Selectivity
You will hear all about “selectivity” as you complete your college research and college admissions process. But “selectivity” has very little to do with whether a school is the right fit for you, or even with what life at that school is like! “Selectivity” simply measures what percentage of students who apply to a school are accepted – it’s all about how many applications the school receives. Every time you read “selectivity,” just replace it with the word “popularity.” That’s all selectivity is – popularity. And as you know, popularity often has very little to do with quality.
Beyond Rankings
Moving beyond rankings, it's more important to seek an "insider" or behind-the-scenes voice of what attending that college is really like. While some schools may be very prestigious, popular, and selective, the culture and "heartbeat" of that space may not be well suited to you and your needs. Instead of relying on rank, status, and prestige, look for other forums for information to help you decide whether a college is a good fit for you.
Fit Based on YOU (personality wise)
Each school has its own pace, heartbeat, and offerings. It's good to know what works for you and what doesn't. Think about your preferred learning environments--do you do better in smaller classes or lager ones? Do you prefer a busy campus with many student activities or a more contemplative and picturesque campus? Do you envision living in a large city or a small town? Each of these considerations are informed by your past experiences, your own temperament and personality traits, as well as your future aspirations. While a great college experience might be trying to attend the most popular or famous college ever--a more fulfilling one is finding a campus that aligns with your personality, learning style, and preferences.
One recommended exercise we encourage all students to do is consider all the different attributes and offerings colleges offer and select and choose your top priorities. Check out our Select Priorities Page for this exercise.
Fit Based on YOU (career/intended major wise)
To take the most strategic approach to college admissions, it's always best to start first with choosing the major you will declare. After reviewing the student's GPA (and test scores if they apply), admission counselors consider intended major next.
More important than leadership opportunities, sports, and extracurricular commitments is whether or not that student has prepared for their intended major (either through advanced coursework in high school or summer programs/extra classes/clubs/etc.).
Especially for more popular and selective colleges, admission trends are moving more towards admitting "pointy students" rather than "well-rounded" ones. Pointy being mostly determined by how deeply has that student been in pursuing increasingly focused opportunities within their intended major/intended field. Learn more about what it means to be a "pointy student" here.
