TIPS FOR APPLYING TO OUT-OF-STATE COLLEGES

• Know and trust yourself - you know what type of learning environment will work best for you.  Make sure you select a college that will lend itself to your success. 

• Visit when you can - if you can schedule in-person visits to a college you’re thinking about, do so!  You can get a good feel for the environment when you are in it.  A lot of schools are also now offering virtual tours at your convenience, so have a look around.

• Be thoughtful - make sure you read all the fine print and know exactly what is expected.  Make sure you’re aware of all the deadlines and give yourself enough time to complete the application.

• Ask for help - whether you need someone to review your application or aren’t sure where to start, you have your school counselors as a resource and there are resources at the college you’re applying to!  Never be afraid to ask questions.

• Pad your timeline - the earlier you start doing things, the better.  Don’t wait until the last minute to write a personal statement and then have to wait for someone to look it over before submitting it.  Make sure you know the deadlines and plan accordingly for all your steps!

• Have a safety net - Make sure you have schools that can serve as a backup in case you aren’t accepted into your dream school.

• Deep Breaths!

KEYS TO SUCCESS

• https://www.ktsutah.org/

• Students have access to multiple resources like finding and comparing colleges, college tips and tricks, information on Utah College Application Week, etc.

• KTS also provides resources in regards to FAFSA, finding and applying for scholarships, and listing other ways to pay for college.

COLLEGE NAVIGATOR

• https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

• Find out-of-state schools

• Filter by major, level of award (bachelor's, associate's, certificates, advanced degrees), as well as institution type (2-year, 4-year, private, public, etc)

• Once you click on a college, you can find general information as well as information on tuition and fees, financial aid, enrollment, admissions process, outcome measures, athletic teams, accreditation information, and more!

• Side-by-side comparisons of colleges that students select as “My Favorites”

• Pinpoint school locations with an interactive map

COLLEGE BOARD

• https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search

• Find out-of-state schools

• Begin by filtering by location, majors, type of college, or campus life.

  • Campus life includes information like the number of students, setting (Urban, rural), sports, activities, services (alcohol/substance abuse counseling, daycare), and disability support services (visually impaired, deaf, learning disorders)

• Other tools include resources on how to plan for college, pay for college, or explore careers.

• Under the plan for college section, you can connect with colleges online, look at the basics, prep for college, apply, and learn what to do after you submit your applications.

• Under pay for college, it breaks down scholarships, college costs, the basics of financial aid and provides a tool to help calculate your cost.

• When exploring careers, you can take a career quiz, look at different clusters of jobs with similar features and skill sets, and look at what majors of study you would pursue to get placed in a job.