meaghan
I always look at two things when researching colleges – retention and graduation rates. A retention rate tracks how many freshmen come back for sophomore year. A graduation rate measures how many students graduate in four, five and six years. These numbers hint at the overall well-being of a college. When I see low retention and graduation rates, I wonder what is happening at that school that causes so many students to be unsuccessful.
The students I work with every day don’t have the time or the money to go to a school where only 60% of students are retained and 35% graduate in four years. Unfortunately, these statistics aren’t all that uncommon at colleges and universities across the United States. So, my students and I must examine other aspects of colleges to figure out if a school is a best fit.
To beat the trend of more and more students going to college but not graduating, look at the academics offered at schools. Don’t just look at the list of majors offered, but explore professor-to-student ratio, lectures vs. discussions, student research projects, internships, study abroad programs, etc. Basically, look for anything that provides a student-led experience where what’s learned in the classroom can be applied in real-life situations.
At the risk of sounding like a broken record, get involved in activities or organizations in college. Research shows that students who had a highly satisfying collegiate experience all cited events of significant importance occurred outside of the classroom.
Selecting a best fit college is a personal experience. You need to understand your own values and strengths in order to make an informed decision about where you want to go and what you want to study. While exploring colleges, ask admissions representatives questions about academic opportunities as well as retention and graduation rates.
What programs are you interested in? What are some academic experiences you are looking forward to?
I need your help. I want to go to a Big college
ihmfl
Am from nigeria my name is ebuka emmanuel mascot, in nigeria here no money to go school help us out pls
am pamela from Nigeria.i like education and wanna be educated but dont have the means to. i need help even if it means getting a good job to take care of my fees. pls help