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College applications take a lot of time, energy, and can cost a significant amount of money. Because of that, you need to know exactly WHY you are submitting an application to every single school on your list.
Adding 15+ schools to your Common App just because you liked a TikTok video or "heard it was good" usually ends up being a waste of time. It's important to cut through the noise and build a realistic list of schools that fit what you want and won't leave you in massive debt.
Bad Reasons to Apply
Bad Reasons to Apply
It has good vibes. I can’t explain it
This school is known for being good at business
My cousin went there and liked it
I just want to see if I’ll get into Northwestern, you never know….
It’s the cheapest option
I need a lot of safety schools
These are "bad" reasons to apply because:
Not rooted in specific evidence
Not connected to personal values and needs
Not rooted in reality
Focused on just one factor without seeing the bigger picture
Playing it too safe
Good Reasons to Apply
Good Reasons to Apply
The biology labs allow students to start research with professors freshman year
The campus atmosphere is described as liberal, community oriented, and welcoming
There is a summer bridge program that helps first generation college students adjust to campus life
Every student is required to find an internship, study abroad, or do research before graduating
I really like the variety of clubs offered and the role that student voice has in shaping campus atmosphere
What to research in a College (your Fit Factors)
What to research in a College (your Fit Factors)
Size
Size
Average class size
Total undergraduate population
Setting
Setting
City
College Town
Close to Nature
Close to a Big City
Academics
Academics
Most colleges offer most majors
Keep an eye out for nursing, engineering, teaching
Business vs. Economics
Lots of schools offer flexibility in deciding on a major!
Diversity & Inclusion
Diversity & Inclusion
First generation/low income supports
% of domestic students of color
LGBTQ+ friendliness and policies
Identity based affinity groups
Distance from Home
Distance from Home
In Chicago
4 to 5 hours driving
I’m okay taking a plane
Affordability
Affordability
does a net price calculator put this school in your budget? Read more here about affordability
Come up with a list of 3 - 6 fit factors.
These are the things you're looking for in a school to determine if it's going to be a good home for the next few years. Be as specific as possible in your fit factors! Don't just say, "good nursing program," say, "start nursing clinicals my freshman year."
Make your list, and then prioritize it! Are these things nice to have, must have, or non-neogtiable?
Review the list to the right for an example:
Emily's Fit Factors
Within 8 hours driving distance from Chicago (must have)
Asian American club with a strong presence on campus- lots of events (non negotiable)
Class sizes are an average of 20 or less (non negotiable)
Study abroad and international learning an important part of learning, particularly in the political science major (must have)
Easy access to political or non-profit internships during the school year, preferably funded (nice to have)
How to Research Colleges
How to Research Colleges
Now that you have a list of specific factors you're looking for in a college, it's time to research!
You can start your research with a few schools you've heard of, or ask Ms. Rochelle or your counselor for recommendations. SchooLinks can also be a helpful starting place and allows you to filter and search schools based on certain characteristics. Check out Mr. Wolf's list of schools to know for popular colleges in a variety of categories.
You may also find it helpful to use AI in coming up with initial places to research. You can enter your fit factors and ask for a handful of schools that would be good fits. Or if you find a school you really like, ask if there are similar overlapping schools it recommends. Make sure to use caution and always do your own research! Particularly if you're looking for info on specific majors or affordability, it's a good idea to run your list by your counselor as well.
Different Voices in College Research
Different Voices in College Research
In your research, you will come across different view points and perspectives. Every source you look at can be biased in some way, so that's why it's important to look at a variety of information sources! Carefully analyze all your resources and try to come to your own conclusions on a school. Don't be easily swayed by a "Day in the Life" TikTok or a scandalous newspaper article written a few years ago. Reflect on all available pieces of information to come to your own conclusion
Institutional Perspective
Institutional Perspective
The official story. This is the information the college curates and publishes themselves. It is highly polished and designed to show the school in its absolute best light.
Why you need it: It gives you the concrete facts: majors offered, official campus policies, application deadlines, and graduation requirements.
Where to find it:
The college’s official website or Youtube Channel (video tours are great!)
Admissions brochures and virtual information sessions.
The school's Common Data Set (Google "[School Name] Common Data Set" to find their raw, official numbers on admissions and aid).
Third Party Perspective
Third Party Perspective
These are independent organizations, government databases, and review sites that evaluate the college "objectively," without trying to sell you anything.
Why you need it: It cuts through the marketing fluff. It tells you the actual post-grad salaries, high level overviews of student experiences, what a school is 'known for.'
Where to find it:
College Scorecard (a free, official tool by the U.S. Department of Education to compare real costs and graduation outcomes)
Review websites like Niche, The Princeton Review, Fiske Guide, and SchooLinks
Student Perspective
Student Perspective
This is the honest, day-to-day experience of students who actually eat the dining hall food, sleep in the dorms, and take classes with the professors.
Why you need it: It gives you the campus vibe and the common complaints that a brochure would never mention.
Where to find it:
The school’s Student Newspaper website (great for finding out what campus issues students are actively protesting or debating).
The school's dedicated Reddit page, Instagram, TikToks, youtubes
Websites like Unigo or Niche where students write unfiltered reviews of their campuses
Talk with current students on a visit or ask a counselor to connect you with any Senn alum that may be there now!
Take Notes!
Take Notes!
You should spend at least 20 minutes researching each school. It's super helpful to take notes, either in SchooLinks on your college list tab or in your own personal notetaking document. Make sure that you're using your fit factors to guide your research so that you're evaluating each school against the same criteria!
Make a copy of the notetaking spreadsheet to the left if it's helpful.
SchooLinks is also a helpful place to organize schools. Go to College > School Search, and you can apply various filters. If you like a school, you can favorite it, add it to your final list, and make notes about why you added the school.
Taking thorough notes is super helpful because it's a quick way to remember the details of a school AND you can look back on them when writing supplemental essays about specific colleges.
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