Prepping for College Series: Finding the Perfect College

August 10, 2020

This post was written by Vivian Chen. In the field of finance and accounting, Vivian is filled with enthusiasm to create positive social impact through business. She is, among other things, a believer in the power of being civically engaged and informed.

Early autumn, high school seniors are beginning to research their options for navigating a new transition within the next year. With COVID-19 potentially continuing into the next school year, the stress of uncertainty has only added for aspiring college students. How can rising high school seniors prepare for their pursuit of higher education?

2020-2021 Admissions Cycle Students: Research for the Right Universities

(Are you a 2019-2020 admissions cycle student? Check out our blog post dedicated to you!)

Pursuing education abroad is not an easy decision or path to take; because of that, we at the Chamber want to commend you for taking this giant leap of faith to better your education. While this summer may seem like the best time to perfect your SAT/ACT and TOEFL scores, it is wise to also take some time to think about the following questions:

1. What about the university is most important to you?

For many aspiring college students, prestige may be the main criteria for determining what colleges to apply for. While well-known universities often come with an exceptional education, their names matter in some careers more than others, and there are a few other aspects to consider in a university.

Cost, for instance, is an unavoidable topic when discussing higher education. For many, the financial burden from a prestigious university is not worth its brand name. If you are a cost-conscious student, consult first with your financial support about your budget for the next 4+ years. 

Some majors are best at lesser known universities; while the name of the university may not be familiar to your friends and relatives, it is well respected within its field. Be sure to research rankings specific to your aspiring major.

2. What should you choose as your major?

The major you choose at this point is not always going to be your final major, but helps you select the school that best fits your academic pursuits. There is really no magic formula to choosing a major aside from considering it from a multitude of perspectives. 

Career Fulfillment:

If you have a specific career in mind, there are likely at least a couple of majors that can get you there. If you do not have a specific career in mind, decide on a general field you are interested in first (e.g. business, engineering, social work, etc.). Then, you can nail down to a few majors that are interesting to you after some research. From those, some majors have higher employability than others, so if job stability is important to you, consider those first.

Self Fulfillment:

If you want to attend college purely for the purpose of learning, think about what subjects have interested you so far in your education and build upon them. If you are interested in pursuing something completely new, still keep in mind your strengths and interests from your education so far that are transferable to this new subject. 

While there may seem like an overwhelming amount of majors to choose from, consider your life experiences so far and that should narrow it down to less than ten. 

3. Once you have narrowed down a list of universities, what other aspects should you consider as your rank your preference for your prospective universities?

An underrated aspect of school selection that students often neglect is campus culture. Do you thrive in huge social scenes or prefer a more lowkey, personable environment? Do you enjoy a culture focusing on academic, sports, or social aspects? Does your university meet your values For instance, if you are someone passionate about sustainability, does your university have initiatives towards “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”? 

One other important aspect to consider is the location. If you are aspiring to work in technology, having technology companies located near your university means there are firms that recruit specifically from your university, making internship and full-time job searches easier. You should also consider the crime rates of the nearby neighborhoods for safety reasons. 

Lastly, research the university’s resources allocated to your area of study. If you are studying finance and aspire to work in investment management, is there a program for students to manage a fund at that university? If you are studying chemical engineering, what is the likelihood that as an undergraduate you can join a research lab?

While it may seem like a scary year in front of you, this will also be a gratifying year full of self-discovery and rewards for all the hard work you have put in. We, at the Chamber, hope that you will step into this admissions cycle with openness and confidence, and we wish you the best of luck in this journey!