Today, parents and families are concerned about the value of a higher education degree. What is it worth? Is it worth going into debt? If so, how much? I hear this from many of the families I work with today more than in the past and my advice is simple: include in your college search how to define and identify what ‘fit’ means to your student. ‘Fit’ should include what the student experience looks like on each college campus they apply to.

The student experience in itself is what students think about most yet is often not necessarily discussed directly in virtual tours, information sessions and on campus tours. Your experience is in and of itself the true essence of the college experience. So here are some key factors to consider when identifying what the college experience means to you and how to become familiar with these traits on college campuses as a prospective student.

Housing: When visiting a campus or during a virtual tour or information session ask about housing such as how many years do students live on/off campus? Are you guaranteed housing? If so, what does that look like? Many schools have been over-subscribing and literally housing students in hotels. Housing is a big part of the student experience and should always be asked about by a prospective student.
Get involved: Ask about student clubs and organizations. How many are there and are there clubs that are of interest to you at your schools of interest? Ask during a campus tour, virtual tour or information session or look up the data on their website for details about student clubs and organizations. Getting involved in student-led organizations for both social and academic purposes is ideal to maximize your experience as a student on any college campus.
Mental Health Services: This is often overlooked but statistics show that over 40% of college students today face mental health issues that need to be addressed. Not every college campus has the same amount of mental health services so I highly recommend asking while on a visit or looking up their services on their website to see what is offered. Uwill and Let’s Talk are two fantastic nationally recognized programs on many college campuses.
Dining: Some schools will tout their food options and others do not mention it but if you have a dietary preference or restriction, it’s important to ask about the college offerings and availability.
Fiscal Health of a University: Is the college you are applying to in good fiscal standing? Check out their rating in Moody’s to see how strong they are before depositing.

Last, always follow a college of interest on social media. You will ALWAYS learn about that school tenfold and get a good feel for their campus climate and student body.