In the rush to choose a college (when you already had enough on your mind), you may not have considered some key deal-breakers for a campus. Here are five things to keep in mind when making your final college decision:
1. Nearby stores
Not having a mall to hang out with friends or just a store to purchase some essential items (that don’t cost as much as the campus store) can be a deal-breaker. It can mean a lot on move-in day especially. If you forgot your pillow, need to purchase a pack of water, or you made the huge mistake of not bringing a fan, you’re going to need a Walmart. Food apart from the dining hall is also nice.
2. Weather
It affects your room, your classes and even how you interact with others. Consider your school’s average temperature before buying a comforter—and whether or not your dorm has air-conditioning. A big fluffy blanket when your dorm is kept at a solid 90-degrees is not recommended. If this is the case bring fans. Lots of fans. It may be hard for you to travel in winter as well, if road conditions are poor. If your school is in an area that receives heavy snowfall in the winter, you may want to bring jackets, gloves or even boots. Walking to your classes in a foot of snow and 20-degree weather may be something you are not used to if you are from a warmer area. If your school is in an area that experiences fluctuating weather, you should accommodate for it.
3. Transportation
Location, location, location. Getting around and away from campus can be a deal-breaker for many. Smaller colleges generally allow for walking between classes, but some larger universities may require a drive. If you’re the kind of person that wakes up ten minutes before class, consider travel time. You may have to leave many minutes in advance to reach a class if the building is located around heavy traffic. If there is no city bus system (very likely in rural areas), you may have to consider how you will get to a store or around town. Walking is not a bad option if the area is relatively safe and you don’t have too much to purchase at a store. It’s also a lot cheaper and easier than paying for a parking pass and fighting for a parking spot. However, a hard decision for many students is the distance from the school to home. Students from foreign countries may travel up to 35 hours to reach their college, but the few hours it takes for you to get home can seem that far away if you’re homesick.
4. Every Penny Counts
It’s not just about tuition, residency, meals, blah, blah, blah. Consider the small payments you will be using throughout your college years. Does your school offer free printing, free computer software and repairs? Laundry can also be a huge expense when its added up. $1.25 for one load’s wash can take a lot away from spending money. Some schools attach a certain amount of money to your meal plan each semester so you have a small amount to buy immediate items from the school store. Many students say to consider snacking costs, as well. If there isn’t a store to purchase snacks for a week, vending machine costs can get expensive. If you don’t think you snack much now, just wait until finals…
5. Size
The size of the school, class size and dorm space are all important factors. Depending on the kind of student you are, you may like to hide in a class of 200 or want one-on-one interaction with your professor. You will likely have one or two larger general education classes at some point, but most of your classes will be a certain size. This is also dependent on your major. When touring or visiting your campus (which is highly recommended), check out the size of the rooms. They will probably show you premium dorms and fail to show you the much less cozy freshmen dorms. Asking current students or knowing your dorm choice ahead of time will help you so much in knowing what to pack.