Dream School: Finding the College That's RIght for You by Jeffrey Selingo - Page 3 of 3

Dream School: Finding the College That’s RIght for You by Jeffrey Selingo

The average college acceptance rate in the US is 58%, with many accepting a much higher percentage. Beware of the U.S. News ranking, as it uses some suspicious criteria. You need to find your core values before you can find a place that fits. Many families try to rush the college search. Don’t do that.
Check out the Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) pocket guide. Several efforts have been made to assess a school’s “Return on Investment” or R.O.I. One to check out is the federal College Scorecard.” It only draws data from students who take out federal college loans. Other things to look for are: 1. the amount of support a college gives to freshmen, 2. full professors teaching intro courses and students spending weekends on campus, 3. real job experience as part of classes, and 4. resources a college invests in students.

A survey of parents shows that they want their students to make lasting friendships, have interesting professors, and have access to mentors. The connections students make are essential to their success. They should be sure to take advantage of the professor’s office hours, which should involve some mentoring. Rankings can’t be trusted as they devote a tiny portion of their formulas to teaching and mentorship. Second tier schools are going to want you more and are likely to do more for you.
Many schools hire professors based mostly or entirely on their research. Some, however, seek out professors who are also skilled teachers. Find out how the school hires its faculty. Are they required to give teaching demonstrations before they are hired? Ask current students about the quality of teaching they have experienced, especially in your intended major. Be wary of schools where freshman classes are taught by teaching assistants. As for adjunct professors, look for those who are currently working in the profession you are interested in. Don’t put much faith in what tour guides tell you, and don’t trust evaluations you see. They are done by students, which prompts professors to make things easy and to curry favor.

Students who “fit in” get better grades and have a higher graduation rate. You need to ask what a school does to promote fitting in. With 40% of students reporting feeling lonely, 25% leaving college altogether, and 10% transferring, it’s clear that many colleges don’t do enough. One thing most students need to get ready for is lower grades.
You need to fit in academically, residentially, and in extracurricular activities. You need to attend classes and participate in discussions. Summon the courage to talk to professors. Look for at least some smaller classes. Ask how advising works. Much teaching is still lecturing. Find out what kind of feedback you can expect. Look for a college that creates communities and doesn’t focus on fancy dining. Ask how roommates are assigned, as bad relationships lead to stress and lower grades. Extracurriculars engage students in ways academics can’t. Check to make sure the club really exists and did not disappear during COVID. Don’t limit your focus to academics.

With the decline in the number of students going to college, many colleges have already closed, and many are in financial difficulties. You need to make sure the your dream schools are financially sound. Schools that give the best merit awards are likely to be in financial straits as they discount more to get more students. First, try to get a look at a school’s bond rating. This may require a subscription so consider working with other parents. “Net tuition revenue” is one of the best pieces of information you can get.
Check out Common Data Set, fac.gov, and Student Related Revenues. The Hechinger Report, Forbes, and Bloomberg News all have useful data. Falling enrollments over three years or more are worrisome. Endowments are important. The average per student across all colleges is $219,000. Avoid majors with a small number of students as they may soon be eliminated. Beware if a high percentage of students play sports. Many schools have been adding teams as a last ditch effort to enroll more students. Avoid schools who recently added bass fishing or varsity corn hole.

Prestige doesn’t always pay back after graduation. A common metic is placement rate, which is the percentage of graduates who start a job or grad school within six months after graduation. When visiting try to direct college staff away from showing you fancy emanates and focus on return on investment. No matter where you go there are steps you can take to make yourself more employable. Try to develop durable skills like creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence. Data analysis and project management are also in demand. Keep in mind that half of college grads are working jobs that don’t require their degree.
Try to pick up some micro credentials along the way. These are certifications from companies like Adobe. Internships are no longer nice-to-have. Now they should be considered essential. Nothing predicts underemployment better than a lack of internships. Ideally internships or work experience are built-in to your program. Companies like to hire their interns as they know their work ethic. Most summer internships are lined up by the winter break. Key ideas are hands-on and real-world. Shadowing a professional in your field is a great idea. Where you go to school matters much less than what you do while you are there.

Here we have short facts about 75 schools that Jeffery thinks you should consider. They meet his criteria which are: 1. They accept between 30% and 80% of their applicants. 2. They are financially stable. 3. They have at least 1,000 undergraduates. 4. They have a solid earnings to net price ratio. 5. Their outcomes punch above their weight. 6. They score well when it comes to student engagement. 6. Their graduates tend to land good jobs.
If you already have a list, use these criteria to weed out schools that don’t deliver. Even if you have a list, consider adding schools from Jeffery’s list. It looks like a winner to me. I’m happy to say the the school where I got my doctorate in education, Binghamton University, made this list.

Jeffrey is the author of Who Gets In and Why, a New York Times best seller. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post. He is a special advisor to the president of Arizona State University and cohosts the podcast Future U.