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Choosing a College That Fits
College admissions representatives review seven criteria students should consider and rank when trying to find their “right fit” colleges.
Application Organizer use this tool to keep organized while starting college applications
What Is a College Major?
What Is a College Major?
A major is the subject you'll study most deeply in college — roughly a third to half of your classes will be in this area. The rest of your schedule is filled with general education requirements and electives, which means a major focuses your education but doesn't limit it.
Think of it this way: your major is your home base, not your whole house.
A few myths worth busting:
"My major decides my career forever." Not true. Most careers don't require one specific major, and the average person changes careers multiple times. English majors become marketers, biology majors go into business, history majors end up in law.
"I need to know my major before I apply." Most colleges let you apply "undecided," and roughly a third of students change their major at least once. Some programs (nursing, engineering) are exceptions where declaring early matters — we'll flag those.
"Picking the 'wrong' major wastes money." What actually costs money is switching late or transferring without a plan. Exploring early — in high school — is free.
How to Start Choosing One
How to Start Choosing One
1. Start with what holds your attention. Which classes do you lose track of time in? What do you read or watch when nobody's assigning it? Interest is fuel — you'll do four years of this subject.
2. Look at what you're good at. Talent and interest usually overlap but not always. Your transcript, your teachers, and honest self-reflection all count as data.
3. Connect it to real careers. Use tools like (O*NET, BigFuture, or your SchooLinks account) to see what jobs a major actually leads to, what they pay, and whether they're growing.
4. Test-drive it before you commit. Take the related elective. Join the club. Ask for a job shadow. A semester of Accounting at BGHS teaches you more about whether you'd enjoy a business major than any quiz ever will.
5. Talk to people who are living it. Ask relatives, neighbors, or family friends what they majored in and whether they use it. The answers will surprise you — and take the pressure off.
It's Okay to Be Undecided
It's Okay to Be Undecided
"Undecided" isn't a lack of a plan — it is a plan. Colleges expect it, advisors are built for it, and gen-ed courses in your first year exist precisely so you can sample before you choose. What matters in high school isn't picking the perfect major; it's gathering enough experiences that when it's time to choose, you're choosing from evidence instead of guessing.
Questions? Stop by the college & career office — this is exactly what we're here for.
Choosing a Major (PDF)
Resources for an Effective College Search
SchooLinks (College > School Search)
College Board College Search (Big Future)
College Scorecard (US Dept of Ed site) (video: how to compare schools)
College Navigator (US Dept of Ed site)
Visit College Campuses
Determine how far from home you’d be willing to attend college, which parts of the country interest you, etc.
Determine the size of the college that most appeals to you.
Determine the location of the college that most appeals to you (e.g. in a city or in more of a rural setting or college town).
Schedule a campus visit by visiting the admissions webpage of the college at least a few weeks in advance.
School days off, spring break and even Saturdays can be great days to schedule campus visits.
Many colleges offer virtual visits.
Meet college admission reps visiting the BGHS Postsecondary Success Center.
Many college admission representatives visit the PSC in the fall and spring. These are a great way for students to find out more about a college, get questions answered and get to know the college rep assigned to Buffalo Grove HS.
CLICK HERE for the list of spring college rep panels.
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