Top Things to Consider When Researching Florida Colleges
Are you planning to apply to Florida colleges? If so, there are a number of important things to consider (beyond the sunshine — though sunshine is important, too!) Here are the top things to consider when looking into colleges in Florida.
Program Offerings
Of course, attending a school that doesn’t offer the major you want to study is not feasible. The first and most important consideration is that the school you attend offers the program or programs you want to pursue. Of course, you can always start out at a college with other advantages and take your general requirements, and then transfer to a school that does have the programs of study you want. Just make sure ahead of time that the credits will transfer so that you don’t lose time and get behind in your studies.
Proximity to Home
Some students want to be fairly close to home when they are at college, or even live at home and commute to school. Others prefer some distance between school and home so they can spread their wings a bit and be more independent. Whatever your preference, be sure to take it into account when researching Florida colleges. Although both situations have their advantages, it’s best to take your weigh out the benefits of each option.
School Accreditation
Accredited Florida colleges will give you more opportunities for internships, transfer of credits, and eventually, jobs. Accredited colleges have complied with organizational standards set by their professional peers and are considered more prestigious and higher quality than colleges that aren’t accredited.
Flexibility
Some Florida colleges offer extensive online and distance learning opportunities; others offer evening and weekend courses so that students can accommodate work schedules. Even schools that don’t have these two options can be flexible in allowing independent study, internships or study abroad options to expand students’ experiences.
Financial Aid
There are few things more confusing to students than the pile of financial aid information they need to make sense of in order to attend college. Figuring out how much financial aid a college will offer you as well as the type of aid (grants, loans, etc.) will help you decide if you have several good options.
Atmosphere and Setting
The atmosphere of a college can be hard to define, but students should look for a place where they will feel comfortable and see themselves spending a few years. Of course, many students want to attend a college close to the beach and/or a school centered around their social life, but these should not be primary considerations.
By taking many different aspects of the college experience into account, students can make a good decision that will serve them well while they are attending college and for a long time afterward. Florida Institute of Technology offers top notch engineering and technical programs, and yes, we are close to the beach, too. For more information about our undergraduate programs, contact us today.
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