Flickr user Vitor Pamplona
Narrowing down your college list can be difficult, but paying attention to what you need or want out of a school can help you find the perfect colleges for your education. One aspect you should pay special attention to is your intended major. Here’s how a major can help you find a college:
Not All Majors Are Available at Every College
Not all schools offer the same majors and programs as the next. Your parents may suggest one college, but if it doesn’t have your intended major, it shouldn’t be on your list of potentials.
It’s also a good idea to know what you plan on concentrating in within your major. For example, if you’re interested in working with animals, you’ll definitely want a college that offers biology. However, there are several different facets of this subject. You should be going after a school that has a strong zoology base or its own zoology major to ensure you take the courses needed to work with animals after graduation. You’ll need to look deeper into your major and potential careers to figure out exactly what you should concentrate in. Once you understand what you’re looking for, you can look more into a college’s program.
Not All Majors Are the Same
While two colleges on your current list may have your intended major, one program may be better than the other. It’s important to research each college’s particular program, graduation rates, career after graduation rates, teacher to student ratios, and more before applying. Just because they both offer the same major doesn’t mean they’re equal in strength.
You’ll also want to consider the type of college you’re attending. If you’re intending to major in something science related, a school that is more dedicated to art and literature may not be the best fit for you, even if they do offer the science program. Research is essential to finding the right colleges and majors.
Find a College By Narrowing Down Your College Search Using College Databases
College databases, like College Raptor, can help you find your best-fit school. When you sign up, you’ll be asked to enter in some basic information and what you’re looking for in a college, including your intended major. College Raptor will then give you results based on your input and show you data on the program, teacher to student ratio, and other must-know school information.
College Raptor can provide the perfect starting points to letting you know which colleges offer your major and also fit your other must have criteria (including location, cost, size, and more). Once you have this list, you can start to narrow it down even further by looking deeper into each school’s program, class offerings, culture, and more.
Research is essential when it comes to narrowing down your college list and taking your potential major into account is a must during your search. After all, you wouldn’t want to waste your time applying to a school that doesn’t even offer degrees in your intended major. It’s best to start here to weed out any colleges that definitely won’t work for you in the long run.
