How did you decide where to go to college?

By:

December 11, 2019

We have a college-choosing problem across the country. The rankings, metrics, analytics, college visits, and advice that we use today to help us make these decisions are out of step with the progress individual students are trying to make. They don’t give students and families the information and context they need to make such a high-stakes decision about whether and where to get an education.

And students pay the price—literally and figuratively. Because too many students don’t make their college decision with a keen understanding of why they are going, they make predictable mistakes and put themselves in vulnerable positions.

In this video, we talked to alums about why they chose school. Their reasons are telling. And here’s the thing—we don’t have to leave the choice of college to chance. Rather than seeing the decision as all about hoping a college chooses you, flip the script and focus on you choosing the college. By understanding your why, you can do it—and make a great choice that is not left to chance.

To learn more, read our new book, Choosing College: How to Make Better Learning Decisions Throughout Your Life.

Michael is a co-founder and distinguished fellow at the Clayton Christensen Institute. He currently serves as Chairman of the Clayton Christensen Institute and works as a senior strategist at Guild Education.