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First Things to Think About when Choosing Higher Education

© ML Arthur

The first decision that anyone who is considering a college degree must make is what type of school they would like to attend. There are actually many different factors in this decision.

--First, what degree would you like to earn? Undergraduate degrees include one to two year certificate programs, two to three year associates degree programs, and three to six year bachelor's degree programs. These can all take longer if you attend part-time. Also available are five to ten year combined bachelor's-graduate programs, often in professional fields like medicine, architecture, engineering, and law.

Certificate programs are often in technical or vocational fields, and can certify you to practice a trade like cosmetology or auto repair. Associates degrees, which can be associates of science, associates of applied science (vocational), associates of the arts, or one of many other more specific types, often prepare you for entry-level work in fields like medical assisting, paralegal work, and child care. They can also provide an opportunity for weak students to bolster their performance before transferring to a bachelor's program or for students with few financial resources to spend part of their college career at a less expensive institution.

Bachelor's degrees can be bachelor's of science, bachelor's of arts, bachelor's of music, bachelor's of fine arts, and many other more specific degrees. They prepare you for further graduate or professional study in your field or for many kinds of employment, such as teaching, business, registered nursing, or advertising.

--Second, what would you like to study? Different schools have different curricular strengths. Some schools specialize in the arts, others in technology. Some larger schools have programs in fields like nursing or paralegal studies that are very separate from the rest of the institution. If you would like a broad general education, in addition to your focus, you would choose a different school than if you wanted intensive study in just one field.

--Third, what features are you looking for? Will you need a school with student housing and meal plans or do you need support services for day students? Would you like to participate in athletics or do you need academic support services? Can you attend full time in the day or do you need evening or weekend programs?

--Fourth, what geographical area are you looking for? Do you need a school that is close to home or do you want to get away? Think about this carefully. Going to school across the country may seem like a good idea, but coming home on breaks will be difficult and costly. You may get homesick and miss your family and friends. And the culture shock that comes with a move from, say, a rural town in the south to a big northern city may be too much. On the other hand, don't cross your dream school off of your list just because it is far away. It may prove to be the right place for you.

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