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College acceptance day is upon us! Here's how to make your choice.

College acceptance day is upon us! Here's how to make your choice.

College acceptance day is upon us! Here's how to make your choice.

College acceptance day is an exciting time. You’ve been working hard to set yourself up for success and when you have multiple great schools to choose from, the decision can be downright perplexing. Here’s how you can go about thinking through your choices. Overall, don’t worry - there are no wrong decisions.

College acceptance day is an exciting time. You’ve been working hard to set yourself up for success and when you have multiple great schools to choose from, the decision can be downright perplexing. Here’s how you can go about thinking through your choices. Overall, don’t worry - there are no wrong decisions.

College acceptance day is an exciting time. You’ve been working hard to set yourself up for success and when you have multiple great schools to choose from, the decision can be downright perplexing. Here’s how you can go about thinking through your choices. Overall, don’t worry - there are no wrong decisions.

Apr 3, 2023

Sam Lipscomb

3

min

First of all, congratulations. After months of essay writing, test taking, and filling out forms, the acceptance letters are finally rolling in (and maybe some rejections, but who cares about those. Their loss!). Take a minute to enjoy the well deserved sense of accomplishment - you, yes you, are going to college! However, you’re not quite there yet. There’s one last tough decision: which school should you pick?

You clearly like having your options open - it’s why you applied to as many schools as you did. So for those of you who don’t know exactly where to go, here are some things you might want to consider.

Finances

College can be expensive - the cost of attendance will likely have to play a central role in your school choice. We recommend that before you consider all other factors, you check the net costs of each option and rank them. Luckily, you can use your Fizz card on any campus, so that won’t need to factor into your decision.

Remember, you want to look at the full price of attendance, not just the tuition! Include the price of housing and transportation as well as the general living expenses in the area. Of course, you’ll also want to factor in any financial aid offers or discounts as well. If you received multiple financial aid packages, you might be able to leverage them to get other schools to upgrade their respective offers.

It also might be a good idea to check the average salary of the graduates of a given school. If one school is slightly more expensive, but on average its degrees render higher earnings, it might be worth the additional investment. If you have a specific dream job, one interesting thing to to do might be to check Linkedin to see where people that recently graduated went on to work.

Academics & major

Sure, studying for midterms might not be the most romantic vision of your time in college. That said, academics should obviously be a big part of your college choice! You shouldn't make a decision based on an arbitrary ranking, but you definitely should try to understand the academics of the school in question. Do they have the majors you’re interested in? Do they offer a wide variety of classes? Is it easy to switch or combine majors? These are all important questions.

It’s also important to consider the teaching style at the school in question. Do they tend to have large lectures, or are most classes seminar style? Do all professors teach undergraduates, or are many singularly focused on their research? One way to test this is to email some professors you find interesting, tell them you are a prospective student, and gauge their responses. You can even try giving them a call if you're feeling bold.

Location

The fact that location matters is kind of obvious - if you thrive in the sun and can’t live without it, it might not be a good idea to go to school in the northeast. But we think there are some interesting nuances to consider. For instance, make sure you explore the percentage of in-state and local students versus out-of-state and international students.

It’s also a good idea to consider your surroundings. What food options are present around campus? Is campus near a big city? How easy is it to get home? There’s a big difference between a three-hour flight and a three-hour drive. Then you can start to decide what kind of an environment is important to you. This step tends to be particularly helpful when it comes to narrowing down your choice.

Campus culture

Are you the party or late night library type? Are you super passionate about college football, debate, or student journalism? Are you excited to join Greek life? Before you pick your school you should learn more about what life is like on campus. We hate to break it to you, but glossy school websites and brochures are definitely not the best resource to turn to.

While the single best way to learn more is to go on a visit, not everyone can visit every school on their list. If you’re feeling bold, reach out on social to a current student from the school and ask them about their experience. Better yet, find someone you know who goes to the school and ask them. People are usually pretty down to talk about college, so don’t be shy!

But most importantly

If you can, go with your gut and commit. This decision is yours and yours alone - it shouldn’t be dependent upon friends or even family legacy. College is a new chapter, and you’re going to have a wonderful time whatever school you decide on as long as you go in with an open mind.

If planning for college is on your mind, and we’re sure it is, sign up for Fizz, the student debit card that helps your build credit and prepare for your financial future. We’ll be here every step of the way with guidance on every part of the college experience.

Sam Lipscomb

Author bio

Sam is a Kenyon College alum and is head of content at Fizz. He's been a go to personal finance resource among his peers since getting his first credit card during his sophomore year of college. He hails from Washington, DC, loves all things aviation, and currently lives in Los Angeles.

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Fizz cardholders: Increases or specific changes to your credit score are not guaranteed. Impact on your credit score may vary depending on your use. Fizz is required to report late payments, which may negatively impact your credit score. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors, including your activity with other creditors. The Fizz Card and related services will not remove negative credit history from your credit report. Fizz, on behalf of Lead Bank, will report your activities to Experian®  and Transunion® .


For additional information, terms and conditions applicable to your use of Fizz’s services, please consult Fizz’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, the Cardholder Agreement, any Line of Credit Agreement in effect between you and Lead Bank and any and all other applicable terms, policies and guidelines made available to you through the Fizz services.


