Finding the Right College "Fit"
Finding the Right College "Fit"
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When looking into your options after high school, you not only want to find a school or program that fits your professional goals, but you want to make sure it is the right "fit" for you. There are four general categories for this; academic, social, financial, and location.
What is does it mean to find the right "fit"? Click on each section below to learn more about the specific category and check out the videos below to hear what a couple DSST Alumni had to say about their process of finding the right school for them!
Academic Fit
Academic Fit
Academic fit is based on your GPA, SAT/ACT, and desired majors. An academic fit school is one where you will excel in the classroom and be able to explore their academic interests.
Some key questions to ask yourself:
Do they have the right major for me?
Can I get involved in research or internships, if I want to?
Are there academic organizations for me to get involved with?
Does my GPA fit in the middle range of other students?
Is my P/SAT score competitive?
Social Fit
Social Fit
Finding a school that is the right size and type of school that offers classes in a way that you enjoy learning is very important to be successful. You will know you have found a social fit if you can find places to get involved on campus and can call it “home.”
Some key questions to ask yourself:
Do I want go to a large school or a small school?
Do I want go to a private or a public school?
Am I wanting to get a liberal arts education?
Are there students on campus that look like me?
Are there organizations or activities offered that I enjoy doing?
Can I see myself going here?
Financial Fit
Financial Fit
Location fit means choosing to attend a school that is either close or far away from home and is in a place that you can see yourself living in for the next two, four, or more years. If going out of state is your goal, remember that you will be spending the majority of the year there and will likely only travel back during breaks and holidays. Not only are you going to be in a new environment for school, but the culture and habits of the city you move to will likely be different than what you're used to.
Some key questions to ask yourself:
Do I want to stay in state or out of state?
Do I like schools that are on the West Coast or East Coast
Do I want to go to a school that is in a city or in a more rural spot?
Location Fit
Location Fit
Finding a school that you can afford and that offers a competitive financial aid package is very important. Sometimes, you might feel discouraged by the "price tag" on the school's website, but remember, there are always options for financial aid and other sources to fund your education. Don't let those numbers scare you! If you like the school, apply and see what your potential costs could look like after going through the financial aid process.
Some key questions to ask yourself:
Does this school offer scholarships?
Am I competitive for scholarships?
Can my family afford this school?
Are there work study or other job opportunities?
Am I going to have to take out loans to go here?
ClarissaStanfordChoice.mp4Clarissa Jaime-Gonzales
Clarissa Jaime-Gonzales
Stanford University - Engineering
Diego Garcia - CU Boulder Fit .movDiego Garcia
Diego Garcia
University of Colorado Boulder - Pre-Med Track
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