It's time to turn this whole process around - it's not "What college wants me?", it's "What college fits me?". Where will you feel safe, happy, and motivated to make the most of your time in college? What factors will make your success more likely? Does it really matter if you get into SuperSelective University or Competitive College if you're not going to be successful there? Or worse... not even like it?!
There are thousands of colleges in this country (and others!) that might be a great fit for you, it's time to start thinking about you and what you need and want in a college so that you can narrow that enormous list down and start visiting and researching. Here are some factors that you may notice matter to you (or maybe not, everyone's different!):
Location, location, location! How far from home is it? Can I come home for holidays or on weekends if I want to? Is it in or near a city? Is it located somewhere near a professional network that would benefit me (i.e. if you're studying nursing, you might choose to be near a major city with hospitals for clinical work)
The Campus - How big is it? Can you walk to class or do you need to take a bus? Are dining halls close? Do lots of kids live on campus? Is it all together or spread out? What is the surrounding area - a neighborhood, a city, a rural area?
Academics: Majors/Minors - What programs does the school offer? Is it one college or multiple colleges within a university? How easy is it to change majors or transfer within the school if you decide to? What classes will you actually get to take?
Academics: teachers and supports - Will you have classes with professors, grad students, TAs? Is there a student success center for tutoring or advising?
Career support and opportunities - What kind of internships do students usually get? How is the job placement for graduates?
Campus Culture - What do students do for fun? Do they tend to hang around on campus or off? Are sports a big thing there? How about the arts? Are people generally friendly and accepting and looking to meet people? Are there people like me there?
Finances $$$ - No matter who you are or how much money you or your family has to spend on college, this is a big investment. Do the schools you're looking at offer merit or need-based aid? What is the 'sticker price' (Cost of Attendance per year)? One college may be $30,000 a year, another $60,000... but what it does really cost you?
Check out more on specific factors that might be important to you:
There are many search engines out there, what sets Naviance and Scoir apart for HHS students is the Hopkinton specific data that we share so you can see how students from your own school have fared in the admissions process with similar GPAs and test scores. Check out Naviance, Scoir, and other search engines on the College Search Page!