Selecting a College  
   
 
 
Choosing A College: types of Schools
 
Two-year and Four-year Institutions
 
Four-year institutions offer bachelor's degrees, and some offer advanced degrees. Two-year institutions offer associate's degrees. Less-than-two-year institutions offer training and award certificates of completion.
 
Here's a more detailed description of the kinds of schools you might hear about as you plan for your post-high-school education:
 
  • Four-year college - Usually referred to simply as a college. A four-year college grants bachelor's degrees (Bachelor of Arts; Bachelor of Science).
  • University - A university grants bachelor's degrees, but it differs from a college in that it also offers master's degrees and sometimes includes a professional school such as a law school or medical school. Universities tend to be larger than colleges and might have larger class sizes.
  • Community college - A public two-year college granting associate's degrees and sometimes certificates in particular technical (career-related) subjects. Some students start their post secondary education at a community college and then transfer to a four-year school, either because community college tends to be cheaper than a four-year college, or because admissions standards at community colleges are often less strenuous than at four-year schools.
  • Junior college - Similar to a community college, except that a junior college is usually a private school.
  • Career School, technical school, or vocational/trade school - These terms are often used interchangeably. May be public or private, two-year or less-than-two-year. Career schools offer courses that are designed to prepare students for specific careers, from welding to cosmetology to medical imaging to beyond. The difference between technical schools and trade schools is that technical schools teach the science behind the occupation, while trade schools focus on hands-on application of skills needed to do the job.
 
Choosing a College: The Right College Path
 
So you've decided to go to college! Choosing the right path to college can be very difficult because there are so many different options and so many factors to consider. The most important criterion for making a sound decision is knowing yourself: what you value, what you like, what makes you happy, and what frustrates you. this will help you start thinking about your preferences so you can choose an institution that suits you.
 
Consider the following questions at several points during the college planning process--as you begin planning in your sophomore or junior year of high school, again during the summer between your junior and senior years of high school as you begin to finalize the number of colleges to which you are applying, and as you make your final decision. the answers you come up with will aid you in focusing on specific institutional types to consider.
 
 
Conclusion: Finding a school that suits you right from the start is important. Although transferring to another institution is always an option, students who transfer between four-year institutions are less likely to go on to earn their degrees. Transfers also appear to be related to lower occupational status and earnings. (Pascarella and Terenzini, 1991). This does not mean that you should stay at an institution you don't like, but it does mean that your choice is important and has implications for your future. Make sure you ask yourself the right questions!