15 Signs You Chose The Right College

Choosing where to spend the next 4 years of your life can be complicated! Here are signs you chose the right college to attend after graduating high school!

“Where are you going to college?”, a question us teenagers have heard WAY too many times. As we all know, choosing where you want to spend the next 4 years is the most tedious process of our adolescent lives. So how do you choose a college? The obvious first step is to visit the college of your choice. But how do you know if you are making the right choice? Here are 15 signs you’ve chosen the right college.

1. Your anxious on the road trip.

There is no feeling quite like being squished in your family’s mini van on your mom’s only day off heading to a college for your first visit. So many thoughts are going through your mind, the biggest one being, “are we there yet?” I loved visiting colleges and each and every drive I was anxious because I knew I could potentially be visiting my future home.

2. You can totally rock the school’s colors.

While to some this may not be important, to me this is a HUGE deal breaker. If you can wear your school’s colors with pride, you’ve found your home. P.S. tailgating is more fun when you love your bright orange outfit.

3. The people are kind.

The moment you step on campus for your first visit can be extremely nerve-wracking. You see huge crowds of people all wearing the same color greeting you to campus, but something unexpected happens, these people aren’t intimidating and scary like you expected, they are genuinely nice…shocker.

4. You enjoy the college town.

This is the town you will be living in for the next four years. Whether it is a big town or a small town, you must feel at home and comfortable in the environment.

5. The distance from your current home is perfect.

I understand after 18 years of your life you want to get as far away from your parents as you can, but staying close to home has its perks too. The college of your choice has to be the distance you truly want, you must not be rash about choosing this, weigh all of your options before choosing a college across the country.

6. Your parents like the college.

Similar to the point above this one, I understand a lot of you don’t care about what your parents think because this is finally a decision you can make all on your own, but this is not true. Your parents have the best interest for you and their opinion means a lot, plus chances are they’ll be the ones paying the college tuition.

7. You truly feel at home.

From the moment you step on campus, a wave of comfort should come over you. The kind of comfort you get when you’re lying in your own bed with warm sheets. This college has to feel like your home, I know nothing can compare to the comfort of your own home, but your college of choice should be a close second.

8. The college has the specific major you’re looking to study.

Sure, it sounds great to go to the college of your dreams or your family’s legacy college, but if you plan on studying forensic odontology you may want to reevaluate your options.

9. The college must accommodate you and your needs.

If you have special needs or a certain condition, the college you choose must be able to supply you with your specific needs.

10. There must be more pros than cons.

No college is perfect, I hate to break it to you but no college experience will be 100% perfect. You will hopefully have a long list of pros, but there will be some cons, and this is completely normal.

11. You must take pride in the certain college.

The first thing I did when I chose a college was put it in my Instagram bio, basic I know, but it was out of pure excitement, I take so much pride and joy in my future college and if you are able to do the same, you have found your future home.

12. The opportunities are endless.

If you’re looking for a variety of opportunities for internships, activities, etc. you have to find a college that has these or ultimately you won’t be happy with your decision. Even if you are interested in joining a squirrel watching club, as I previously stated, the opportunities are endless.

13. If you want to live the Greek Life.

While many colleges offer Fraternities and Sororities, some unfortunately do not. If going Greek is a necessity to you and your college life, make sure you do your research before signing on the dotted line.

14. You can picture yourself there.

Again, another cliche saying, but this is actually important. For a college to become your future home, you have to be able to truly see yourself walking on the campus and being apart of the day to day college life.

15. When they say “you just know”, they are right.

From the second I stepped foot on the University of Illinois’ campus, I knew this was my home. I felt a wave of comfort come over me and I truly felt at ease. I knew this was the place I was going to spend my college years at, and I could not have been happier.