WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
1. If you don’t know what you’d like to pursue, how is the university going to help you figure it out? What kind of program(s) does the university have? Keep in mind that NOT knowing what you want to do is common…..and you’re paying a heck of a lot of money to the university… so how’s the university going to help you?
2. If you DO know what you’d like to study, what is the program like? Dig through the university’s website to see the faculty profiles, research/participation opportunities.
3. Study abroad opportunities…both within and outside your chosen area of study. Some majors seamlessly work into study abroad opportunities while others require maneuvering (aka taking classes outside your major).
4. Career Resource Center: college is a temporary life stage…so how’s the university going to help you get to the next stage? Resume help? Mock interviews? Career fairs?
5. Academic Support: What sort of tutoring is available? You’ll have fun while there, but ultimately, you’re going there for an education, so it’d be nice to know what type of support is actually available….is it a peer-to-peer tutoring center? A writing center?
6. Mental/Disabilities Support: Even if you don’t have a serious mental health concern, maybe it’s just test anxiety….find out what the counseling center helps with. You may never walk in in your time there, but it’s just good to know.
If you have ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, etc, then please check out what resources are available. Remember that ADD/ADHD students can still submit the 504 plan to receive extended time on tests.
