Creating a college list is a very individualized experience. Some students at Pascack Valley want big schools while others want small schools. Some want urban schools while others prefer the suburbs. When narrowing down a list of possible colleges, students will focus on a variety of factors.
PV Junior Joe Marotta says that location is the most important factor to him.
“I don’t want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere,” Marotta said. “I [also] wouldn’t go to California. It’s too far from home.”
On the other hand, PV Junior Kyle Syslo says that a good education is very important to him when choosing a college.
“I think anything that comes after that [a good education] is just a benefit of going to a school,” Syslo said.
PV Guidance Counselor Stephane Distasi has seen many factors impacting students’ choices. In her opinion, the quality of their major-specific program is one the most important.
“You want to go to a school that is known for your program and that’s reputable so that you’re making a good investment in your choices,” DiStasi said.
Marotta, Syslo, and DiStasi all agree that the overall feel of a school is an important factor.
“I feel like it comes down to a gut feeling,” Marotta said. “…you just go in [to the college visits], [with] a very limited time [to explore the school]…and you just go with your gut at the end of the day.”
DiStasi suggests that students carefully consider schools’ atmospheres and, if possible, visit them before committing.
“The only way [to pick a school]…is to go to different schools and to see what is the best fit for them,” DiStasi said.
DiStasi said one thing that she cautions students away from is choosing schools simply because their friends and family are applying to them or have attended them.
“Sometimes I feel like students kind of get caught [up] in where their friends are applying or where their family members encourage them to apply,” DiStasi said. “There are over 4,000 schools in the United States…I do encourage students to look at some more obscure schools…[and] not to be pressured by their peers and to go where they want to go.”
Syslo said that he has done research on his own and has talked to students attending the schools he is interested in to get a better idea about the schools.
“You have to meet people there and you have to see how you like the classes,” Syslo said. “That’s been my biggest deciding factor.”
Certain schools are very popular among Valley students. DiStasi thinks that the reason for this is social media.
“I do think social media plays a really big role in how schools become trendy,” DiStasi said. “…we see a lot of students sometimes apply and flock to that [school] and then it kind of spreads that this is now the ‘it school.’”
All the different factors playing a role in college decisions are important in ensuring that you choose the college that is right for you.
“You’re going to be there for four years, so you want to make sure that this school feels like a home away from home.”
