College Search

The right college for you is not the most popular one, nor is it the college all your friends are going to. It is the one where you will be able to be most successful and happy. It is common for people to go to college but not finish their degree, and then the loans they took out are harder to pay back because they don't make much money. This is why looking at graduation rates for colleges is really important! Finding a school that is a good match and fit for you can help to make sure you graduate.

The College Search can be broken down into a few steps to make it less overwhelming!

Building a Balanced College List

You should apply to at least 3 schools if you are planning to attend a 4-year college/university. Building a balanced list can better ensure both that you are admitted to a school and also that you find a school that is a good match and fit for you.

Your list should have:

• 1or 2 "reach" schools

  • Schools whose average admitted GPA and test scores are a bit higher than yours. Your scores should be on the low end of their admitted range, not far below it.

• 2 or 3 "target" schools

  • Schools whose average admitted GPA and test scores are very close or equal to yours.

• 1 or 2 "slam dunk" schools

  • Schools whose average admitted GPA and test scores are below yours. Your scores should be on the high end (or above) their admitted range.

When looking for colleges to apply to you should consider Match & Fit!

Match has to do with the school's numbers.

• You and a certain school "match" if you meet their course requirements, and your GPA and test scores fall within their typical range of accepted students. When finding schools that match you, you should look out for GPA, SAT/ACT scores, and high school course requirements.

Fit refers to your fit with the school and deals with your feelings and preferences.

• You and a certain school "fit" if the school offers things you are looking for such as size, location, sports, clubs and organizations, Greek life, majors, diversity, etc. These are the factors that would make you personally feel at home at a school, and would make you happy studying there for four years!

Cost of schools should not be a big factor in your decision of where to attend school - though it sounds counterintuitive. Most schools advertise a significantly higher price than what you actually end up paying. Private colleges especially do this; they may appear to be more expensive than public schools, but there are some of them that will actually give you more money towards tuition than the public schools!

Start your College Search!

Choose one (or more) of these websites to begin to create your college list with schools that are a good match and fit for you! You can create an account on these websites (or log into your existing one) so that you can save the schools you find that you are interested in applying to. Then you can come in and show me! After you find the schools, make sure to visit their websites to get a feel for what they offer (also check out their social media pages).

Below is a guide to your right match to schools in NC based on GPA.