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Internet Searches
Internet Searches
How do you narrow down 5,000 US colleges to a manageable 3-15 applications? To get started, you can search in platforms such as Naviance's SuperMatch (you'll need your school login), College Board's Big Future, and College Simply to see which colleges may be a good fit for you. These are platforms where you can enter your academic interests, region of the country, size of the school, and other pertinent information and the search engines will send back likely matches.
A lot of students also use Niche to get a feel for comments and insights.
College Visits
College Visits
Take some time to visit college websites, participate in virtual college visits, go to rep visits at your high school, do in-person college visits, and attend college fairs where you hear about many different kinds of colleges.
When you travel through a town with a college, stop by and visit - even if you don't think you'd like to go there. It's good to see small and large campuses, rural and urban campuses, big sports schools and small liberal arts colleges...you may surprise yourself with what feels the most comfortable! Colorado has a lot of good places to visit to get a feel for this - University of Denver and the University of Colorado Denver are good examples of urban universities, the University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado State University are good examples of large research universities, Colorado College is a top tier small liberal arts college, Western Colorado University and Colorado Mesa University are great examples of regional and/or rural campuses. It's fun to go around and see all the differences!
When you visit with colleges, make sure you sign in officially - admissions representatives often make note of how many times you visit either in person or virtually, as they are looking for applicants with a strong interest in their school. It's like a little gold star by your application if you've shown some interest. When colleges visit your high school, they often make note of the students who come to the information session. Many colleges include "demonstrated interest" as a factor for admission. You can sign up right now with colleges to start receiving their emails.
While you're looking at colleges, use these resources to help you assess your preferences:
Big Future Campus Visit Checklist
Big Future Campus Visit Score Card
Questions to Ask on a College Tour
We recommend students set up spreadsheet(s) for the college search process that includes information about each school:
Majors of interest to you
Application deadlines
Average/median SAT/ACT scores for the incoming class
Average/median GPA for the incoming class
Types of housing
Type of college - large/small, urban/rural, etc. etc.
Other things in which you're interested - do they offer study abroad? dual degree programs? 3/2 options where you can earn your masters as well, etc.
Financial aid opportunities
Scholarship opportunities to include application deadlines
Whatever else interests you - quality of food, dorm rooms, etc.
Admissions Tutoring LLC also has a copyrighted spreadsheet that prepopulates all the information you'll need for your searches, applications and decision-making; available when you book tutoring sessions with us.
Books
Books
Colleges That Change Lives (Pope)
Colleges That Create Futures (Franek)
Looking Beyond the Ivy League: Finding the College That's Right for You (Pope)
The Truth About College Admission Workbook: A Family Organizer for Your College Search (Barnard & Clark)
Valedictorians at the Gate (Sabky)
Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be (Bruni)
Who Gets In and Why (Selingo)
College Beyond the States (Viemont)
Podcasts About College Admissions
Podcasts About College Admissions
Military Academies & ROTC
Military Academies & ROTC
The Military offers unique educational opportunities for students who plan to pursue a college degree. These options — service academies, senior military colleges and maritime academies — offer world-class education and a deeper understanding of military culture. In addition, these schools grant full tuition in exchange for a period of service commitment.
U.S. Military Academy (West Point) - Army
U.S. Naval Academy - Navy and Marine Corps
U.S. Air Force Academy - Air Force and Space Force
U.S. Coast Guard Academy - Coast Guard
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy - Merchant Marines
Graduates of all academies receive a Bachelor of Science degree and are commissioned as officers in their respective Service branches. After graduation, they are obligated to serve a minimum of five years. The first five years will be active-duty, and the next three will be on a reserve option.
Similar to service academies, senior military colleges (SMCs) offer a combination of higher education and military instruction. They are among the most prestigious and famous education institutions in the world, and they offer financial aid packages for eligible students. Every SMC cadet must participate in the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program (see below), but only those cadets who receive an ROTC scholarship are required to enter military service following graduation.
Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets
An additional option for students is a maritime academy. The United States Merchant Marine is the fleet of civilian-owned merchant ships that carry cargo and passengers on behalf of the United States. In times of war, the Merchant Marine is an auxiliary to the Navy and can be called upon to transport service members and supplies for the Military. Maritime academies produce shipboard officers for vessels integral to shipping and transportation needs, but a service commitment is not always required.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy
California State University Maritime Academy
State University of New York Maritime College
Texas A&M University Maritime Academy
20 Things You Need to Know About Getting Into a Military Service Academy (Kiplinger, 2019)
Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is a leadership training and development program that prepares full-time, college-enrolled students for service opportunities in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Space Force (the Coast Guard offers a similar program called the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative [CSPI]). Joining ROTC opens a door to professional skills development, scholarship opportunities and tuition assistance, and, upon completion, attaining the rank of officer. Today, ROTC is offered at more than 1,700 colleges and universities.
What does ROTC teach?
Leadership: Students learn leadership skills that can be applied in many careers
Military tactics: Students learn military tactics and survival training
Physical fitness: Students participate in physical training, including shooting, swimming, and orienteering
What are the benefits of ROTC?
Scholarships: ROTC programs offer scholarships to students who excel academically and militarily
Leadership development: ROTC programs provide leadership development training and opportunities to work with active-duty service members
Character development: ROTC programs help students develop character and self-discipline
ROTC General Scholarship Requirements
The requirements for the scholarship may differ by Service branch, however, to qualify for an ROTC scholarship, the applicant must:
be a U.S. citizen
be at least 17 years of age
have a high school GPA of at least 2.50 (3.0 for Air Force)
have a high school diploma or equivalent
submit ACT or SAT scores
meet physical standards
agree to accept a commission and serve as an active-duty service member or in the Reserve or Guard
Applications are typically submitted by the end of the first semester of a high school student’s senior year. So, you need to start the process your junior year.
Coast Guard College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative Colleges
Women's Colleges
Women's Colleges
Why Your Daughter Should Consider a Women's College (Collegiate Parent)
Women's College Coalition's What Matters in College, After College
Best Women's Colleges (Niche.com)
Vocational and Technical Schools
Vocational and Technical Schools
Evergreen High School's Alternatives to College
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