Finding Your Fit

Researching post-secondary options is among the most important tasks you will perform. As you consider the myriad of options and what will be a good fit for you, you may have many questions or you may not even know what to ask. In either case, it is okay. It’s all part of the process; be patient with yourself.

Your preliminary list may include institutions unfamiliar to you. Research them nonetheless. SCOIR is an incredible tool to initiate your college search. Begin with the Admissions section. Look at the information regarding classes required, average GPA of accepted freshmen, average SAT/ACT scores, and so on. The Academics page will provide information about majors/minors, study abroad, research, internships etc. Take a look at Campus Life (extracurricular activities and campus resources.)

Do not let yourself be guided by name recognition alone. Your school counselor may offer a suggestion of a college that is unfamiliar to you that fits your academic and/or extracurricular criteria. They are familiar with where BHS graduates have landed and perhaps they suggested it because you have a good deal in common with a BHS alum who had a great experience there. The more thoroughly you explore the more satisfied you will be with your final college list.

STUDENT ENROLLMENT

Enrollment Total % undergraduate students. First-year class size.

Retention % of first-year students who return for the second year.

Background Male/female ratio. % commuter/resident. Geographic origin. % underrepresented students. % receiving financial aid.

LOCATION AND SURROUNDINGS

Location Geographic region. Distance from home. Travel costs and convenience.

School Size Small (under 3,000), Mid-size, (3,000-10,000), Large (over 10,000+)

Setting Urban/rural. Weather. Nearest city or countryside. Recreational opportunities.

Distance from Home: hour drive, five-hour drive, day’s drive, train ride, or plane flight.

Facilities Library. Laboratories. Studies and practice rooms. Student Center. Athletic/Fitness

COLLEGE TYPE AND PHILOSOPHY

Type 2/4 year. Public/Private/religiously affiliated. College/University.

Purpose Liberal arts. Pre-professional for business, education, engineering, fine arts, etc. Technical or vocational institute. Degrees offered (BA, BS, BFA, etc.).

Philosophy Traditional/progressive. Deeply scholarly/career-oriented.

Calendar Semester/trimester/quarter/module. Inter-term program.

CURRICULUM

Academic Requirements Proportion of study to general education/concentration/ electives. Required first-year courses or curriculum/distribution requirements in curricular areas/elective curriculum.

Academic Offerings Majors offered in your areas of interest. Breadth and depth of courses offered in your areas of interest. Interdisciplinary courses and majors. Ability to design own major. Independent Study Individual tutorials. Seminars. Research opportunities. Special Study Programs. Field work. Internships. Exchange programs. Foreign study. Joint degree programs. Cooperative work/study plan. Pre-professional programs.

Standards Accreditation Degree requirements. Grading system. Grading/distribution. Honor system.

ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT

Faculty % with PhDs. Origin of degrees earned. Original faculty research/scholarship. Teaching course load. Expectations for teaching/scholarship/advising and other college service. Emphasis on undergraduate teaching and learning.

Faculty-Student Relationships Faculty-student ratio. Accessibility for conferences, assistance. Departmental clubs, colloquia, committees with student representatives. Average class size. Classes under 20 students, over 50 students. Opportunities for discussion/student presentation/exchange of ideas. Opportunities for research with professors.

Academic Demands Workload. Course expectations. Type of assignments. Academic pressure or competition.

Intellectual Vitality Student attitude toward learning. Flexibility/structure for study. Interest in political, social, or world issues.

Career Preparation Career advising and information programs. % who go on to graduate school. Job placement.

CAMPUS AND STUDENT LIFE

Types of Students Diversity and acceptance of differences. Importance of money/material possessions/social appearances.

Community Type Homogeneous. Pluralistic. Cohesive. Fragmented. School spirit. Controversial campus issues. Liberal/restrictive social regulations.

Living Arrangements Predominantly large dorms/housing clusters/small houses. Availability of single rooms/doubles/suites/multiple rooms. Greek life and Greek housing. Housing based on academic or co-curricular interests. System of housing. Allocation/ roommate selection. Centralized/decentralized dining. Alternative dining programs.

Campus Activities related to your interests. Emphasis on social life, Greek life, sports, or other dominant interests. Clubs and organizations. Presence of religious, ethnic or cultural groups. Cultural opportunities on campus or in community.

Retention Percentage of first-year students who return for the second year.

COSTS AND FINANCIAL AID

Costs Minimum-maximum total costs per year. Student budget for tuition and fees/room and board/books and personal expenses/travel costs. Admission and enrollment fees.

Family Resources What can your family pay toward college expenses? Your earnings and savings.

Awards % of students receiving aid. Range of awards. Average award. No loan program or loans included as part of the financial aid package.

Financial Aid Based on need/merit/or funds available. Loan and job expectations.

Application FAFSA/CSS/state/college forms required. Deadlines.