


Choosing the right school

10:00 PM, Apr. 22, 2012
  • Filed Under

What do you want to be when you grow up? That childhood question never has more importance than when a student begins the process of choosing a college.

The answer will determine whether a student chooses a two-year or a four-year school, one close to home or away from home, a small, intimate institution or a large urban area. Among considerations are costs, campus life, recreational and extracurricular opportunities and individual learning style.

While most students start looking at colleges during their junior year of high school, you will have more options if you start earlier, according to Catherine Redhead, director of enrollment services at the University of Montana Western.

"Courses you select in ninth grade will impact your opportunities for higher education," Redhead said. "For example, you need four years of math to be eligible for the (Montana University System) Honors Program."

It's also a good idea to explore extracurricular activities while in high school, added Brenda Cole, 22, a senior at Montana Western. "It not only looks good on your application, but you can use it when you get to college to meet people who have the same interests as you."

Austin Mapston, assistant director of admissions at Rocky Mountain College, recommends students discuss their interests and goals with high school counselors and take advantage of resources close to home, such as college fairs.

"Start big, looking at all the options," Mapston said. "Then hone in on what's important, such as trade education versus professional studies, urban versus rural, whatever matters to you."

Check out schools on the Internet, or use other college selection web-based tools, such as or

Sarah Nitschke, 19, a freshman at Rocky Mountain College, advised asking questions of teachers, administrators and friends and doing some career testing to help identify interests.

Asa Dickerson, 19, a sophomore at American University in Washington, D.C., recommends reading school newspapers and checking out student blogs for inside info on a school.

If you have some idea of your career path, search for schools with a major in that field. Similar titles, however, may be very different. For example, Rocky Mountain and Montana Western both offer equine studies, but the first focuses on therapeutic riding and riding instruction while the latter focuses on natural horsemanship training.

The quality of and access to faculty is important, and students should consider a school's job placement rates for graduates in their chosen fields.

Desired studies also will determine whether to choose a two-year or four-year school. Two-year schools typically focus on the trades such as construction or oil field work, and allow a student to move more quickly into a professional position. Four-year schools offer a much wider array of courses leading to bachelor's degrees. They often are a good choice even when one has not yet chosen a major.

"Still deciding is an OK answer," Redhead said. "At most universities, the freshman year is spent in general education studies where you get to try a lot of different coursework. Those classes can reveal interests a student never dreamed of. There's time to decide a major."

Nearly all programs are available in the Montana system, but some students just want to make a change. Dickerson, a business major from Livingston, was drawn to American University for its strong academic programs and reputation.

"I was worried that if I went to MSU (Montana State University in Bozeman), it would be the same as high school, just with less rules and regulations," said Dickerson. "I wanted a different experience."

Sometimes leaving the state is a great choice for Montanans, he added.

"I think out-of-state schools want geographic diversity, and the different perspective you can bring, even if you don't have the top scores," he said.

Cole, who is majoring in natural horsemanship and English, also chose to leave her home state of Colorado for Dillon because she was ready to live on her own, and wanted a smaller school than the one in her home town of Boulder.

"I had a friend at CU (University of Colorado) and I went to a few classes with her," Cole said. "There were 400 in her chemistry class and I thought no way could I do this. But it was a pretty big culture shock, moving from liberal Boulder to Dillon, especially during hunting season."

Cole now loves the interactions, discussions and group work at the small school, and her ability to walk between classes and her part-time job in five minutes.

Nitschke, on the other hand, not only remained in her hometown of Billings, she also is living at home.

"I thought at first I would be missing something not living on campus, but I was really surprised at how inclusive everybody was," she said. "I have just as many friends and activities, I think."

The communications major also preferred Rocky's small size. Since she was home-schooled, any college would be much larger than her high school. "I really appreciate the student-to-instructor ratio," Nitschke added. "The professors know your name and your interests. They're not just teaching. They're passionate about their subject."

At larger schools, introductory classes often are conducted by teaching assistants. For those planning to pursue graduate degrees at that university, however, it still would give them the opportunity to get to know professors, who often are the top in their fields, and would be their advisers.

Cost can be a huge factor in deciding where to attend college. While state schools tend to have lower tuition and fees, Mapston said private schools often can offer much larger financial aid packages. Redhead recommends families plan financially for a full four years of college, so they don't get caught short.

Cole is taking advantage of the Western Undergraduate Exchange, a program that allows students from participating states to pay 150 percent of in-state tuition at another state's public university rather than full out-of-state tuition.

Avoiding debt was one reason Nitschke chose the Billings school, which accepted credits she earned from several colleges while still in high school.

"Colleges don't tell you how much financial aid they'll give you until you're accepted," she said. "Rocky was the most economical for me because I'm not living on campus."

Opportunities differ between private colleges and public institutions, said Redhead. Private colleges often are smaller, and can offer some degrees not available at public institutions.

Individual learning styles can be best accommodated with differing types of school calendars, such as trimesters or quarters. Block scheduling at Montana Western, where students enroll in one month-long course at a time, clicked for Cole because she had attended an alternative high school and it made the transition to college easier.

Residence life also should be considered when selecting a college. Students can create their own small community within the larger university setting through dorm living, sports, religious affiliations and clubs and organizations.

"The hardest thing to judge is the student body, and where you will fit in," said Dickerson. Although he missed freshman orientation, Dickerson quickly met a few fraternity members who became fast friends and fellow frat brothers.

Once you have narrowed your choices and established your personal criteria for selecting a college, it is essential to visit the schools. That way you can explore program options, see the town, and get a feel for the area.

"Every college is unique," said Mapston. "You can get an idea of the community and the campus environment. Meet with faculty, attend classes, meet with administration and financial aid, tour the campus and residence halls. Then go off on your own and meet with students. The most important thing, first and foremost, is fit, for both the institution and the student."

All the students agreed that experiencing the learning environment atmosphere was essential to picking the right school. Visiting Montana Western made the difference for Cole because her tour guide illustrated the strong sense of community.

Added Dickerson, "Seeing AU after reading what was written about it, I could see where the descriptions paralleled, where it differed, and how to interpret it."

Nitschke recommends applying to all schools you like, since you just may well be accepted, and besides, "it's great experience writing those essays."

If you're still not sure about attending college, said Cole, it may be "better to take a deep breath out of high school, go to work and figure out what you want to do. I recommend students take the time to learn what they're getting into. If you end up quitting school, you have this pile of debt and no degree to see for it."

Dickerson advises being "very realistic. Make a list of pros and cons. If you love to ski, don't go to the East Coast. Figure out what matters to you."

Ultimately, said Redhead, "The one thing most true about the process is that it is emotional. It needs to feel right. It's such a huge decision, and huge investment. It's a decision that will change everything."