Before we were married, my wife Hilary and I went shopping in the Twin Cities. I remember the day (a Saturday), the location (Southdale Mall in Edina) and my one purchase – a pair of brown leather shoes that I still have 13 years later. I bought them because they were in style, they weren’t expensive, and it was fun to buy something based on Hilary’s tastes, not mine. The heavy, industrial look of Doc Martens was popular at the time and my future bride convinced me that I, too, needed a pair of “chunky shoes”.

I wore them the other day and had much the same thought as I’ve had each time they’ve adorned my feet: I really do not like these shoes. I knew they didn’t feel good when I bought them, but assumed they’d feel better as they were broken in. They didn’t. And the chic chunkiness has always felt more like I’m wearing lead soles. I’m not one to toss out perfectly good items, and so I’ve worn these shoes for 13 years, and while they indeed look good…they never fit me.  

The most important factor in choosing a college is fit. Fit is dependent upon location, size, price, available majors, i.e. it’s not one single item but a complex array of features. Too many students pick a college based not on fit but on perceived trends, thin advice from friends, the success of athletic teams and even proximity to the boyfriend/girlfriend du jour. Finding that great fit is the key to college planning and it’s not something you can pick out on a Saturday afternoon.

And when you arrive at that campus that fits you perfectly…I guarantee your feet won’t hurt.