Choosing Colleges

How do you figure out which colleges to apply to?

Finding colleges that fit you begins with self-discovery--that means getting to know your interests, your goals, & what's most important to you.

Ask yourself some questions about the kind of college you want:

• Large or small?
• Public or Private?
• Urban, Suburban, or rural?
• What's your major?
• How selective is the school and/or program?
• How much will it cost?

Decide what matters most to you

For some students, sports & activities are very important. Other students want a challenging academic environment. Look at your answers to the questions in Step 1. What do they say about you & what you may like in college?

Get to know your options

Visit College Board's website & take their step-by-step college search, where you can learn about basic college categories & answer questions about your preferences. You;ll also find in-depth information about searching for colleges along with advice from college students & educators.

If you're looking at North Carolina colleges (2-year, 4-year, public, or private), you can use CFNC's college search. Once you find schools through CFNC, you can also apply & send your transcripts electronically.

Add colleges to your list

Check out individual profiles of the colleges that come up in your College Search results. When you see a college you like, click "Add to list" to save it to a favorites list. You can return to it later & refine your list as you go along.