what school is right for you?

[PeppyGPhiB]

I really encourage you to NOT choose a school based on what you think you will major in. Why? If for any reason that major doesn't work out, you need to still be happy with the school you chose.

I knew in high school that I wanted to be a doctor. I even did a special honors course at another school specifically for pre-pre-med kids my senior year, plus internships. When all the guidance counselors would go on about how all college kids change their major, I was the one that said, "Nope, not me."

Well, fast forward to my sophomore year of college where I was pre-med and miserable. It was no longer "me." I realized I no longer had any desire to be a doctor and go to school for so many more years, and furthermore, some of the classes (calculus and physics) did not come as naturally to me as it did for my classmates, which was a problem since everything was graded on a curve. I decided to go in a completely different direction and follow in my dad's footsteps as either an advertising or public relations major. And I LOVED my last two years of college. I was very lucky to be at a school that was equally excellent in both science and non-sciences. (Shameless plug: if you really want to know about a great pre-med program where you would also get a well-rounded education, Pepperdine's natural science division is superb at preparing its students for med school and has the acceptance rates to prove it.)

I'm also a big believer in liberal arts schools that give you a well-rounded education. People don't realize that there are plenty of science, business, accounting, etc. majors at liberal arts schools.

I'd also choose a school not in your own back yard. The best learning experience I got out of college was living on my own, away from everyone I knew, for the first time. You can go home at winter and summer break...don't go somewhere where you'll be tempted (or able) to go home on the weekends to see mom and dad. And while there are certainly some perks that come from being part of a large home-town university alumni network, it's been my experience that my far-from-home degree gets me more attention than the slew of UW/WSU/WWU/CWU grads employers in my state see.

Like others have said, make sure you visit the schools you're considering. That's what sealed the deal for me...I just felt really "at home" at what became my future university.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by PeppyGPhiB

I really encourage you to NOT choose a school based on what you think you will major in. Why? If for any reason that major doesn't work out, you need to still be happy with the school you chose.

I second my sister - this is the reason I transferred schools.