Researching Colleges & Universities
2023-2024-va-opps-book.pdfWhen searching for a school, here are some factors to think about.
Location - Some students want to go to college far away or in a big city. What about you?
Academics - Some students want to go to a four year school, others a two year or trade school.
School Size - Colleges can be as small as a few hundred students to over 60,000+ undergraduates! Think about what can be comfortable to you.
Class Size - Will you do better in a class of 10 students or a class of 110 students?
Job Placement/Career Services - Make sure you are graduating from college with a job offer on the horizon. Think about what job placement and internship services they offer.
Retention & Graduation Rates - Schools with high graduation and retention rates (87%+) mean students return to school from one year to the next and graduate in a four year period.
Costs - What can you afford to pay after scholarships and financial aid is applied?
Student Life - Are you interested in Greek life or club sports?
Diversity - Think about the gender, religious affiliation or if an HBCU interests you.
SchooLinks is a college and career readiness platform that prepares students for what comes after graduation. SchooLinks helps students discover their interests and strengths, explore colleges and careers, and create an individualized career and academic plan that best reflects their post-secondary goals. SchooLinks at Albemarle County is accessible in 6th-12th grades by students and their parents.
Using SchooLinks, students and families can:
Access career interest, strength and mindset surveys
Explore 2-year and 4-year colleges
Take virtual reality college campus tours
Search for scholarships
Learn about financial aid
Find internship and volunteer opportunities
Explore traditional, emerging and military career fields
Create digital portfolios / resumes