Find the Right Colleges

Deciding what colleges you'd like to apply to can feel like a momentous decision.  Keep these ideas in mind:

• There are so many good colleges out there. Don't worry about finding 'the perfect fit' - just make sure you are educated about your choices

• There are tons of resources online for finding and comparing colleges.  You can use one or many; they are all a little different, but most of them have the same data and information. 

• Check out the resources below.  Any of them may do all of what you need, but check each out so you know type of information they offer. 

• Last, you college list should have:

  • 2-3 Safety Schools  (Colleges where your academic qualifications are above average, making admission highly likely)

  • 2-3 Fit or Target schools ( Colleges where your qualifications are similar to the average accepted student and you might or might not be accepted)

  • Reach schools (this category is optional; colleges where your qualifications are below the average accepted student, making admission less likely)

  • In each category, there should be at least 1-2 schools you are excited about!

Building your College List involves:

Finding colleges you would like to attend based on your interests

MEFA Pathway
Has online tools for searching fr colleges based on your interests, creating a college list, and finding and saving appropriate scholarships. To Start your college Search, go here:  Explore Colleges

College Board
Once you have an account with College Board (for the PSAT or SAT) you can download the Big Future app. Use the app to build your college list by choosing schools based on a range of criteria. You can start here: College Board Find your Fit

Comparing colleges to determine which are better for YOU

College Scorecard
The Federal Department of Education provides this tool to identify schools based on your interests, and then compare them on a variety of measures, including average cost and student debt, graduation rates, employment rates and more.  Go to the scorecard HERE

College Navigator
College Navigator is a free online tool by the U.S. Department of Education that helps students find, compare, and evaluate information on over 6,000 postsecondary institutions in the U.S. Users can search for colleges by location, programs offered, tuition costs, graduation rates, and other criteria to find the best fit for their needs and then compare them on various measures. Go to the Navigator HERE

Finding funding sources and programs and comparing cost estimates

While you build the list of schools that you are interested in, comparing their tuition and fees rates is just the beginning. You'll also want to compare their financial aid rates, their estimated Net Cost of attendance, and identify any special scholarship or grant programs schools might have. Also, consider the pros and cons of public versus private schools, as well as federal AND state financial aid opportunities. 

Most of this information can be determined by:

1. Cost Estimator. Most colleges websites will have a cost estimator that can give you an estimate of what your actual cost might be.  Many sites that compare colleges, such as MEFA Pathway, will have links to the cost estimators in the comparisons.

2. Use the College Scorecard and the College Navigator to compare average costs and student outcomes (such as drop out rates, employment rates, student debt rates)

3. Check out the programs offered by the MA Office of Student Financial Assistance. There you can find Grants, Scholarships, and programs that can make school much more affordable. Check them out here: OSFA

GI Comparison Tool 

For military families. If your parent has GI Benefits,  they can be used toward college costs of their children.