Finding a school with a good reputation, list of resources, and a sense of connection can be difficult. It was not easy personally deciding on a school to attend. I am still learning what makes ASU worthwhile for my professional and personal experience. I decided on Arizona State University (ASU) because of my major, microbiology, having a strong research profile that sparked my career interests. I understood I had countless resources, and that ASU had an excellent reputation as a research university. However, I do not think about how I would find ASU because I had accepted myself personally. I grew personality-wise during my 1st semester and can say what I think are three important criteria for deciding a school.

The number of resources determines your success at your attending school and beyond graduation. Having to start somewhere new and introduce yourself to new opportunities is uniquely challenging. School resources are unique to your situation and needs, which the school should meet. For example, if I need financial aid for an upcoming semester or mental and emotional support, I can find support online or through ASU’s app. Schools should have opportunities for inclusion into their community whether their students commute or reside on campus. Being a commuter student at ASU has made inclusion difficult because I cannot stay long or arrive early due to my course schedule and familial responsibilities. However, I have found events on campus, like a Hispanic/Latino reception that helped me to feel more connected.

However, your personality and how you accept yourself influence your choice, even in high school. Going into college is a pivotal point in life because you start to become fully independent. While I have only completed my first semester, I can picture college as a collage of mistakes, connections, sacrifices, and fun. Before deciding where to attend, your college decision will depend on how you will feel personally. High school is a place where you learn how school-life balance increases. Life becomes challenging balancing classwork and your personal responsibilities. Your high school experience changes you personally. I was selfish and self-centered during my first two high school years. In my junior year of high school, I dedicated myself to change myself and pushed myself to be my best and transform into a better person. My personality affected my decision to attend ASU. I decided to go in person to ASU because I wanted to be in a visible community and environment.

A school’s reputation can define your professional and personal experience. A school’s public image attracts different demographics of students. For example, MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) and ASU both focus on research courses and studies. People search for private universities to take courses emphasizing religion, heritage, or study. Reputations matter to give you a worthwhile experience. ASU has an excellent reputation for its diverse studies, great faculty, inclusive environments, and personal and professional services. I am confident that ASU will help me to secure future employment because of its great courses and career services.

Finding these three criteria in a school sounds like trial and error. Attending a school and seeing its reputation and resources can make you choose another school. Your personal experiences and research lead to a decision. A school’s resources and reputation may affect you directly, so careful planning must be made. Understanding who you are personally will make deciding easier, helping you understand how a certain school will suit you. Researching everything about a school, understanding your personality, and knowing what you will find will help you find the right school for your prosperous and successful future.