Monday, October 3, 2022

Choosing Ideal College: Academic and Social Match

When compiling a list of potential colleges, it’s ideal when students know themselves: what gives them joy and what they’re dreaming of for the future. 

When high school students have a plan for their career, the search for the ideal college becomes so much easier.  That perfect school is not necessarily the one that everyone, worldwide, is familiar with.  It’s one with a strong program in a student’s field of interest.

 

Students seeking a career in the lucrative field of Petroleum Engineering, for example, may want to head to Texas where Texas A & M and University of Texas at Austin top the rankings.  Those enticed by the field of Aerospace Engineering should consider Georgia Tech, Purdue University in Indiana, and Embry-Riddle in Florida.

 

Future business tycoons should also seek their niche.  Those passionate about International Business would do well to consider University of South Carolina and Florida International University. Those seeking a career in Supply Chain Management would secure a top education at Michigan State, Arizona State, or University of Tennessee. 

While seeking an ideal academic environment, students should also consider the recreational activities that give them joy. Students who love to ski will find several east coast colleges located near prime skiing areas; some even have their own slopes on campus.  Colby College in Maine operates several miles of groomed ski trails on campus.  Dartmouth College in New Hampshire operates the Dartmouth Skiway, and Middlebury College in Vermont boasts its own Snow Bowl with 17 trails!

 

Colleges with their own golf course include Clemson in South Carolina, Duke in North Carolina, Penn State, Ohio State, and University of Georgia. 

 

Colleges with their own radio station, where future broadcasters can gain experience, include Drexel in Pennsylvania, Seton Hall in New Jersey, and Hofstra and Fordham in New York.

 

Students looking for music-driven amenities might consider Oberlin College in Ohio.  Its students have access to more than 1,500 state-of-the-art instruments, including over 200 Steinway grand pianos.  Those with an appreciation for fine art might want to decorate their dorms by “renting” works of Pablo Picasso and other renowned artists for a small fee.

 

NYU students, through the Museum Gateway program, gain free entry to twelve top-tier New York museums with a flash of their school ID.


California Institute of Technology owns and operates satellites and observatories throughout North and South America as well as Antarctica, giving student astronomers an unparalleled view of the universe.

 

With a bit of research, students really can have their cake and eat it too, finding the perfect match for their academic and recreational pursuits.


Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of Collegebound Review that, for the past 25 years, has offered PSAT/SAT® preparation and private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362

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