Once you graduate from school, you need to decide on your next destination. Making this decision, undoubtedly, is a challenging one. You will need help from all kinds of people and things to make the right decision. Now, if we think about it we may ask what makes the right decision. To break it down further, what makes a college the right college for you?

It has been years since I had to deliberate on this matter for myself. I was apprehensive of the possibility that I might consider superficial factors to make my decisions. You hear a lot of different opinions from different people in your life – and that can be really confusing. So, what should you do? See, there are several suggestions which you must have heard of but unless you consider them seriously they won’t prove to be effective.

In this article, I will talk about a few pointers that help in deciding the right college.

1. Rankings
   Well, I would say that rankings do not settle the matter. They can be a good start, but certainly aren’t the end of the search. What remains a fact is that rankings often help in forming a general opinion on the overall performance of the college. Consider, however, only those rankings that have a well-established and transparent assessment system such as that of the CEOWORLD magazine. Also, note that there are many sub-divisions of the rankings such as subject-wise ranking, regional rankings, and international rankings. So, do a careful study.

1. Know your area of interest
   Unless you are sure of the area of interest you cannot have a proper start. I know, deciding on the area itself can be a Herculean task. We are not born with set objectives in mind; we cannot be necessarily sure of our interests upon graduation from school. So, we need to give some time. In case, however, you know what you want you should start looking up the information on colleges that offer good courses in that area. Of course, rankings will be quite useful here but then again you may want to consider other aspects such as tuition fee, curriculum, etc.

1. Your budget
   You may choose the finest college in town but the lack of financial resources can really dampen your future prospects. You need money to study. You may want to shortlist colleges based on their tuition fees and other expenses. Note that location plays a great role in deciding your college expenses. For example, education in the United States will be quite expensive. So, decide on the budget and shortlist colleges accordingly. To offset the expenses, you should definitely apply for scholarships; many of these scholarships consider financial hardships as an important ground for selection.

1. The Location
   I have already mentioned that the location of education is a vital factor. It is not just about the expenses that make the location an important criterion. When you decide to move or education, you decide to adjust to a new life. Note that the new life will most likely involve a new culture, possibly a new language, new lifestyles, unknown people, and whatnot. Every country, city, and town is different from one another. A country could be noisy and crowded but with excellent facilities; there could be one which is quiet and organized yet with really expensive facilities to afford. Just because the world is going to, say, the United Kingdom does not mean you have to do the same.

1. Talk to others
   I am not asking you to accept whatever others advise you to do. However, diverse opinions can serve as a good source of comparison. For example, if you have a college in mind, ask about it from its teachers, students, and administration. They will offer you different views but will allow you to estimate whether or not it is worth applying to that college. Personal experiences of people in colleges can be really helpful because they come from first-hand experience. In fact, you may want to secure the services of a career counselor in this regard. She can offer you a more detailed insight into the career path chosen and help you organize your thoughts.

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