Finding the Right Fit

Real estate agents often chant the mantra of ”location, location, location” to their clients. As in buying a house, location shouldn’t be the sole driving force behind the college search process; nonetheless, it's still an important variable to consider. Over the past few months, you might have received admission information from colleges and universities, ans as you've noticed colleges reinforce their location in their publications. With striking photos of mountains, skyscrapers, or grassy quads, college viewbooks and websites play up their schools’ location. With all these great photos, you might ask yourself, where is the information on academics? Is there more to a school’s campus than the scenery? Obviously, the answer is yes, but you shouldn’t shy away from taking advantage of a college’s environment. College is perhaps the best four years of your life. It’s an opportunity for you to expand your intellectual and social horizons. It’s one great experiment. Follow me on a journey of how to think about which school's location will work for you.

The "right fit," like many phrases, can have various meanings and can be interpreted in a variety of ways. Your right fit might be different from mine. In thinking about schools, you’ll want to ask yourself: Do you like the cosmopolitan feel of a large city? Are you seeking a thriving music scene in a college town like Athens or Austin? Or do you want to stay close to home to be near family and friends?

Once you’ve identified your “right fit,” search for a college that is in your paradise. As an example, I’ll use Fort Lewis College. I am the Director of Admission at Fort Lewis College so it is an easy example for me. Fort Lewis is located in Durango, Colorado and the Four Corners region. Here, the San Juan Mountains meet the desert Southwest. It’s an incredible location. The area is surrounded by national forest, parks, mountain reservoirs and rivers. World-class skiing is 25 miles from campus; river rafting is in town; and great archaeology sites are only 30 minutes away. Heck, I ride a singletrack mountain bike trail to work. For students interested in the outdoors and wilderness, Fort Lewis College can be the perfect choice.

Here are some ways our students find their right fit at FLC:

1. Join student organizations: See what opportunities are available through the campus. Fort Lewis offers an Outdoor Pursuits club. It’s the largest club on campus and provides FLC students with such classes and trips as climbing (mountaineering, rock and ice), rafting/kayaking, avalanche safety, backcountry skiing/riding, canyoneering. Additionally, OP is the adventure hub of campus with an extensive equipment check-out program, outdoor resource library, bike and ski tune shop, and a knowledgeable staff. OP can provide maps, expert advice, reading material, and other resources to plan individual adventures.

2. Get to know the town. Since you will be living in a new community for four years, don’t hesitate to explore the town. Fort Lewis College and Durango offer a Welcome Week block party for new students. It’s a great way to learn about restaurants, shops, and other offers. Plus, there is usually some good, free food at events like this. Many restaurants and clubs offer college night specials on food. You can often eat well and on the cheap if you know the locations that offer college specials.

3. Explore the region. Within a two hour drive of Durango lay six different ecosystems. Three Native American reservations are within a 50 mile drive. Getting off campus will help you explore different areas of the country that perhaps you’ve never seen before. I had never had an Indian taco or Navajo frybread before moving to Durango. Now, I love it, and I know many FLC students who experienced these foods for the first time simply by being adventurous and getting off campus.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. You can stay on campus or you can get to know your college’s surrounding areas. I encourage you to do the latter. College is about expanding your horizons. I’m a firm believer that some of the most important learning experiences in college occur outside of the classroom and even off-campus. Be curious–explore and enjoy your college experience.