Choosing a College

Your College Search: find the right match for you

Start with you. What are you looking for in a college?

-Make lists of your abilities, preferences and personal qualities.

-List things you may want to study and do in college.

-Think about the type of environment in which you learn best. Consider the following:

Location: Urban, Rural, Suburban, International

Student Enrollment: Small: Fewer than 5,000, Medium: 5,000-15,000 , Large: 15,000-30,000, Huge: More than 30,000

Education: Liberal Arts, University, Conservatory, Specialty School

Athletics: Division 1, Division 3, Club Sports, Group Sports

Student Life: Large Greek Life, Service Oriented, Cultural Clubs, Quiet Campus, "Commuter Campus"

–Program of study

–Reputation- how many actually graduate?

–Facilities

–Type of population- % international- where do students come from?

–Services for overseas students

–Student life (what do students do on weekends?)

–Selectivity- have a variety of schools

Conduct a College Search to look up colleges by type of school, location, cost, size, and more.

• Conduct a college search – college matchmaker https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search
• MaiaLearning: Do the Explore section (personality and career inventories, Conduct a college search.
• Smart Choices - showcase the colleges around the country that are serving students best and also accessible to a wider range of students.
• Search Engine for Institutions by Major, Region ,and Selectivity
• http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

RESEARCHING UNIVERSITIES (Excerpts from NACAC - National Association for College Admissions)

Learn as much as you can about schools that interest you to discover if they are right for you. You should learn a lot more than just whether or not they offer your possible major. Empower yourself by having the necessary information to make knowledgeable decision. Fortunately, learning about colleges has never been easier. The information you should be looking for is usually just a click away.

Some questions to help you get started:

• How much does it cost to attend and might you qualify for financial aid? (if you are an international student, check whether the university awards aid to international students).
• What types of financial aid are available?
• What resources are available? How do they support a student with learning differences or who is physically challenged?
• What activities and clubs are available?
• What are your housing options?
• Does the college have a career guidance and placement office? Pre-professional advising (pre-med, pre-law, pre-vet, etc.)?
• And if you can … visit the college or university. There is no substitute for first-hand experience.

Decide where to apply by looking at the courses and majors a college offers, as well as cost, location, size, campus culture, and extra-curriculars.

Once you’ve identified schools:

-Go to their websites and read about the school – take notes

-What courses do you study in various majors?

-Sign up on their mailing lists to show interest

-Consider visiting colleges in the summer

Above all:

-Know Thyself: Find the right match for you! (not the right match for your friends!)