Things to Consider When Choosing a College

As college acceptance season is upon us and my younger brother narrows down his choices, it got me thinking of how I ended up choosing DePaul. There was a lot of research, from videos, tours, in-person events, and discussing with my parents, before I finally came to choose DePaul.

1. Location

Now location was a huge factor for me, because personally I wanted to stay closer to home. Luckily DePaul is super accessible from the suburbs, with the Metra, the tollways, and the CTA. There are honestly a lot of options. Another thing was that DePaul is located in Chicago and you get the best of both worlds from the Lincoln Park campus, which is more of a city neighborhood to the Loop campus with its skyscrapers and bustling business district. I have always loved the city’s atmosphere and going to DePaul gives you the best taste of that.

A young woman with glasses and long brown hair looks up at towering skyscrapers from a low-angle perspective at a city intersection. The clear blue sky contrasts with the tall buildings, and a street sign reading "Madison St" is visible on the left.

2. Amenities

The thing that really sealed the deal for me was seeing all the amenities DePaul has to offer. Once I learned about the Idea Realization Labs, I was so stoked. As a student you have access to all these amazing craft supplies and machines. Also things like the gym membership, the Career Center, and the Coleman Entrepreneurship Center really made it a strong contender.

3. Classes

I did also know that I really wanted a school with smaller class size. I was not a fan of huge lecture halls with 300+ people, and that’s not really a thing at DePaul. You may have bigger classes with 40 to 50 people, but it never feels huge. You get to know your professors and that’s something I do think is important.

A classroom at DePaul University with long tables, red and gray chairs, a large screen displaying a message about audio and video recording technology, and windows with closed blinds.

The top half of the image shows a panel discussion with four women seated on stools in a modern event space, one of whom is standing and speaking while holding a microphone. The bottom half features a smiling young woman in glasses taking a selfie with another woman, both seated in front of a display of beauty or skincare products with rating cards.

4. Connections

Another thing is I wanted a school connected to its community. At DePaul a lot of the professors have worked in Chicago, and use guest speakers from the city. Not only that but DePaul has built up relations with local businesses. It has allowed me to experience lots of unique things.

5. The People

Lastly, everyone has been so welcoming and friendly. Beginning with the tour leaders and Preview Days staff, they make you feel like you belong. I didn’t only consider students, I also decided to come here for the staff, professors, and everyone who I would be around in college.

Choosing a school is a tough decision, and it’s not something that will happen right away. You definitely have to take a tour, do a little research, and look at their socials. As a Junior now, I definitely can say I am a Blue Demon through and through.