First, all educational institutions have a Return On Investment (ROI) and that in my opinion needs to be a key data point for deciding where one should go to school. Marc did a good job of sharing key points about "degree mill" universities. But what about Harvard, the University of Chicago, or the University of Iowa? Each has a reputation and a cost. Each offers their students a distinctly different experience. I've told Haley that I want her "to go to the best school she can get into". Is that good advice? I guess it comes down to what factors you consider to come up with your definition of "best school". That's my point on ROI.
So my next point is what SHOULD be the factors in where someone decides to attend school. Here's a list of potential factors:
- Location - lots of students want to get away for college, explore their independence, others just want to go someplace warm.
- Reputation - the best example here seems to be Harvard. There is no question when you get a degree from Harvard that most don't even care what you majored in. Harvard = Smart. Another example is your local community college. The fact that they tend to be the "default option" for most students does play into their reputation. This isn't a knock on CCs because I know many that go this route for financial reasons and not knowing what they want to do, but they do tend to be a stepping stone to something else rather than a destination choice.
- Major - most schools have reputations for being a great business school, engineering school, journalism school, law school. You get the point but students need to consider what they think they want to major in and then narrow their list based on those who have the strongest reputation in that field of study.
- Cost - this isn't ROI, but it is part of the formula. This has become a little like buying a car - don't just focus on the sticker price, but negotiate for financial support (scholarships, grants, loans) and attempt to calculate what the REAL net cost is of attending.
- Size - some students want a smaller and more intimate college experience, others want lots of kids their age.
- Campus visit - which school did you connect with and which school connected with you? I would say this is often the difference maker among top choices. My only experience here is private high school consideration and the difference maker for both Haley and Alex was the shadow experience. When they went to the school and shadowed another student for the day.
Just for fun, here's a few that in my opinion SHOULD NOT be factors in where someone decides to go to school:
- How the school colors look on my skin tone - this is a contribution from my daughter Haley. Love it!
- It's where (fill in the blank) went - this pains me a little, but just because it was a good choice for your parent, friend, etc. doesn't make it a good fit for you. Gotta make your own choices.
- Climate - while location may be a consideration I don't think "it's warmer than where I live now" isn't a reasonable factor for consideration.
- Athletic supremacy - this is a knock on those who grew up liking Bear Bryant's Crimson Tide or Michigan's Fab Five. Endearing yes, a good reason to want to go to a school, no.
One of the primary things I learned in college was how to manage my independence. I didn't always make the right choices but each choice I made I learned from.
Like most young adults, my undergraduate experience was an incredible time of growth and personal development in my life. But admittedly when I think about how I chose to go the University of Iowa I would say I was just like most 17 year old kids ... I didn't give my college choice the thought and attention it deserved given it is such a big life decision.
Better to be lucky than good.
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