Choose the right school is super important. You could spend years wasting time and money that could otherwise be avoided.

The People

Going to college is the complete opposite of isolation. Not only will you most likely have to bunk with one or more roomies, you are immediately thrown into a sea of other people all crammed into one campus. The type of people matters, because why spend four years around others who don’t bring out the best in you? I don’t want anyone to take my words as being judgmental because that’s not what this is. Simply put, this is about chemistry. We relate to people for different reasons, and while I highly encourage students to explore the much diversity that comes from meeting and learning new people – Be true to your heart when it speaks to you about those around you. One of my favorite lines from the book The Alchemist– is “The heart always knows”.

This of course has nothing to do with race or other external factors that have little to do with who a person is. Ask yourself; “Is this an environment that I wouldn’t mind learning from my mistakes in?” or “Is this a place I would be okay with meeting my future spouse?”. Try to be open-minded and discerning at the same time.

Useful Tips

• Compatibility plays a huge part when it comes to enjoying others.
• Trust your heart when it tells you something.
• Remember to be kind and bring out the best in others, it isn’t just about them but you as well.

The Money

Let’s face it, college can be expensive, especially with rising tuition costs. Finding the best match for you and your situation could save you years of taxing student loan debt that most students will inevitably incur. Furthermore, if for whatever reason your financial stream runs dry, a tuition reasonably aligned with your income could be the difference between continuing your education or dropping out. Unless most or all of your tuition is covered through a scholarship or a rich uncle, you should be mindful of the situation you put yourself in. What good is college if you only set yourself up for failure?

Useful Tips

• Don’t bury yourself in loans you won’t be able to pay back.
• Look into scholarships, grants etc. to help lessen the burden.
• If you still find yourself drowning you might have to pick up a job to help put yourself through college or even consider a different field of study and/or school.

The Academics

I think this goes without saying. Not every school is created equal. That’s not to suggest that students who attend less brainy schools are necessarily inferior to those who do. Most people have heard of Harvard University, and perhaps the first thought that comes to mind when they think of Harvard is “intelligence”. Little do most people know that Harvard’s neighbor, MIT, is an even brainier school than Harvard. In fact, students and professors alike have been known to view Harvard as the little brother to those students over there. If Harvard can be listed as less-than in the context of brainy schools, it only goes to show that it can happen to any institution, so no need to feel bad. 

A Harvard student, on average, for instance, may struggle with some of the course work offered at MIT. If you’ve ever been in a classroom and was either super advanced compared to everyone else, or super behind, you know the feeling of being academically out of place. It’s never a good situation to be in and you should not allow your pride to stand in the way. Find a good school that will challenge you but where you can also thrive academically.

Useful Tips

• Fitting in academically is crucial to your own success.
• Just because a college is considered to be better doesn’t mean it will fit you.
• Keep in mind to find a school that also challenges you and keeps you on your toes.

The ROI

Return On Investment should always be at the core of your decision making when it comes to college. Ask yourself; “Will my degree be worth tens of thousands of dollars later?”. We all have a fair sense of what constitutes a “good school”, it’s not a very hard thing to decipher. Just remember that future employers and or clients can decipher just as well and will mind your academic credentials.

Now, there is another side to this coin. Perhaps the school that fits you best doesn’t fall within the ranks of a “good school”. So what then? Well, for starters, a degree isn’t everything. In fact, over 90% of employers prefer “work experience” according to the NACE (National Association of Colleges & Employers). Perhaps the best advice I can leave you with is that; no matter what school you attend, what ultimately decides your success is YOU. It’s not uncommon for college dropouts or community college graduates to rise to the position and employ graduates from so-called “brainy school”.

Useful Tips

• If the degree is “worth it” to you than pursue it.
• Weigh the pros and cons of the degree you are pursuing.
• You determine your own success.   

The Alternative

As a business leader in my community I was fortunate enough to have spent 5 satisfying years serving on the CTAE Advisory Board for Cobb County schools in Atlanta Georgia. Our focus was to identify ways to better support students who sought a less traditional route post high school. Over the years I have taught and mentored students who were right at home in college and some who were downright out of place. The truth of the matter is that college is not for everybody, and that’s okay! Mark Zuckerberg figured that out pretty early on and I doubt anyone would question his decision. At the end of the day, do what works for you and not what others want. It’s your life so don’t be afraid to take the lead. 

Tips to study

• You don’t need a college education to be educated.
• It’s not unheard of these days to have CEO’s and normal people you might know to not have pursued a higher education.
• You determine your future, take control and lead it.

The Feeling

You know when something is right for you. It goes without saying, it’s unforced, natural and reassuring. If you have to force yourself to “like” a situation then it’s probably not the right fit for you. When it comes to your gut you should learn to trust it and learn its voice so you can align yourself with what is truly right for you.

Tips to study

• Trust your gut.
• If something doesn’t feel right it probably isn’t.
• You have to be your own advocate, listen to and encourage yourself.

Whatever your next step will be, go into it fully and give it your all. The future is yours and the quality of that future is your responsibility and no one else’s.

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