Today’s college search process requires students to consider many factors when selecting the best fit for them. Age-old considerations are campus size, location, academic and cultural suitability, and cost.
An educational institution’s regional strength should be another top concern, especially when looking toward the job market, said Gabe Cramer, managing director of mentoring at Command Education, a college admissions consulting firm.
For example, “If you’re going to a school in Boston, there is tremendous competition among Northeastern, Harvard, MIT, and Boston University, to name a few.” [looking] As for job opportunities in the area, that is likely to go to graduates from the more prestigious schools here,” he said.
As you edit your wish list of schools, it’s also worth checking out what graduate lab and research opportunities there are. “Are they accessible and abundant? Some schools are incredible research engines, but it can be difficult for graduate students to secure such opportunities,” Cramer said.
Finally, when you go on campus tours and talk to regional admissions officers, “Trust your gut. There’s no science behind it, but your instincts are often right. Whether your intense positive or negative reaction Yes, it’s you who is going to spend the next four years or so of your life, despite all the advice you take. Will spend a lot of time not even in class, because now it’s 8 am to 3 p.m. Your time outside of class will also impact your experience,” Cramer said. “You have to feel comfortable with it.”
Taking such due diligence a step further, discerning students should check out the courses and degrees offered at their top preferred higher institutions. Their differences can be the deciding factor in deciding where to enroll.
Additionally, offering career services is still a major consideration, according to Rob Frank, editor-in-chief of The Princeton Review, a leading tutoring, test preparation and college admissions services company.
“Will the students progress from this school and pursue a career? Does a college offer experiences outside the classroom through internships, co-ops, experiential learning opportunities, international experiences? “All of this should complement what they are doing inside the classroom so that they can enter into extraordinary careers after graduation,” he said.
The heated political climate on college campuses is another dynamic now influencing college choices.
“I think it’s definitely something that students should consider,” Frank said. “Whether a school leans politically left or right, whether queer students are accepted or not, if diverse students interact — it’s integral to your experience in and out of the classroom. Students would be doing a disservice if they didn’t think about those things with counselors and parents as part of research and fit.
Here are some schools and future-proofed courses that may pique your interest.
politically minded
With turmoil in the Middle East and unrest elsewhere, you may be inclined to hone your peace-building and negotiation skills for the sake of the world.
If so, The George Washington University’s Elliott School of International Affairs offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in Middle East Studies, Asian Studies/Latin American Studies, Hemispheric Studies or a Bachelor of Science in International Affairs.
If you focus on the Middle East, classes in Business Arabic, Israeli Media, Arab-Israeli Conflict, Land and Power in Israel/Palestine will be on par with your curriculum.
Additional academic institutions targeted for such study include Tufts University, American University, and Smith College.
healthy living
Healthcare leaders have shone during the pandemic, and the allure of the fields in which they practice has not diminished. Aspiring nurses should look to Angelo State University in Texas for its award-winning nursing programs. The BSN degree offered here prepares students for careers as Registered Nurses (RN) in any health care setting. Here are sample courses in Nursing, Adult Health Nursing, Pharmacology, and Dose Calculation in Obstetrics and Pediatric Nursing Practicum.
Research Baylor University, Drexel University, the University of Delaware, and Villanova University also offer comparable, high-quality programs.
climate control
Given the prevalence of wildfires and other natural disasters, it is worth considering a career in environmental studies. Schools like Emory University, Northeastern University, SUNY Binghamton, and Colorado Boulder are becoming preferred options for this subject.
For example, at SUNY Binghamton, graduates of the BA in Environmental Studies or BS in Environmental Science programs must be able to tackle broader environmental and social concerns in these fields. Some classes to consider are environmental ethics and policy, farm-to-table food, and humans and the physical environment. Typical career paths for graduates span jobs in advocacy groups or consulting firms, environmental law, and the public and private sectors.
social skills
We are living in the world of social media. Such platforms are our favorite, real-time sources for both breaking news and product/service marketing, and there’s a lot in between.
This shows that schools are like a magnet for social media giants and journalism giants. Top candidates include American University, Arizona State University, Boston University, New York University, Syracuse University, and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications offers graduate degrees in the fields of advertising, broadcast and digital journalism, public relations, magazine news and digital journalism, television, radio and film. Specific classes for those with a social media mindset include Social Media for Communicators, Social Media and Society for Public Relations, and Social Media and Data for the Music Business.
shrink wrapped
Calling all mental health warriors. With crime and mental illness dominating the news at every age and across all socio-economic criteria, psychology experts should be employed well into the future.
Great schools for such majors include Agnes Scott College, Barnard College, Florida State University, Ohio State University Columbus, Quinnipiac University, Sienna College, and State University of New York Geneseo.
For BA in Psychology degree at Siena College, interesting courses included in the curriculum are Child Psychology, Theories of Personality, Tests and Measurements and Physiological Psychology.
shark Tank
The wave of entrepreneurship in America shows no signs of collapsing. If you want to swim with the sharks and be your own boss, getting a business school or finance degree is a wise choice.
Some of the best places to pursue such academic interests are Babson College, City University of New York Baruch College, Miami University, Pace University, and University of Florida, etc.
At Baruch College’s Zicklin School of Business, the BA in Entrepreneurship prepares students for experience in new ventures, or larger companies, or nonprofits in the fields of technology, finance, health, education, or the arts. Helps to develop. , Classes that ignite the solo-flying spirit include developing an entrepreneurial mindset, family enterprise dynamics, the art of persuasion, social entrepreneurship, new venture funding, and multicultural entrepreneurship experiences.
computer literate
In our digital age, people at the forefront of computer engineering and computer science can make their way to the forefront more easily than many others. Be it forensics, gaming, machine learning, artificial intelligence or drone software, the opportunities and avenues for today’s aspiring computer gurus are abundant and exciting.
Exciting paths begin at degree-bearing institutions like Brown University, California Institute of Technology, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and University of California Los Angeles. It also offers bachelor’s degree in the related field of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology. Classes include calculus, circuits and systems, microprocessors, engineering ethics and technical practice, and principles of operating systems.
