College choice: Consider many factors

Now that school is back in session, high school seniors should be doing their homework to find the right college to attend next fall.

However, the endeavor isn't simple and shouldn't be made on a whim. There are variables galore affecting decisions that students will have to live with for the rest of their lives.

Ohio State University Associate Vice President of Enrollment Services Vern Granger said the selection of a college should be an extended process that high school seniors and families take seriously.

"When we're talking to students, we tell them that they should look for a university that is a right fit for them, which will vary depending on the student," Granger said. "This includes the size, the location, the makeup of the students, the academic programs and the extracurricular activities."

He added that it's important the students use the college search process as an opportunity to be self-reflective and think about the type of environment that's going to be most conducive to them.

At Newark High School, school counselor Scott Koebel encourages students to visit as many universities as possible to experience campus life while focusing on academic programs.

"Some of the things we don't want them to do is not just go to a school because their best friend is going to that school," Koebel said. "I've seen the peer pressure of going to a school with high school friends. Then they go to that school, and the high school friendship may not pan out and perhaps the school wasn't a good fit for them to begin with. Then unfortunately they end up transferring."

Also, he noted not to pick a college school because you'll be able to get tickets to see the football or basketball team.

"A common misstep can be where maybe you love the campus where it's located, and you may love their recreation facilities and some of the bells and whistles, but if they don't offer the academics you're looking for, it's just not going to be good fit," Koebel said.

Go away or commute?

There's no doubt part of the college experience is maturing as young adults, gaining independence and being responsible.

While going away to a school requires all of the above for success, the truth is some students are better served staying local.

"It's not a bad thing for that student to decide they're going to enroll at that local university," Granger said. "All universities offer high quality programs, great placement opportunities to get the full university experience — as long as that university satisfies all of the check boxes that the student is looking for, that's the right choice."

North Central State College Director of Marketing and Creative Services Keith Stoner said identifying the right college close by or away from home is getting easier.

"There's a great tool to start called Career Coach (ncstatecollege.emsicareercoach.com) and you can search a radius from any zip code," Stoner said. "We use it mostly around here and it searches local job data, job openings and projected job openings based on industry growth and employee attrition through retirement.

"So it's real hard facts on the types of jobs that are available, and what it takes to train to be employed in those areas."

Tuition cost

Similar to buying a new car, where the sticker price doesn't always equate to satisfaction, picking a college based on tuition expense doesn't guarantee academic success.

A recent study published by the American Educational Research Journal revealed attending the most selective college that accepts you doesn't necessarily improve your chances of graduating.

Stoner recommends students apply to not only the school of their dreams but also a variety of schools, including local community colleges.

"The realities are today, you can get your first two years of baccalaureate degree just about anywhere in the state of Ohio," Stoner said. "The board of regents guarantees that those credits will transfer into the school of your choice. That's what we're advocating. You need to look at your overall value."

Today, Stoner said the decision is to attend a four-year school at, for example, $25,000 to $30,000 a year or stay close to home and pay tuition at a community college that's in the $2,000 (including books) a year range.

"It's not hard math to do," Stoner said. "You can save a lot of money. Your parents could save a lot of money or you could save a lot of debt. And that's the value."

He added that North Central State College, a public two-year community-based educational institution serving the residents of north central Ohio, offers technical education in more than 60 associate degree and certificate programs.

"We're not trying to compete on price," Stoner said. "We're trying to compete with those homogeneous first core courses every student takes in college no matter where they go."

Why is it important?

Finally, you can't understate the importance of making the right college choice.

"It has an impact on where they ultimately decide on where they're going to live, the job they're going to do, the career they're going to go into, their friends," Granger said. "It has a lot of impact on a lot of different things. It really lays the foundation for what's going to happen throughout their life."