For additional information, terms and conditions applicable to your use of Fizz’s services, please consult Fizz’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, the Cardholder Agreement, any Line of Credit Agreement in effect between you and Lead Bank and any and all other applicable terms, policies and guidelines made available to you through the Fizz services.


Selected customers reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Actual results may vary. App Store rating as of September 2024.


For persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities, we accept calls on our service line at (940) 260-2704.

ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz © 2024.


40 Wooster Street, Level 2, New York, NY 10013. All rights reserved. FIZZ® is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz (“Fizz”) is not a bank. The Fizz Debit Mastercard® (“Fizz Card”) is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard® and may be used everywhere Mastercard® debit cards are accepted. Any loans you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are originated by Lead Bank, a Missouri state-chartered bank. Any promotions or rewards you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are offered and managed by Fizz, not our bank partners.


Fizz Members may choose to apply for a Fizz Card, but are not required to. Fizz Membership does not guarantee access to a Fizz Card. Application and eligibility restrictions apply. Over $300 in annual value of Fizz Card based on cash value available to Fizz Card users assuming half of all available rewards and promotions are used. Actual results may vary.Fizz cardholders: Increases or specific changes to your credit score are not guaranteed. Impact on your credit score may vary depending on your use. Fizz is required to report late payments, which may negatively impact your credit score. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors, including your activity with other creditors. The Fizz Card and related services will not remove negative credit history from your credit report. Fizz, on behalf of Lead Bank, will report your activities to Experian®  and Transunion® .For additional information, terms and conditions applicable to your use of Fizz’s services, please consult Fizz’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, the Cardholder Agreement, any Line of Credit Agreement in effect between you and Lead Bank and any and all other applicable terms, policies and guidelines made available to you through the Fizz services.


Fizz cardholders: Increases or specific changes to your credit score are not guaranteed. Impact on your credit score may vary depending on your use. Fizz is required to report late payments, which may negatively impact your credit score. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors, including your activity with other creditors. The Fizz Card and related services will not remove negative credit history from your credit report. Fizz, on behalf of Lead Bank, will report your activities to Experian®  and Transunion® .


For additional information, terms and conditions applicable to your use of Fizz’s services, please consult Fizz’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, the Cardholder Agreement, any Line of Credit Agreement in effect between you and Lead Bank and any and all other applicable terms, policies and guidelines made available to you through the Fizz services.


For additional information, terms and conditions applicable to your use of Fizz’s services, please consult Fizz’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, the Cardholder Agreement, any Line of Credit Agreement in effect between you and Lead Bank and any and all other applicable terms, policies and guidelines made available to you through the Fizz services.


Selected customers reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Actual results may vary. App Store rating as of September 2024.


For persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities, we accept calls on our service line at (940) 260-2704.

ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz © 2024.


40 Wooster Street, Level 2, New York, NY 10013. All rights reserved. FIZZ® is registered in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

ShoulderTap Technologies, Inc. d/b/a Fizz (“Fizz”) is not a bank. The Fizz Debit Mastercard® (“Fizz Card”) is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Mastercard® and may be used everywhere Mastercard® debit cards are accepted. Any loans you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are originated by Lead Bank, a Missouri state-chartered bank. Any promotions or rewards you may be offered in connection with your use of the Fizz Card are offered and managed by Fizz, not our bank partners.


Fizz Members may choose to apply for a Fizz Card, but are not required to. Fizz Membership does not guarantee access to a Fizz Card. Application and eligibility restrictions apply. Over $300 in annual value of Fizz Card based on cash value available to Fizz Card users assuming half of all available rewards and promotions are used. Actual results may vary.Fizz cardholders: Increases or specific changes to your credit score are not guaranteed. Impact on your credit score may vary depending on your use. Fizz is required to report late payments, which may negatively impact your credit score. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors, including your activity with other creditors. The Fizz Card and related services will not remove negative credit history from your credit report. Fizz, on behalf of Lead Bank, will report your activities to Experian®  and Transunion® .For additional information, terms and conditions applicable to your use of Fizz’s services, please consult Fizz’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, the Cardholder Agreement, any Line of Credit Agreement in effect between you and Lead Bank and any and all other applicable terms, policies and guidelines made available to you through the Fizz services.


Fizz cardholders: Increases or specific changes to your credit score are not guaranteed. Impact on your credit score may vary depending on your use. Fizz is required to report late payments, which may negatively impact your credit score. Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors, including your activity with other creditors. The Fizz Card and related services will not remove negative credit history from your credit report. Fizz, on behalf of Lead Bank, will report your activities to Experian®  and Transunion® .


For additional information, terms and conditions applicable to your use of Fizz’s services, please consult Fizz’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, the Cardholder Agreement, any Line of Credit Agreement in effect between you and Lead Bank and any and all other applicable terms, policies and guidelines made available to you through the Fizz services.


For additional information, terms and conditions applicable to your use of Fizz’s services, please consult Fizz’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, the Cardholder Agreement, any Line of Credit Agreement in effect between you and Lead Bank and any and all other applicable terms, policies and guidelines made available to you through the Fizz services.


Selected customers reviews above describe individual experiences or results. Actual results may vary. App Store rating as of September 2024.


For persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities, we accept calls on our service line at (940) 260-2704.