College Exploration

1. To find out more – about yourself, your world

2. To give yourself the opportunity to change and grow

3. To become more independent

4. To live in a community of your peers

5. To meet people from other geographic, economic, cultural backgrounds

6. To learn to think critically and develop your ideas

7. To explore an interest in-depth

8. To be in contact with mentors who can guide you

9. To open up options for further study, career possibilities, and earning power

1. It’s too expensive. College does take money, but your education may not cost you as much as you think. Private, public, and community colleges have developed a financial aid formula that takes into account your family situation and the cost of college. Financial help is available from both the colleges and the federal government.

2. Nobody in your family has ever gone. Once you have expressed an interest in college, you will probably find your family to be supportive. You can help them understand by explaining all the good reasons you have for wanting to expand your future options. Many colleges are particularly interested in serving “first-generation” college-bound students.

3. You won’t be able to keep up with the academics. Many people with mediocre high school records discover that they blossom at the right college. In addition, most colleges offer incoming freshmen assistance with study skills, writing workshops, math tutoring, and other academic supports. Colleges want their students to succeed.

4. You’re worried about making new friends. Nearly everybody worries about that. By the end of the first month, most students have found others with interests in common and feel at home in their new environment.

5. You can get a good job without a college degree. A college degree increases job opportunities and earning power. The kinds of skills many employers now demand require more education.

6. There’s too much work involved in applying. Effective applications do take effort, some more than others. Applications to state universities, however, are usually easier to complete than those to private colleges. Using the Common Application may make applying to multiple colleges easier.

7. Your grades or scores are not high enough to gain admission. There is a college for each person who is determined to go. The more you learn about the variety of colleges and their selection process, the more options you will discover. Community colleges do not require the SAT or ACT, but they do require an assessment test to determine levels of reading, math, and writing.

To start the college application process, you need to know which colleges you want to apply to. We encourage students to build a balanced and aspirational college list. All the resources below will ask you to consider a variety of factors when creating the list of colleges that may be right for you; the goal is to find schools that match your unique needs, goals, and preferences.

• How to Choose a College: A Step-By-Step Guide - College Essay Guy

• College List-Building Resources for First-Generation & Low-Income Students - College Essay Guy

• The Ultimate Guide to Making a Balanced College List - CollegeVine

• How to Research Schools & Build Your College List - GetSchooled

Academic fit is a measure of the likelihood of a student being admitted to a college, based on the student’s academic performance.  Many things go into the academics of a college. Students don't have to consider all aspects of a school's academics, but all applicants should consider at least some of the academics of a college.

Admissions statistics

By taking a look at a college's admissions statistics, like the average GPA or SAT scores of students who are accepted to the school, you can get an idea of how likely he is to be admitted.

Class sizes 

Knowing what the average class size is at a school can also help students understand what challenges they might face and their chances of success at that school. Many colleges provide a student-to-teacher ratio, so this information should be easy to find.

Programs available

If you have an idea of what you want to study or what type of career you are interested in, then you should make sure that the school you're applying to has a related program. Beyond potential majors, you should also look at other areas of interest. If you have several areas of interest, finding a college that offers classes in many of those areas can give you a broader academic experience.

Research opportunities

Particularly in the sciences, research is an important part of learning. Not all schools offer research opportunities for undergraduate students, so you should see if there are research opportunities for students like you.

Professors

Some schools have professors who are highly educated and well respected in their fields, but students should also be aware that some famous professors don't teach their own classes, often leaving that job to teaching assistants. It is helpful to ask how many classes are taught by teaching assistants as opposed to professors.

TIPS TO EVALUATE ACADEMIC FIT:

1. Know your preferences and needs. Below are suggested resources for exploring your interests, skills, and potential majors and careers: 

   • Complete the College Match Self-Survey from Dr. Steven Antonoff's book College Match. Schoolbuff.com has other helpful worksheets there, too, so do some exploring!

   • Use the self-assessment tools in Maia Learning. You will be using Maia Learning during your senior year to apply to schools and order your senior transcripts. 

