There’s not a lot of debate about this piece of advice: the best information comes when you ask the right questions. That’s a great thing to remember for nearly any situation, and it’s particularly valuable when you’re considering where to go to college and what you’re going to study. Your college tour is a significant source of good information. That information is a great determiner of how successful you’ll be.
Many large public universities have large auditorium-style rooms for lower-division classes, making learning a bit of a challenge. Smaller, more specialized universities typically offer smaller classes. These smaller classes can be very helpful if your major is biology, human biology, or other life science, which tend to include classes with laboratory sessions.
Plus, smaller classes will increase your chances of finding a compatible study group and getting time with the instructor, if needed. Ask your admissions advisor about this before or during your college tour.
Another way to compare options is to ask about the student-to-teacher ratio. One accepted benchmark is to look for colleges with a 12:1 ratio – 12 students to 1 faculty member. Don’t worry – this is a question your college tour guide should be able to answer easily. The university should also have the ratio available on its website.
The answer is generally “yes,” although it may not be recommended because of the intensity of the subject matter. However, the federal work-study (FWS) program is one good option. FWS provides funds for part-time jobs to help cover the costs of postsecondary education.
Best of all, FWS positions are at the university, and there’s a sincere effort to match your skills to the position.
You’ll want to ask your college tour guide if the university is one of the 3,000 participating institutions.
Anytime you begin thinking about being well prepared for college, know all you can about the student services available. Typically, universities list such services on their website with departmental names using “academic support” or “student success.”
If you find yourself struggling with academics, investigate tutoring or ask about a learning skills assessment. You can get the details during your campus tour. Regardless, expect the student tutors available to know the subject matter and have had previous tutoring success.
Another resource is to connect with the student ambassador group. Typically, these upper-level students are well connected to the university’s services, facilities, and technologies. They’ve been where you are, and they will have lots of good advice about things like healthcare, options for working out, getting food when you don’t have much time between classes, and how to use the many service options at the library.
Where the school is located isn’t always a priority topic when thinking about a career direction. Still, you need to know if the campus where you’ll spend a good amount of time has the features and benefits you’re expecting.
The campus/city “vibe” contributes to success in college.
Sometime during your college tour, find someone who can answer these questions:
Your campus tour will get you in front of those who are aware of the biggest career opportunities over five, 10, or 15 years. One of those “big opportunity” areas is within the healthcare sector, which keeps expanding every year. Employment in healthcare occupations will grow 16% from 2020 to 2030.
And while there’s a need for those with professional degrees (medical doctor, doctor of chiropractic, etc.), the expansion of healthcare-related markets also extends to two-year applied science (A.A.S.) degrees.
Such options include healthcare support jobs like radiologic technologists, occupational therapy assistants, and emerging positions in exercise science and exercise physiology.
Founded in 1922, Cleveland University-Kansas City (CUKC) is a nonprofit, private chiropractic and health sciences university. CUKC offers associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s degrees, and the Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.) degree. CUKC offers college tours and open house events to help ensure the best possible college preparation.
The CUKC campus is in Overland Park, Kansas, a large, award-winning suburb within the Kansas City metro area. Check out our health sciences degrees here.
CUKC believes in helping its students maximize the student services and assistance. In addition to numerous special interest clubs, CUKC has a Mentors Club. This group seeks to get veteran students matched up with new students, providing tips and assisting with finding resources.
Another way CUKC faculty and staff live out that promise is through an experienced staff of financial aid experts. Want a great head start? Download this free eBook: Your Guide to Navigating College Financial Aid.
