Exploring Colleges

Accreditation

Make sure that the college, university, or technical program is accredited. This means that the program is recognized at a state and federal level as providing a high-quality education as defined by the US Department of Education. Attending a non-accredited school can severely decrease your chance of getting into a graduate program, transferring credits, getting a job, and possibly your ability to receive financial aid. Most institutions will have their accreditation listed on their website or you can check the federal database of accredited institutions on the Dept. of Education website.

Majors

This may seem obvious but you should make sure the major you're interested in is offered by the college. Each campus offers a different variety of majors and especially if it is a smaller campus, it may not have the specific major you want. Additionally, if you choose an impacted major, the college may ask you to select an alternate major. Make sure the college offers a backup to your first choice.

Location

How close to home do you want to be? Do you plan to live at home? Do you want to be close enough to eat Sunday dinner, or to only visit on breaks? Are you accustomed to sunny San Diego or are you ready for changing seasons and snowy East Coast winters? Are you comfortable in the bustling city or do you prefer a smaller rural setting? You will be spending a lot of time there so you should choose a location that suits you, where you'll be comfortable. It's a good idea to visit the campus to get a feel for your surroundings, but when that's not possible many schools now offer virtual campus tours on their website.

Cost

For many families, cost is understandably a big concern- you have to factor in not only tuition but books/supplies, housing, meals, and living expenses. This being said, keep in mind that most students don't pay the full price for college thanks to financial aid and scholarships. Find out what kind of financial aid package your college of interest is willing to offer you and then you can start ruling out colleges based on affordability. Don’t let the initial price tag stop you from applying!

Student Life

Studies show that students who are more involved on campus tend to do better in school so social life and extracurricular activities can also be an important factor for many students. Ask yourself, does this college offer the activities I'm interested in? If you want to join a sorority or fraternity, does this campus have Greek life? How about the sport you want to play? Does religious affiliation play a part in your decision? Is this a known party school- and will this be too much of a distraction? Apart from academic success, participating in extracurriculars can give you a sense of community, improve quality of life, and is a good way to make lasting connections so make the most out of your college years and get involved!

Admission Requirements and Admit Rates

Time for a reality check... how likely is it that you'll be accepted to this school? If a school requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 and SAT score of 1100 and you have a 2.5 GPA and scored 900 on the SAT then it might be time for plan B. Look for a college that doesn't have those strict requirements or consider going to a community college to boost your GPA and then transfer. Even for those who meet the admission requirements, it can be competitive, but some colleges are more competitive than others. Looking at school admit rates is one way to gauge the likelihood of being accepted into a certain school; this is a percentage that can be found on most colleges' admissions page that shows how many students were accepted out of how many applied. However, be careful to draw conclusions from this number- numbers can be misleading. Just because the admit rate is low doesn't mean you won't be accepted. Consider applying to another college with a higher admit rate as a backup or safety school.