   • Some resources have college match quizzes that students can take to identify colleges that may be a good fit for their preferences: 

Niche College Quiz

US News College Personality Quiz

Unigo College Match Quiz

Cappex College Match

2. Make a list of potential good fit schools by exploring search engines and college websites. In addition to Maia Learning, some recommended search engines are listed below:

   • CollegeXpress

   • Niche

   • Big Future College Search (from the College Board)

   • College Raptor College Search

   • Colleges That Change Lives 

3. Create a spreadsheet or list of colleges that are a potential match. Write down the colleges you've heard of, and new colleges you are just hearing of. Make tabs for what’s important to you, and make ample notes so that you can remember what you like about the school and don’t have to retrace your steps. Stay curious and open!

   • Now virtually visit some of these colleges. Check out YouVisit virtual tours. There are tons of virtual college tours on YouTube, and colleges offer them on their websites. 

   • Try to whittle your list to no more than 12 colleges. Consider that many of your schools may require supplemental essays.

4. Create a Balanced list.

   • Goal of 8-12 schools 

   • Review college acceptance rates and diversify your list:

     • 1-3 Highly Selective - acceptance rate of less than 15%

     • 1-3 Very Selective - 15-30% acceptance rate

     • 1-3 Selective - 30-60% acceptance rate

     • 1-3 Average - 60-90% acceptance rate

     • 1-3 Not Selective (greater than 90% acceptance rate)

   • Consider your ACT/SAT scores if you have them (and note that many schools are not requiring test scores at this time) and your GPA and compare those figures with students attending the schools on your list.

Social fit is one of the most important factors in your college decision. Social factors play a big part in whether a student will graduate or end up transferring. Mental health is a critical issue facing this generation of students. For emotional well-being, students need a sense of belonging and a place they can feel at home for the next four (or more) years. 

Here are some key variables and questions to consider as you assess whether the school's campus life is a good fit: 

• Location & Distance from Home

• Climate

• Setting

• Size

• Campus and Learning Environment

• Activities & Special Programs

It is essential to remember that there are various types of colleges in the US and abroad. Below are additional resources to help you explore what type of college might be  a good fit for you: 

Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs):

Rutgers School of Education - What are MSIs?

Historically Black Colleges and Universities: 

HBCU Connect | The Hundred-Seven | Common Black College App 

Hispanic Serving Institutions:

HACU - Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities 

Tribal Colleges:

American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) | White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education | Native American-Serving Nontribal Institutions Program

 College Planning Resources for Indigenous Students

TIPS TO DETERMINE SOCIAL FIT: 

• If possible, make a visit for yourself to see what the campus environment is like. Do you like the layout of the campus, the architecture, the facilities, and the surrounding city or town? Is there enough to do on campus and off-campus to keep you entertained over the course of your college career? Do you see students that look like you?

• Understand what kind of geographic location meets your needs. Many students start their college search process swearing they want to move away from home, but once the reality of connecting flights and expensive fares settles in they are willing to readjust their thinking. Questions to ask here focus on the climate, proximity to urban amenities, and cost.

• Figure out where enrollment size falls on your list of priorities. Is exuberant school spirit and having a top-notch football team critical, then factor that into the mix.

• Determine if religion will play a role in your college experience. Many colleges that were founded by various religious groups have a non-denominational feel, so don’t prejudge. Some students are comforted by the opportunities to affiliate with students from their religion.

• Investigate campus safety measures. Talk to current students and read the literature about new safety installations and programs such as text alerts, etc.

• Find out if there are special housing opportunities such as “living and learning communities.” These are residential programs where students with specialized interests may direct connections with faculty. Communities range from language houses to community service, environmental awareness, and writing. Students often receive specialized guidance on academic issues and career planning.

• Research the list of student activities. Are there some that match your interests? This is where a student can find out if the college is a good fit emotionally, athletically, culturally, and spiritually. It all depends on what is important to you.

• Understand your own likes and dislikes. Do you want to participate in Greek Life in college? Intramurals? Participation can vary greatly from campus to campus.

• Try out the food, particularly if the student is a fussy eater.

• Spend a night in the dorm, if possible. This is one of the best ways for a student to figure out if they’ll feel comfortable socially.

