Financing your education is a very important consideration, and you
should read 'Financial Aid' for further details about calculating
costs and the possibility of receiving financial aid. You should
know what you can realistically afford. Carefully study the fee
structure printed in most university catalogs, and incorporate into
your calculations the cost of room, food, tuition, fees, travel, and
other expenses for the full four years. You also need to consider
that tuition costs may rise, as many universities increase their
tuition every year. Also look at the payment plans of various
institutions.
Since all colleges have different housing facilities and policies,
find out if housing is available for all four years of enrollment or
if students are required to find off-campus housing. Investigate the
price difference between on-campus and off-campus housing. Check the
living arrangements for on-campus housing; students living in
dormitories may be required to share a room with one, two, or three
other students. Yet living on campus, at least for the first year or
two, may help you integrate into American university life more
easily and quickly. It can also save you the additional expense of
buying a car or paying for daily public transportation, as well as
the time needed to travel back and forth to campus each day. By your
junior year, however, you may wish to move off-campus into your own
apartment. Be sure to find out the university's policy on such a
move, and also the cost and availability of local housing.
Every region of the United States offers both urban and rural
settings. City-based campuses offer a variety of eating,
entertainment, cultural, and shopping facilities. A rural university
may mean a quieter, more college-centered environment. Climate is
another consideration. From the four seasons in the Northeast to the
desert in Arizona and a sub-tropical climate in Florida, the variety
is almost endless. Also keep in mind accessibility to local
facilities and services that could be useful to you in your studies.
For example, if you wish to major in art history, does the school
offer programs that involve students with nearby museums and art
galleries?
Student populations on U.S. campuses can range in size from 200 to
60,000 students. Some universities resemble small cities with their
own post offices, grocery stores, and shopping centers. Other
colleges may be in large, densely populated urban areas but have a
very small enrollment. Depending on your personal lifestyle, you may
enjoy the independence afforded by being part of a very large
student population on your campus, or you may prefer the more
personal touch a small college may be able to offer you. You should
not make assumptions regarding social life or access to professors
based on the size of an institution. Determine what opportunities
are important to you and read the catalogs closely with these in
mind. |
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