Four-year colleges and universities offer four-year programs that lead to a bachelor's degree in a selected major. 

These include universities and liberal arts colleges.

 Review this full description of the types of 4 year colleges, including liberal arts colleges, historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs) and for-profit schools.

Create a list of “right fit” colleges that you plan to apply to factoring in academic, social, and financial fit.

As you build your list, feel free to use THIS APPLICATION TRACKER as a way to enter key information (especially in the fall of senior year if you do end up applying to these schools)! 

You can also "favorite/heart" colleges of interest in SchooLinks, as well as create lists based on different filters used.

Video Resources

• WATCH: "Finding the Right Fit" Presentation (by Mr. Chiakulas)

  • The Class of 2027 students and parents should watch the presentation given by Mr. Chiakulas on Tuesday, October 21st, 2025, at 7pm in the JHHS Theatre.

• WATCH: Quick Overview of the 5 Ps (by Mr. Chiakulas)

• WATCH: Choosing a College That Fits

  • College admissions representatives review seven criteria students should consider and rank when trying to find their “right fit” colleges.

• PLAYLIST: The College Search Process (on the LifeAfterHersey YouTube channel)

College Search Engine Websites

• SchooLinks

  1. • Breakdown of the 5 Ps and where to enter that criteria in College Search (Image)

• College Board College Search

College Visit Resources

Visit college campuses to help narrow down your list and find the right fit!

• WATCH:The "Campus Visits" Learn A L.A.H.-tte presentation (2.7.24) for tips on the who, what when, why and how of campus visits! (Coming soon!)

• 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).

• WANT SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOLS CLOSE TO HOME? Check out THIS LIST, list broken down by size and setting, within about 200 miles of JHHS!

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.

• If you need to miss a school day for a visit, make sure to get called out as normal but follow up with the Attendance Office showing proof of your visit (confirmation email, folder with agenda/materials, etc.).

• Use this College Visit Questions and Comparison Chart Worksheet or this College Visit Pro/Con Sheet to help collect information from your visits!

College Fairs

• SAVE THE DATE: The District 214 College Fair will be held on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Forest View Education Center from 6-8pm!

• WATCH: "How to Navigate a VIRTUAL College Fair" (by Mr. Chiakulas)

• Go HERE to see other area college fairs.

College Admission Rep Visits to the JHHS Postsecondary Success Center (PSC)

For our Hersey College Rep Visit schedule, as well as for contact info of reps from previous visits, go HERE.

• Many college admission representatives visit the Postsecondary Success Center 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 Hersey.

• RSVP (optional) for Rep Visits in SchooLinks using these directions to get email reminders leading up to the visit.

While you are able to apply to college as an undecided major, it is often an advantage to choose a major when you first apply. It is not uncommon for students to change their major during college as their interests change.

To find college majors that may appeal to you:

1. Spend a little time on self reflection… What courses do you like? What are your academic strengths? Are any of your favorite extracurricular activities related to a possible major?

2. Find college majors related to your career pathway by looking at the District 214 Academic Programs and Pathways Guidebook.

3. Use SchooLinks to review or take career assessments.

4. Log into your College Board account for many great resources:

4. • Explore Careers

   • College Majors

   • Major and Career Search

5. Look at the Academic tab on college websites and find information about the majors you are considering. By viewing a 4-year plan of the courses required for a particular major, you will get an idea of whether that majors appeals to you.

6. Get an internship or job in a field of interest.

7. Register for a senior year or summer school course to explore a potential area of interest.

8. Join a club or activity related to your interest. See the Student Megadoc for JHHS opportunities.

ACT & SAT

• All colleges that require test scores accept either the SAT or ACT equally. 

• Some students choose to take both an SAT and ACT to see whether they score better on one. The SAT/ACT Concordance can be used to compare scores on these two tests.  

• Starting with the class of 2026, all students will take the state ACT, a graduation requirement, in school in the spring of their Junior year. The Science and Writing sections, while potentially optional for college admissions, are required by the state for graduation purposes.

• Students may want to sign up for an additional national ACT or SAT test on their own. Tests can typically be taken through October or November of senior year and still be used for college applications.

• Check the testing policy for each college you are applying to, as policies related to test optional, superscoring, and required/optional sections can vary.

Test Optional

A test optional college lets students decide whether they want to submit ACT or SAT test scores with their application. Most test optional schools will consider scores if they are submitted, but focus on other factors they believe are stronger predictors of a student's potential to succeed in college. Check out this list of over 2,100 four-year test optional colleges. (Subject to change each school year.)

Superscoring

Some colleges will superscore when the student submits multiple ACT or SAT scores. Superscoring averages the highest section scores from each test to obtain a new composite score that may be higher than any individual composite score.

AP Tests

Your AP test scores could earn you college credit. Use the College Board's AP Credit Policy Search to look up credit by school or by test.

JHHS and D214 Assessment Center Websites

Check these websites for the most up-to-date information about testing within D214:

• JHHS Assessment Center

• D214 Assessment Center