Deciding where to spend the next four years earning your degree and building relationships is not a light task, especially when you’ve been accepted into multiple colleges and can only choose one. Here are five criteria other North Park students have considered to help you make your decision.
Cost
Attending college can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Make sure you look at what kinds of scholarships the school offers and check for other merit or academic-based scholarships. There are also multiple websites where you can find essay or no-essay scholarships. North Park recognizes the financial burden college poses, but its commitment to affordability makes it easy to find your value here.
Location and Distance from Home
Distance from home can be a tricky one. Your parents might want you close, and you can choose whether you want that or not. North Park’s location in a major U.S. city makes it easy to travel home to anywhere in the country by plane, train, or automobile. Another aspect to take into consideration is what surrounds the school. Is it in a major city? Small town? Middle of nowhere? Consider the environment that you want around you. North Park offers a mid-town oasis in the middle of a world-class city.
Academic Majors, Programs, and Reputation
Be sure that the schools you have been accepted into have the majors and programs that you want to study. It is also worth looking at the variety of programs that a school has if you are undecided so that you can take a wide range of courses to find your major. Also, remember to consider the academic reputation of the school. If two schools check the first two boxes, find out which areas each school is recognized for and put that against your course of study.
Social Atmosphere
Whether or not you are a socialite, the social life and atmosphere is a top priority among those considering North Park. Learn more about people on campus who organize social events for students. Narrow down what is a need and a want in terms of living community, career advancement opportunities, and religious life.
Extracurricular Activities
A wide range of extracurricular activities is an important consideration. Clubs, organizations, and intramural sports should all supplement your education by providing a relaxing or engaging time outside of the classroom. Making an impact means becoming connected and filling your time between and after classes surrounded by your peers in other, creative capacities.