Questions to Save you from the Wrong College; Just Ask

By Dr. Casper Poodel

Lots of families spend more time shopping for an automobile than selecting a college.

And, almost everyone knows what questions to ask when talking with an auto salesperson. That's not necessarily the case when people are investigating a college.

Sadly, some students, and even many parents are so intimidated by the college selection process that they are too shy or too embarassed to ask questions at all. This unfortunate tendency is seen most often in parents who have not attended college or helped an older child navigate through the college selection maze.

Your questions are unlikely to be stupid or inappropriate. And, it's no big deal if they are. What would be a big deal would be making an awful college choice because of your fear of temporary embarrassment. Then you would have good reason to feel stupid. So, try these five questions...you have my guarantee they're intelligent...and add some of your own.

1. Describe the kind of student who flourishes at your college.

2. Do students have an opportunity to interact with faculty outside of the classroom?

3. How engaged are students in academics? In campus activities?

4. Other than traditional on-campus classroom study, what kinds of learning opportunities (internships, study-travel, research) are available to students?

5. What percentage of your students leave campus on an average weekend?

After reading these five questions, I'll bet you've thought of several more, including those you consider more important than my five. Write them down now, while you're thinking of them, and add to them as you think of more things that will help you make your best college choice. In just a few more moments you'll have taken some important steps toward finding the best college for you.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to make a great college choice. It's simply a two step process; coming up with the right questions and asking them.

About the Author:

Dr. Casper Poodel's higher education and online education websites were created to help students choose an online college and an online degree program to meet their individual educational and career needs.