Finding the Right Social Fit
This guide highlights what to look for in regards to campus life fit
This guide highlights what to look for in regards to campus life fit
Choosing the right college is complex and confusing. Where do you start? At HelloCollege, we've developed the S.A.F.E. college fit strategy that involves looking for a good fit in four key areas:
Social, Academic, Financial, Employment.
This particular guide will highlight what to look for when considering if a school’s social life is a good fit for you.
Social fit is one of the most important factors in your college decision. Social factors play a big part in whether a student will graduate or end up transferring. Mental health is a critical issue facing this generation of students. For emotional well-being, students need a sense of belonging and a place they can feel like home for the next four (or more) years.
Here are the key variables and questions you will need to consider as you assess whether the school’s campus life is a good fit:
The school’s location is paramount. The key here is deciding how far away from home you are comfortable with. We break it down into three basic categories: Walking Distance, Drivable, and Flight.
Quick tip: Be sure to talk through the implications of location between parent and student. Location can have a big effect on traveling for holidays, breaks, visits, and the ability to see each other.
Kevin Krebs, Founder
You can choose to stay at a local school, either living at home or being right down the street. In this case, you may be able to save money you would spend on dorms by staying at home, or maybe you would just like to keep that warm, fuzzy feeling being able to see your family anytime. Staying close to home usually ensures you are comfortable with the area as well. If being close to Mom or Dad is critical, this could be the route for you.
The next option would be to choose a school within driving distance of home. This ensures you get your freedom (no pop-ins by Mom or Dad) but also makes it easier to see your family and possibly go home some weekends. For many students this is a great fit. You are also likely to be in an area of the country you are familiar with and will spend less time settling in.
For you adventurers, you can always look at schools nationwide. You may want to explore a new area of the country, meeting all new people and encountering different perspectives. Your pool of colleges also opens up quite a bit if you consider schools nationally. Before you decide on an area of the country though, we highly recommend doing a trip for campus visits. Just remember that your family is a flight away—you won’t get to go home as much.
Let’s say you are from sunny California and have your eye on a great school in the midwest. It could be quite a shock to wake up to prolonged cloudiness, a foot of snow, and sub-zero weather! We really want to consider the weather and climate that you are comfortable with. The U.S. is a big country, and there are all ends of the climate spectrum from cold to hot, rainy and cloudy to sunny, or humid to dry. Ultimately, many people love where they live all over the country. This is totally your decision but should be a consideration.
Next, let’s think about the campus itself. Do you like the campus environment? Some schools are large and spread-out; others are intimate and small. Which feels right to you?
Are you secluded in a rural environment at your campus or surrounded by a city? Where are you from? The hustle of a big city is exciting for some but totally overwhelming for others. You may want an environment similar to your hometown or something totally different.
Quick tip: You don’t know what you don’t know. So go visit schools instead of assuming you won’t like them. You may be surprised.
Andrea Emmons, CEO
Safety is a real issue. Check the schools safety ratings. Are you going to feel comfortable walking to and from class or alone in the evening?
Fun Things to Do
Consider the closest town or city and things to do in the area.
The next step is considering the size of the school. We recommend that you take a look at the freshman class, number of undergraduates, and total enrollment numbers at schools you are considering. Start by considering how this compares to your high school.
Find local schools of different sizes to visit one weekend. It’s a great way to learn more about your preferences without spending a ton of time and money.
Kevin Krebs, Founder
At a smaller liberal arts school, class sizes may be capped at 30 students with a professor who knows your name.
Over 50% of schools in the country are under 2,500 students. Ruling out small schools will really cut your list down fast.
At a large research institution, you’re likely to have courses in huge lecture halls with 100+ students. If you’re the type of person who thrives in that environment, great. But if you need individual attention or are overwhelmed among large groups of people, this could be a big shock. Usually bigger schools also come with a big-time sports culture (although not always). There will be people of all types at a larger school compared to the tight-knit environment of a smaller school.
Ensuring the learning environment is a fit is also critical. After all, we go to college to get a degree, right?
What is the student-to-faculty ratio? Do you like being able to easily engage with the professors in and outside the classroom and knowing the professors personally? Are professors teaching the classes or are teaching assistants? Depending on your learning style, these factors can play a huge part in your success. Transitioning to college is a shock for most students, so having the right type of academic support (and supervision) can help ensure your success.
Insider tip: Consider not only the average size of classes but also the number of students in your major.
Dan Farnesi, College Counselor
Check out Instagram and YouTube for helpful videos and images of campuses that can tell you more about the student experience.
Kevin Krebs
Kevin Krebs - Founder
Do you intend to get involved in clubs, sports, or other activities on campus? This is a great way to meet friends and get involved right away as you settle into school and build your college experience. Students want to be around classmates who share their values and interests, and these social aspects will help them determine if the school has the desired vibe.
Are there any other special programs, such as study abroad, that seem particularly interesting to you?
If you plan to get involved in a fraternity or sorority, how big is Greek life on the campus? At some schools, Greek life is a major part of the university. At others, it’s not at all.
In larger universities, teaching assistants often teach some classes alongside or under the guidance of professors. There are undergraduate teaching assistants and graduate school teaching assistants. TAs are not required to have a degree. Typically, students each week will have a lecture with the professor and a discussion section or laboratory with the TA. TAs may teach the discussion sections, grade exams and student work, or proctor exams.
Sororities and fraternities are social groups on college campuses that organize events and emphasize bonding and community. They are typically tight-knit closed groups and have a selective process—you have to engage with the organization, be accepted, and take a pledge before you are a member. Most also define a philanthropy for their organization, doing community service and work for awareness or charities. Some examples are types of cancer, disabilities, and abuse. Sororities are exclusive to women on campus while fraternities can either be co-ed or limited to men.
Greek Life
Greek life is the generic term for the collective of campus sororities and fraternities.
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