Choosing a College

There are more than 4,000 institutions of higher education in the United States, so narrowing the choice down to one is more complicated than just applying to the school nearest your home. Even in Mississippi, there are more than 40 schools from which to choose.

It is very important that you consider the right factors in deciding where you will send applications. You might begin by asking these questions:

What kind of degree is appropriate for my interests/goals?

• Bachelor’s degree (Bachelor of Arts or Science)
• Associate’s degree (Associate of Arts or Applied Science)

What kind of school interests me?

• public or private
• community college or college or university
• historically black
• all women or all men
• religious affiliation
• military academy

Where is the school located?

• urban or suburban or rural
• live at home and commute
• move away from home and live on campus

What is the selectivity of their admissions policies?

• Admission to Mississippi’s eight public universities is guaranteed with the successful completion of the college prep curriculum with specific GPA and test score requirements
• Community colleges offer open admission to any high school graduate or GED recipient
• Nationwide, 70% of high school seniors are accepted at their first-choice schools
• Find the middle 50% range for ACT and SAT scores of incoming students

What is the annual cost of attendance, including room and board?

• Do not choose what school to attend based on its cost. 
• Inquire about the availability of financial aid and scholarships
• Ask what percentage of their students receive financial aid
• Ask what percentage receive merit based scholarships

What majors does the school offer and for what academic programs are they known?

• Learn about job placement rates in your areas of interest
• Find out the acceptance rate into medical school, law school, and graduate school
• Inquire what graduates are doing 5 and 10 years out and more

What large is the student body?

• Find out the student to faculty ratio
• Ask what the average class size is
• Find out how many students live on campus and what percentage of students are from in-state and out-of-state
• Ask how many states and foreign countries are represented
• Ask what percentage of students are minorities

What special opportunities are available at the school?

• honors program
• special services for students with learning disabilities or physical disabilities
• athletic participation at varsity/NCAA level
• study abroad programs
• student organizations and clubs
• fraternities and sororities
• internship programs

Have you made a campus visit? The best visit may include:

• meeting your admission counselor
• taking a campus tour
• sitting in on a class
• having lunch with current students
• meeting faculty or staff that teach or work in your interest areas

If you have any questions about planning and financing a college education or selecting a career, please call 800.986.4322 (toll-free) or email us at collegeplanning@esfweb.com. If you wish to visit a College Planning Center, please call for an appointment to ensure that a counselor is available.