRUE OR FALSE?

You shouldn't choose a college just because your friends go there.