Finding the Wrong College: A Different Perspective on Picking the Right School

After you finish high school online, it is time to move on to the college of your dreams. Choosing the right college can be one of the most important decisions you will make in your life…no stress, right? You’ve spent a lot of time researching different schools, you’ve narrowed it down to a few choices, but now you’ve hit a stalemate. They all seem so good - how do you pick the right one? Here’s how to channel your inner Sherlock Holmes with the power of deduction – finding the wrong ones and seeing what’s left!

1. What is wrong about the location?

Location can mean everything! Is it rural or in a big city? You don’t want to go to school in a place that bores you to death. On the other hand, if you’re more of an introvert and the idea of being in the middle of a bustling metropolis raises your blood pressure, a city school would be a bad choice. Also, what’s the weather like around that area? Some places have colder winters, rainier summers or vice versa. If the climate isn’t for you, the school probably isn’t either.

2. What is the school culture like?

Some colleges have a strong Greek system, while others have abandoned the notion of frats and sororities. That in itself could be a deal breaker, depending on what you prefer. Do some research into the kind of people that study at the college you have your eye on. Do they have strong sports teams? Clubs? Do you even care about those kinds of things? Extracurricular life could mean all the difference for your college career.

3. Is the school too big (or small)?

When you think of being miserable at the wrong college, do you picture it being like a big village where the classes are small and everyone knows pretty much everyone? Maybe you envision a huge campus with too many people and massive lecture halls? If one or more of the colleges on your list fit the description of that mental picture, feel free to cross those out.

After envisioning what the wrong college would look like, hopefully you’ve managed to narrow your list down to one survivor. Take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back! Some of the best years of your life await!