Not all colleges are created equal, and just like people, every college deserves a good, bad, or somewhere in between reputation. Now consider that once you earn a college degree, its reputation will be with you for the rest of your life. Any employer will see the name of the college or university you attended on your resume. Therefore, the following are some reputation-related considerations to consider before committing to participate.
Famous or notorious
Is your school’s name instantly recognizable? If so, it’s either famous or notorious. Of the two, being famous is the only thing better than being unknown. If a college has a bad reputation, it can actually backfire on you. Famous schools can be of great benefit to graduates; one that no one has heard of can’t hurt, but a school with a bad academic record should be avoided.
specialization
Some universities are only known for one course. This means that while it’s a big name in the field you’re interested in, it can have a bland or even negative reputation for other majors. If you are certain that this is a specialty for you, these schools are good choices. Just make sure you don’t end up with one of them studying outside of their area of expertise.
accreditation
This can be more crucial than any other factor. Is your college actually qualified to give you a real education? There are many levels of accreditation, and each determines whether the institution is a university or simply a college. It also takes into account the availability of a major in the desired subject, as a school must be accredited for each major. Even if their administration claims to offer a “degree” in your chosen specialty, they may not have the necessary accreditation to offer that degree as a recognized major.
How to rate a college’s reputation
Assessing a school’s reputation is more of an art than a science. Ask older people you know what they think of the college and what it is best known for – then research what they tell you to make sure those comments are accurate. Talk to the school representatives about your questions or concerns, but do not necessarily accept everything you are told as they have an incentive to position the school as positively as possible. Also, just try to search the college via an internet search engine to see what fascinating information comes up.
A school’s reputation is perhaps the most important factor to consider when considering the impact your college will have on your future. If an employer thinks you attended one that probably didn’t prepare you adequately for the job you were considering, in that situation it doesn’t matter if you loved it and received a great education – it still could reflect badly on you. Instead, you want your school’s name to help garner instant respect and admiration.
Thanks to Peter Franklin | #Reputation #College #Importance
