April is every high school seniors favorite month. It is when students have gotten all of their college decisions back and can finally decide where they want to attend in the fall. Most students pick the right college for themselves, but some students end up regretting their choice.
Here are the five main reasons some students regret their college choice
1. Money
There are three different scenarios in which a student may regret college for a money reason.
a. Students who don’t know what they want to major in or what career they want to go into end up feeling like they’ve flushed thousands of dollars down the drain paying for a program that isn’t moving them forward.
b. Students who attend for-profit universities regret their decisions the most. These colleges are not a popular choice and end up being way more expensive than regular colleges. It is much better to go to your local community college and save money than it is to go to a for-profit university.
c. Students who take on loans may regret their decision after they finish college. If you do take on loans, make sure your college will provide you with a degree to get a well-paying job to pay off the loans.
2. Not Following Your Heart
Some students may choose the highest ranked school they get into. But just because a school is shiny and has a low acceptance rate doesn’t mean its the right fit for everyone. It is important to consider your own feelings when deciding where to spend the next four years of your life.
In contrast, a student may choose the cheaper in state university instead of going with their heart and choosing the more expensive out of state college. This can lead to resentment of the college you end up with, in addition to possible boredom and lack of challenges in the state school.
Similarly, a student may not be happy choosing where mom and dad want him or her to go. Always follow your gut feeling and recognize what you want is more important than what your parents want.
3. Social Life
College isn’t all about academics. Social life is an equally important factor into choose where you want to go to school. Some students regret where they go because they don’t feel like they have a social life there. They don’t have friends and feel isolated from the community. Your wellbeing is something to keep in mind. You want to be somewhere where you can fit in and have fun.
4. Major Not Offered
Too many students arbitrarily pick a college without considering the majors and programs offered. Sadly, these students can end up at schools that are not the right fit for their future goals. It’s essential to pick a school that will support your future aspirations with the right academic opportunities.
5. The Culture
Similar to social life, cultural fit is an important factor to consider in the college process. Some students don’t like the vibe of the school they end up at. For whatever reason, they don’t fit into the school’s culture. Maybe that school is heavily religious and they’re not. Maybe the school is heavy on greek life. Research the culture of colleges to see if it is a culture you want to be a part of.
Ultimately, picking a college is a mixture of academic, social life, and cultural fit. And remember: most people don’t regret where they go.
College is what you make of it. You are in control of how happy you are at college. So make the most of where you end up!