• Talk to current students and recent graduates. Talk to them about the best and worst parts of campus. Ask about the mental health, academic, and social support for first-year students.

Review the PAYING FOR COLLEGE information in Financial Aid & Scholarships

FINANCIAL AID CONCEPTS TO KNOW:

FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid; the form you need to fill out to get any financial aid from the federal government to help pay for college. If you’re considered a dependent, you’ll need your parents' financial information to access most financial aid. For United States citizens and eligible noncitizens. 

ORSAA - Oregon Student Aid Application; a confidential application that is used solely by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) to qualify students for financial aid in Oregon. It is not used for federal financial aid purposes. For students who are not eligible to complete the FAFSA. 

SAI - Student Aid Index; a formula-based index number ranging from –1500 to 999999. Where your SAI falls within the SAI range helps your school determine how much financial support you may need. A negative SAI indicates you have a higher financial need. For example, if you have an SAI of –1500, you’ll qualify for a maximum Pell Grant award, assuming you have not exhausted your lifetime amounts and meet all student eligibility requirements. Your SAI is not a dollar amount of aid you’ll receive, what your family is expected to provide, or your final financial aid offer. Your SAI is used by financial aid professionals when creating an aid offer.

Net Price = (sticker price for tuition and fees) - (grants, scholarships, and education tax benefits)

• Net Price Calculator

Scholarships and Grants - outright gifts of money. Often, they are based on need. Sometimes, though, they are awarded for academic excellence and promise, or special achievements or abilities. This is also known as gift aid.

Loans - money that needs to be repaid. Loans are a significant part of most aid packages and must be repaid, but most often not until after graduation. Interest rates on these loans are usually lower than on other types of loans. The payback period on college loans varies from two or three years up to 30 years.

Work-Study is part-time employment for a student, usually on campus, to help with college expenses. 

TIPS FOR EVALUATING FINANCIAL FIT

FINANCIAL FIT MEANS THE COLLEGE IS LIKELY TO BE AFFORDABLE

Certainly, no one is advising you to pick a college just because the price is right. But if you have found a college with your key "fit factors" in place, you should consider the cost. It's best to deal with this issue ahead of time—not when you're agonizing over acceptance letters from colleges you can't afford.

HAVE A "FAMILY TALK" ABOUT WHAT COST IS AFFORDABLE

By the time you make your application list, you and your parents should have had a conversation about what the family can afford to pay for college. Discuss how much you and your family can pay out of pocket each year for college. College loans are a reality for most students. How much debt can you and your parents afford to pay back each year? Your answers don't necessarily mean you can't attend a college that appears expensive. The right kind of financial aid might significantly reduce your cost to a manageable amount.

ASSESS WHICH COLLEGES ARE "FINANCIALLY FRIENDLY"

Here are some signs that a college might be affordable for you:

• History of providing generous gift aid (grants and scholarships).

• History of substantially meeting students' financial need. (Many colleges don't.)

• Policy of not reducing gift aid after freshman year. (Some colleges do.)

• History of providing generous merit aid (aid not based on financial need.)

• History of low student debt upon graduation. (The average total debt for college students graduating in 2019 was $28,950, according to the Institute for College Access and Success.) 

CONSIDER COLLEGES LIKELY TO OFFER YOU THEIR BEST DEAL

Many colleges are most generous with students whose stats place them in the top 25 percent of their current freshman class. These colleges may offer cost-reducing gift aid to encourage top students to enroll. Consider how your stats compare before applying.

CONSIDER OTHER FACTORS THAT AFFECT COST

Low four-year graduation and retention rates can signal potential additional costs. Taking more years to graduate means paying for extra years of college. Transferring to another college can also lead to higher costs if some of your college credits aren't accepted or you change majors.

USE COLLEGE NET PRICE CALCULATORS, BUT WITH CARE

Net price calculators on college websites allow you to enter your financial information and get an estimate of your "net price"—your potential freshman year cost once gift aid is deducted. But these calculators use various methods, so the results are difficult to compare. The US Department of Education maintains a Net Price Calculator Center.