Building and Narrowing a List

Building and Narrowing a List

Start to identify possible colleges:

• Check programs offered - Are they what you want? (Actually, the majority of students applying to college are undecided about a major.)

• Location - How far away from home do you want to be? Do you want to be able to come home on weekends or is getting on an airplane an option?

• Campus environment - Do you want to be in a city, close to a city, or does it matter? Size is also part of the environment. Do you want a smaller campus or would you rather experience a larger setting? Look beyond the total number of students attending and consider how many students are enrolled in your major (i.e. 10,000 total students, but only 50 students in your major).

• Academics - What is the quality of the programs? Is it a school you will have to ‘reach’ for or do your grades and profile fit what schools are looking for in their students?

• Activities - Does the school have clubs and organizations which interest you? Do you want to continue to participate in sports, theatre, music...?

• Housing - Are freshmen guaranteed housing? Is housing guaranteed all four years? What are their meal plans?

• Campus life - Consider what life is like beyond the classroom. Aim for a balance among activities, academics, and social life.

• Cost - Is the cost manageable and is there adequate financial aid available? Don’t let the initial cost of the school deter you from checking out the school’s offerings. Schools want to assure that academically qualified students can find adequate financial resources that will allow them to be able to attend their school.

• College Fairs - Take advantage of college fairs in your area (usually offered at the University of Southern Maine in late September) and talk with the school representative in attendance. Sign up to be on their mailing lists.

• High School Visits - Meet with admissions representatives who visit our high school in the fall to learn more about their school and offerings.

• Military Academies and ROTC - The process for these programs starts in July before the senior year.

Once you have developed a list of schools in which you have an interest, it’s time to visit! Here are “Some things to know before you go”:

• Check out the college’s website and read about the college in guidebooks such as The Fiske Guide, The Princeton Review and The College Handbook. Use www.collegeboard.org, also, www.review.com

• On the colleges’ websites, you can find tour and group information times and contacts. Do you have to sign up in advance or can you just arrive on campus?

• Talk with currently enrolled students and alumni.

• Make a list of questions to ask either on the tour or during the group information session.

• Prepare to take pictures and bring the College Comparison Worksheet (see Appendix).