What One Thing Do You Need to Know About Yourself Before You Choose a College?

By: Emily Maggrett

6 Min Quiz

Image: Sidekick / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

What makes a university a good fit for you? Is it the size or the location? Do you care whether your college has dope programs for people with your major, or are you more interested in colleges with school cultures that you relate to?

You might not know the answers to these questions yet and feel annoyed that we're pressing you. This process is already making you anxious AF; you don't need internet quizzes interrogating you! Well, sorry not sorry. The truth is, there's one thing you need to know about yourself before you choose a college, which is what will help you STAY in college. After all, if you don't finish, everything you do there will be an epic waste of time (and money.)

So, what will actually motivate you to stick it out? Do you need to be in the same state as your fam? Do you need to go somewhere low-key? Or would you be more excited to go to school in another place, somewhere where you can live in slides and tank tops year-round? If you want to know the most important factor to keep in mind when looking at those glossy catalogs, play this quiz!

Which of these quotes makes you feel #blessed?

"I am always doing what I cannot do yet in order to learn how to do it."

"It's never too late, or in my case too early, to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit."
"It always seems impossible until it's done."

"Be who you were created to be, and you will set the world on fire."

Do you love hanging out with your fam or do you feel smothered by them?

I love 'em but I'm tired of them pressing me.

They're okay (but I won't miss them!)
My fam is the BEST.

I love them dearly but we're not close.

If you were offered the chance to study for a semester in Portugal, would you get on it?

YUH!

Maybe. Is this a prestigious opportunity?
No, sounds too wild for me.

Would I get to study my favorite stuff? Then yes!

Which movie do you want your college experience to be like?

"Legally Blonde"

"Revenge of the Nerds," except I won't be on the nerds' side.
"Pitch Perfect"

"Real Genius"

How bougie will you dress at college?

Not bougie at all; more hippie.

So bougie, I'll look like an '80s preppie.
I will dress normal AF and hope I fit in.

IDGAF about clothes.

Do you already know what you want your major to be, bruh?

No I do not, Broseph.

Law or medicine, probs.
No, but I think that's okay.

Yep, I've known what I wanted to do since I was a little kid.

If the only college that accepted you was in your home state, would you be disappointed?

Yeah, that's like my worst nightmare.

100% (unless I happened to live in Connecticut.)
No. I'd actually be relieved.

Depends ... is it a good school?

On an average day, do you feel chill or stressed AF?

Chill as a milkshake, bb.

A little pressed, TBH.
Stressed AF! It's my way.

I never get more stressed than you might feel after drinking a big cup of coffee.

What do you hope your campus looks like?

I hope it's got palm trees, fam.

I hope it's dripping with IVY.
I hope it's small and homey.

I honestly DGAF.

For real: do you think it matters if a university is famous?

Not at all.

Going to a famous school gives you cred for days.
It matters, but it's not crucial to me personally.

No, although I do want to go somewhere where I can learn about my preferred topic from the best.

Are you an athlete? Do you want to go to a school with a large athletic program?

That could be good, but it's not a must-have.

Yes. Rooting for the same team brings people together.
That would be dope, but I don't know if I could get into a school like that.

Bleh, sports.

Do you enjoy speaking up in class, or does it make you feel like a brainiac on the nerd patrol?

I speak up if they're talking about something I care about. If not, whatever.

Well, I AM a braniac on the nerd patrol.
I think talking in class is pretentious.

I don't understand. Are you making fun of nerds here?

When you go to restaurants, what do you order?

Whatever I've never tried before.

The second-most expensive thing on the menu.
The same thing I always order, of course!

Whatever seems healthiest.

How long has your BFF been your BFF?

IDK, five minutes?

I don't really have a BFF.
Since we were in diapers.

Since high school.

Are you willing to take on a crazy amount of debt?

Maybe ... depends on what I'll get in return.

Yeah. Gotta spend cash to make cash.
No. That's a really big burden to put on my friends and family.

Only if I'd end up with something really worthwhile, like a PhD from Harvard.

Do you like going to festivals?

I love festivals so much, I even had a good time at Fyre Festival.

I like the pics I get at them better than the experience itself.
Nah, they're too loud.

Festivals are a waste of time and money.

If you had to go to a school where you didn't know anyone, could you make new friends quickly?

Bet.

I don't know if I would make REAL friends quickly, but I'd find people to hang out with at lunch.
No. I'd miss my old friends too much.

I'm not good at making new friends under the best of circumstances.

When people underestimate you, do you feel fired up to prove them wrong or discouraged?

I think they're dumb and I move on.

I live to smash my success in my enemies' faces!
Discouraged. What if they're right?

I feel discouraged IF they're people whose opinions I respect.

Are you a Hermione, totally focused on school, or a Harry, i.e. school is the least of your problems?

Harry, all the way.

Hermione AF.
I'm more like Ron, TBH.

I make Hermione look like a slacker.

Do you love your extracurriculars or nah?

They're everything to me!

I do them because it looks good, not because I like them.
I care about the kids I play sports with. We're like a family.

I have zero extracurriculars. There's a reason why "extra" is in their name.

What's your idea of a litty Friday night?

Going out and hitting up as many places as possible.

Being seen at the right parties.
Snuggling with my boo at home, or having a get-together with our friends.

Studying my face off then playing D&D.

Are you currently in a relationship?

I'm in three but none of them are serious.

Nope! I'm single and ready to mingle (with bougie college baes.)
Yes. We're in love.

Yes, but I think it's on the rocks. Something about me studying too much?

What's your theme song?

"To the Moon" by KYLE

"We Are the Champions" by Queen
"Home" by Blake Shelton

"Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" by Daft Punk

Do you hate your hometown?

Don't tell my parents but yeah, fr.

It's fine, but I think I'm meant for bigger and better things.
No, I love it!

I like it but it's not paradise.

Are you passionate about learning, or just about getting a good job?

I'm passionate about having fun but I need a job to fund it.

Both. I love competing academically but also want to slay at adulting.
I'm in college so I can get a high-paying job and start a family of my own.

Learning is LIFE to me.

What kind of friends are you hoping to make at school?

People who aren't boring AF.

People with amazing connections
People who share my passion for the topic I'm interested in

I just want to keep my old friends!

Do you want to live on campus or off-campus?

Off-campus, of course.

On campus. That's how you get the real college experience.
I'd like to live at home, if possible.

On campus, so I could stay close to my bae the library.

How obsessed are you with impressing other people?

Not very. They either like me or they don't.

Very, but don't judge.
I don't care what strangers think, but I do want my parents' approval.

I'd only care what my professors thought of my work.

Do you hope to run for political office?

Haha, no.

Yes, that's my secret dream.
That's the LAST thing I'd do!

That's ... unlikely.

Are you more excited about college or life after college?

IDK, both?

Um, college.
Life after college, for sure.

I just wish things could stay the same!

6 Minute Quiz 6 Min

About HowStuffWorks Play

How much do you know about dinosaurs? What is an octane rating? And how do you use a proper noun? Lucky for you, HowStuffWorks Play is here to help. Our award-winning website offers reliable, easy-to-understand explanations about how the world works. From fun quizzes that bring joy to your day, to compelling photography and fascinating lists, HowStuffWorks Play offers something for everyone. Sometimes we explain how stuff works, other times, we ask you, but we’re always exploring in the name of fun! Because learning is fun, so stick with us!