Class of 2015, Pick Your College Carefully

To the class of 2015, you are about to make on of the most important decision of your entire life. 

You may not want to hear this, but the college you chose will honestly set the tone for the rest of your life. There are going to be a million people that are going to give you a million pieces of advice. Most of these people will have no background in higher education, keep up-to date with the current studies or have attended college in the last 20 years. 

I was in your shoes three years ago, but honestly it feels like a lifetime ago. In my senior year, I was fortunate enough to win the Lem Tucker Scholarship, a full-ride given to two high school seniors who are majoring in journalism at Central Michigan University. 

I will be starting my junior year in the fall, and I have had more amazing experiences than I could ever imagine. I have been white-water rafting in West Virginia, participated in  week-long service projects in Boston and Charlotte, interviewed actress Daryl Hannah, completed two virtual internships and traveled to Europe for a month. 

Even though, I have been (so far) been successful in college, it's not easy. Most people are not prepared for the life changes that come with college or have a concept of the type of work and preparation it takes to start a career.  

These are factors to consider when are choosing a college so that can have the best college experience possible that will prepare you for a successful career and life. 

1. Community college may be cheaper, but may not pay off

It is no secret that community college is significantly cheaper than four-year universities. For example, a full-time student at Schoolcraft College will pay an estimated $1,398 in tuition and fees each semester, as oppose to a full-time student at Eastern Michigan University who will pay about $4,682. Also going to community college means you don't have to pay room and board. 

However, most people who start community college do not end up earning a degree. The American Association of Community Colleges states that only 34% of people who enter community college will earn an associates or bachelor's degree. 

Keep in mind, community college might not have as many opportunities for professional organizations, study abroad, networking, etc. 

2. You will need more than a degree for a career 

When I talk to high school seniors about their future career plans, most students think about the academics. They know that being a doctor will require at least eight years of school, a bachelor's degree (supposedly) takes four years, and an associate's degree will take them two years. 

However, most degrees will require experience outside the classroom to be competitive. A survey conducted by the Chronicle of Higher Education showed that employers valued experience, particularly internships and extracurricular activities than academic credentials. 

For my degree, that means doing internships, freelance work, blogging and working for campus media. For other degrees, that could mean working as a certified nurses aide, doing research at a lab or studying abroad in a different country. 

The best way to determine if a college is going to give the proper guidance and have the resources to make you competitive in your future career, go to open houses and ask a lot of questions. Do they have a professional organizations for your major? How active is that professional organization? Where are places students have interned at? What other professional experiences does the college offer? 

3. Being a part-time student is a big risk 

If you are considering only attending classes part-time, think again. A study conducted by the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center showed that part-time students were the least likely to earn a degree with 67.1% of them dropping out. Only 21.9% of exclusively part-time students earned their degree in six years compared to 77.7% of full-time students. 
 
Even though it might be difficult to balance work and classes, it will be worth it the long-run to be a full-time student. 

4. It's probably going to take you more than four years to get your bachelor's degree 

The number of students who earn their bachelor's degree in four years is low. Only 39% of all students who started a four-year university in 2006 earned their degree in four-years. In five years, 54.9% earned their degree within five years, and 58.7% earned their degree within six years.

What does that mean for you? That means an extra year or two of paying for classes, books and living expenses. So when you are calculating the cost of attendance, it would be wise to consider you will take more than four years to complete.   

However, with proper planning you can increase your likelihood of completing your degree in four-years. Complete College America, a non-profit organization that works increases the number of adults with college degrees, suggest that students take at least 15 credit hours each semester to complete their degrees on time. Also, meeting with an academic advisor at the beginning of your college career makes it more likely you will complete your degree on time. 

5. Despite the challenges, you should still go to college   

Even though you will likely face obstacles in college, research shows that a degree is worth the time and money. The Pew Research Center reports that full-time workers ages 25-32 who had at least a  bachelor's degree earned $45,000 annually compared to full-time workers that only had a high school diploma earned $28,000.  

The report also shows that the benefits of attending college goes beyond earnings. Adults who had who had higher levels of education are less likely to live in poverty or with their parent. Also, college graduates are more likely to be married, employed and are more satisfied with their jobs. 

Besides college being great for your future, it's fun. Yes, there are stressful things about it, but college gives you the opportunity to meet new people, explore new places and become a more well-rounded person. 

Good luck class of 2015. Your future is in your own hands.