College Search &
Building a List
Find the college that fits you academically, socially, and financially.
Embedded Files
Get organized! Make a copy. Save it as your own. Consider sharing it with your counselor.
Use the first sheet as you search for colleges, visit campuses, and during college visits.
Use the second sheet for the colleges that you plan to apply to. Your counselor can help.
Tools to Build a College List Just for YOU!
Steps for Choosing a College
Steps for Choosing a College
How do you choose a college that’s right for you?
The good news: there are more than 4,500 colleges and universities in the US. Even better news: most schools accept most students, with the national average at around 67% (source). But which of the 4,500 should you apply to?
High school counselors can be a wonderful support during the college application process and many have knowledge of specialized programs and schools that can help you in choosing the best college.
For First-Gen & Low-Income Students
For First-Gen & Low-Income Students
Let’s start your research with a set of schools where you have a good shot of getting the financial aid package that you need to make college a reality. To give you a headstart, we’ve created one spot where you can access multiple helpful lists. Curious which schools offer no-loan financial aid packages? Got it. Want to know which colleges meet 100% of need for students who identify as undocumented/DACA? Yep, we cover that too.
You will also learn about organizations like QuestBridge and Posse Foundation that offer full scholarships to their partner colleges and universities. And you’ll learn about programs with combinations of letters like RSP and WUE that can save you a ton of money depending on where you live in the U.S.
The Matchlighters Story
The Matchlighters Story
“I come from a single parent household, my father does not support us in any way at all and my mother has just recently been let go of due to financial struggles, but I would like to ask for your help. Please light a little match to guide me through this."
This is the email that started it all, back in 2015, from a student we'd never met before. And, just like that, Matchlighters was born.
The Matchlighters Scholars Program connects generous and experienced college counselors with highly motivated students from low-income households across the country, to deliver college admissions help to those who need it most. The scholarship offers 10 hours of one-on-one support in navigating the complex college admissions process — at no cost.
Many students have solid grades. They just need a little extra help. That's where we come in.
Developing a College List on a Budget
Developing a College List on a Budget
So, you’re excited about college, but not so much about the cost? Feel like you could get into some pretty awesome schools, but think you might need a full ride (or almost)? Lots of APs/IBs, mostly As & Bs?
Great. This guide is for you.
The landscape of financial aid and scholarships is competitive, sure, but it’s also complex, with lots of labyrinths you can’t predict on your own. This guide will show you how to play the game.
College Search Engines
College Search Engines
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