Starting Out: Selections, Visits, and Emails, Oh My!

          Alright, first step of a high school senior in America? What comes next. (Also go to school for your senior year, that is important) This chapter is going to walk you through college first steps, if you want to go right into the workforce or do a technical school, please skip this. If you aren’t sure yet, feel free to skim.

          I did the college tours and the get to know your university stuff, but none of that really told me anything. Any college guided tour or event is purely marketing. They are showing you all the shiny stuff to convince you to give them money. This is helpful only slightly. Because they are always going to leave stuff out, like how campus food actually tastes or what departments get more funding than others.

          I suggest walking around on your own if you do attend a tour. If you aren’t terrified of other human beings (like I am), feel free to ask some random students about their college experience. The student ambassadors on your tour? They have a script and are paid. 

          The student minding their own business on a bench or at a table? They are going to give you an upfront and honest answer. Try asking what things off campus are fun to do. Get to know the area. Ask about safety and living conditions in the dorms.

          If you know what degree or even just general department you want, ask if you can talk to one of those professors. Figure out what building those classes are in. Go check it out. The worst that can happen is you get told no. If they do say no, maybe consider why they don’t want you asking more specific questions. In some cases, it is because that department is understaffed and way too busy, in other cases it is because that department isn’t very welcoming. Feel free to follow up their no with asking how many adjuncts that department has.

          And if you don’t want to or can’t go to the campus, all of this can be done through email or over the phone. Please ask a ton of questions.

           And trust your instincts. If you don’t like how a university feels, there is a reason even if it is just your subconscious. I encourage you to be picky and annoying, this is your education. And if a university gets to ask you invasive things and pick and choose students, then the students should get the same courtesy.

          For the people pleasers and the introverts, this feels hard so get help. I am not ashamed to admit that I made my mom do most of the talking. We would sit down and discuss the things we wanted to know before a tour or phone call, then she would take over and do all the scary parts. If you need help, that is okay. You can even get a friend to just ask those questions. Just please find a way to ask.

          Something else I want to make sure you know is the difference between private and public universities.

               A public university is getting substantial federal funding which means lower tuition. They often have more students enrolled in each course and more government oversight into course work. Public universities rarely have a declared denomination, so they are less likely to be overly religious in courses. That being said, every university always has a political opinion they lean towards.

             A private university is getting less federal funding, so higher tuition rates and less government oversight into courses. There is a higher chance of campus wide religious views. Private universities still have to follow federal laws such as Title IX (which we will discuss later as well).

         Feel free to pick where to apply based on whatever you want. I looked for universities near cities, with accessibility offices, in a weather climate I could tolerate, and with the degree programs I wanted. I was shocked that weather patterns are not often considered when thinking about where to go for college. I made a list of the universities that fit my needs and added their average cost. This helped me narrow my choices down.

          I recommend picking out anywhere between 3 to 10 universities to apply to. You will want to make sure to TRIPLE check they have the degree you want (or even just a degree you are interested in). I applied to a university that shut down their anthropology department just that year, so I was left without the anthropology classes I wanted. Universities can be slow to updating their websites or online course catalogs so email verification.

          And keep in mind community colleges. I think more people should consider attending a community college to work through the gen ed’s before enrolling in a 4 year university. While I enjoyed my time at my university, it would have been a lot cheaper for me to go to a community college for 2 years, then enroll at a university and take degree specific courses. I think I would have been more prepared when picking my university as well. If you are feeling daunted by the cost of university or feel unsure what degree you want, community college for 2 years is a great way to start out.

If we consider each of those factors, then I think you are as prepared as possible for this life decision.

       Something you will need to consider if you go the community college route or plan on transferring is sticking to those Gen ed’s. The Gen Ed’s are general classes that every university requires you to take.

          If you need help finding out the Gen Ed’s of your university (because the course work is the same, but the names change), email an advisor at your intended university/community college. You can also check out your state’s ‘core transfer credits’. Every state has different ones.