Key takeaways:
Flickr user Lee
- College red flags include no accreditation, low retention and graduation rates, and unhappy students.
- Knowing a school isn’t right for you can also come down to personal preferences – you should be able to see yourself at the school.
- To find the right college for you, compare your options, research majors, and visit campuses.
When you search for your college, you’re aiming to spend the next four years there. You can always transfer but it’s much easier to find the school that’s right for you at the beginning. Keeping an eye out for these college red flags can help you avoid the schools that just aren’t a good fit.
6 red flags that a college may not be right for you
There are thousands of colleges in the United States. Some aren’t going to be as good as others – and some aren’t going to be great choices for you, even if they’re perfect for your friend. If you notice any of these red flags in a college, you might want to cross it off your list.
1. The course selection is limited
Even if a college has your major, does it have a solid selection of courses? Your major classes are only a fraction of your degree requirements – roughly 25%, in fact. You’re going to be taking general education requirements and electives for the rest of the time. If there are only so many course options, you could find it difficult to stay engaged and interested over the next four years.
You should also look at the major itself. Is it limiting? Many college programs have available concentrations. The school you’re considering may have a great program in your area of study, but does the coursework and concentration match your goals, too?
2. The school isn’t accredited
If a college isn’t accredited, you could run into a whole heap of problems now and down the road. Accredited colleges won’t take the credits if you decide to transfer, and graduate schools are less likely to accept your application should you choose to pursue a master’s, professional, or doctorate degree. Many professional and state licensing boards require a degree from an accredited college.
Plus, non-accredited colleges usually can’t offer federal financial aid, which could make it very difficult to pay tuition if you need federal student loans or need-based aid, such as the Pell Grant.
3. It has low retention or graduation rates
First-year retention and graduation rates only tell part of a story, but they can be an important piece of the college puzzle. Before you rule out a school because it has a lower-than-average retention or graduation rate, try to determine the “why.” The reasons why students are leaving without their degree might not apply to you – or their testimonials could save you from making the same mistake.
4. Other students weren’t happy with their experience
When comparing colleges, you should always talk to current students and alumni to get a real idea of their experiences.
- What do they think of their classes, the campus, the clubs, etc.?
- How was job placement or career services as they approached graduation?
Ask about the full picture, but if every student you talk to on campus looks miserable or all have the exact same major complaints about the school, they’re essentially waving red flags for you.
5. Options are limited beyond the classroom
College isn’t all about the academics. A campus should also have a lively atmosphere, with clubs, extracurriculars, athletic facilities, libraries, dining halls, and more. If you don’t have much to do outside of your homework, you’re not going to get the true college experience. You might find it difficult to find friends and could run into burnout due to boredom.
6. You can’t imagine yourself there
During a college visit, you should be able to imagine yourself there for the next four years – walking the campus, sleeping in the dorms, visiting the library, and more. But sometimes things just feel “off” when it comes to a campus or school atmosphere, and that’s okay. Even if others love it, you might not enjoy the student culture, campus layout, the surrounding area, or something else.
If you get the feeling that a specific college isn’t the place for you, even if it’s perfect on paper, don’t ignore that feeling. You have it for a reason – it’s likely just not a good match for you.
How to make sure a college is right for you
You can follow these tips to steer clear of college red flags during the search for the perfect school.
- Consider what you want from college. Think about where you’d like to live (rural vs. urban), clubs you might want to join, what you’d like to do in your free time, class size, and more. What you consider important in college likely won’t match the next person’s list, so take time to seriously brainstorm.
- Compare your options. Tools like College Match pair you with schools that fit the criteria you’re looking for. Compare program strength, cost, location, reputation, acceptance chances, and other aspects depending on what you deem important.
- Decide on potential majors. Most students don’t have to declare a major at this stage of the game, but you should have some ideas of potential areas of study at least. Think past college to job placement, salaries, and career goals.
- Visit the campus. You don’t want to get to campus for your first day and discover you hate it. Plan a trip either before you apply or after you’re accepted (but before you commit).
- Talk to current students and alumni. Take time out to talk to students on campus and online. Reach out to alumni on social media. Ask about their experiences, what they like, what they don’t like, and what they’d do differently if they had to attend again.
Doing your due diligence when researching colleges now can help save you from plenty of headaches down the road. You can always transfer, but you’ll have a much more enjoyable experience if you land on the right school at the very start of your college education.
Ready to start your search? College Raptor is here to help. Check out College Match to discover schools that fit what you’re looking for – it’s free!
