Reminders about 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.

Researching College

To create a well diversified and strategic college list, it's good to put in a good several hours of research. There are many ways to research possible campuses out there and to discover whether or not they are a good fit.

Meet & Greet

Another key facet of the college research process is to talk to college representatives. This can range from attending information sessions at your College and Career Center to actually being interviewed by alumni as part of the application process. Click on the button below titled "Engaging with Prospective Colleges" to learn more tips for interviews, meeting reps, and more.