By now you’ve probably gotten some college catalogs in the mail or online and have started pondering what you’d like to study in college. But if you’re like a lot of students you still need to start narrowing down your list of schools. Here are a few guidelines to make The Big Decision a little easier.
Factors to Consider
One of the surest ways to start narrowing down your college choices is to consider your own criteria—what you personally are looking for in a college—along with some larger more general factors such as the quality of education.
• Strength in Intended Major
Maybe you want to study zoology but the nearest university doesn’t offer it. Or you’ve decided that you want to go for the best engineering/music/sociology program you can find in a sunny climate. When deciding on a certain school the strength of your intended major is a significant factor for most students. If you eventually want to get into a graduate or professional school you’ll want to make sure your program of study at a particular college is accredited and that it is the right kind of accreditation if you want to continue with your education. Maura Flaschner, associate director of undergraduate recruitment at Iowa State University suggests students check to make sure an accreditation will be accepted by professional and graduate schools that might be of interest down the road because not all accreditation are the same.
Flaschner also says that a good way to check out the strength of your preferred major at a school is to ask some questions such as the ways that the institution provides opportunities and/or facilities to the students within this program. For example if you’re interested in science what lab facilities does a school have? What undergraduate research or internship opportunities are available? If you’re interested in liberal arts what co-op programs are available to students and what are the placement rates for graduate schools and jobs after they graduate?
• Cost and Financial Aid Availability
Many students and parents are turning to financial aid availability as a big predictor of college choice. You might be fortunate enough to land some big scholarships that will cover all or part of your tuition—or you may not and will want to look toward a state school that will be more affordable and still give you a good educational experience. On the other hand sometimes more expensive schools will offer more financial aid so don’t rule out a dream school based on the sticker price; the net cost of attendance is what you should focus on.
• Class Size and Professor Availability
You might appreciate professors whose main goal is to be available to students on a more individual basis. Check out the student-to-professor ratio to see how close you might be able to get to your professors. It may be hard to avoid some large freshman classes but keep in mind that the size of your classes will be smaller after your freshman year.
• Student Life
Many people say college is the time when they change the most so it’s a good idea to check out the ways that the college creates a good student life. Will you be living in a dorm or off campus? What kinds of student organizations and activities are offered? Is there Greek life? What does the surrounding town look like—are there places to hang out and meet people off campus? Consider whether you want a smaller college town or more of an urban setting. You should also consider if you want a school with a large athletics/sports program with big football/homecoming weekends.
• The College Visit Condition
One of the best ways to narrow down your top choices for college is to visit the campuses and get a feel for the school. You can take a guided tour or you can just do it on your own and probably sit in on a class or two. Visiting is crucial Flaschner of Iowa State says: “Really getting a sense of that fit is so important.” Talk to some current students if you can. They might give you a more unfiltered perspective on the college than a tour guide will. (See “The Ultimate Guide to Campus Visits” on page 30 for more information.)
• The “Fit” Feeling
One of the most important factors for a student to consider is whether the school fits their interests says Joe Wicklund, freshman admissions director at The College of St. Scholastica. “Fit is critical because it covers everything from how you feel when you are on campus and interacting with members of the community which is about to be yours to how far away you are located from your family and your comfort level with that distance,” he explains. The best way to determine fit is to visit the school. “[That] will help you learn more about what that community feels like and if you fit at that college or university.”
Strategies for Applying
• Making Your List
You might have a couple of dream schools in mind as well as a few schools you know you have a good shot at getting into. A good rule is to apply to a few “reach” schools— schools you’re not sure you have a shot at but that you’d love to attend. Apply to some schools that you think you’ll probably have a good chance of getting into. Finally include a couple of safety schools that you’re nearly positive will accept you.
• Demonstrate Your Interest
Admissions counselors often will look favorably on students who have made their interest in the school very clear. Sometimes applying early decision makes that point but it’s a good idea to stay in touch with a particular admissions adviser at your preferred institutions—without harassing them of course! “It does help the professionals at the institution learn more about you and your interests,” says Wicklund.
• Ways to Apply
Confused by terms like early action early decision nonrestrictive early action rolling admissions regular decision and single-choice early action? Here’s a quick guide.
Early decision is reserved for your non-negotiable dream school. By applying early decision you are promising the school that you will definitely attend if you’re accepted even if it means you are paying full sticker price. If you’re accepted early decision you’ll have to withdraw every other college application. Remember an early decision agreement is binding—that means it is an unbreakable contract. Be sure you are ready to commit to the terms of the early decision if you apply.
Early action is a good way of applying early since it’s not a binding agreement like early decision. Nonrestrictive early action means you can apply early to a variety of schools. Single-choice early action means that a school asks that you apply early action to their school only.
Regular decision lets you apply by standard deadlines (typically January through March). There are no restrictions on what other colleges you may apply to. Schools with rolling admissions make decisions on applicants as they apply throughout the year generally in the order received.
• Beefing up Your Application
Your GPA and SAT/ACT scores are a natural entry point for putting together your application. While grades and test scores are important there are other factors that can sway the decision in your favor. Be sure to get one or two recommendations from teachers and your guidance counselor. Schools also look at your activities—what kinds of extracurricular programs community service initiatives or part-time work you’ve been involved in. A good general rule to remember is that colleges prefer you devote meaningful time to just a few activities rather than getting involved in a lot of activities but with no particular commitment to any of them. Leadership positions in an organization or two are helpful too. Lastly your personal statement or essay is a great way to shine and demonstrate your interest in the school.
The Final Decision
You might apply to schools during the fall and winter of your senior year and receive a few acceptance letters. Well congratulations—that’s a good problem to have! But how do you make your final decision? “Students and their respective families [should] have important discussions about what the student likes dislikes and loves about the school,” Wicklund says. “What careers are they thinking and dreaming about? What job sounds exciting and rewarding to them at this point?” With instincts and preparation—and some help along the way—you’ll likely be able to enter a challenging and stimulating school you can call your own.
Jill Hicks is a writer and editor currently living in Missouri.
A Few More College Factors to Consider
Extracurricular options
Want a school with a great intramural sports program opportunities for the creative arts or the chance to participate in a college band?
Graduation and retention rates
What percent of students graduate? Does the school do a good job retaining freshmen?
Job placement
What kind of career and job placement assistance does the school offer? What percentage of graduates in your intended field received jobs?
Spirituality
How important is it to you to have resources for spirituality at your college? Would you prefer a school that belongs to a certain faith-based denomination?
Study abroad opportunities
Does your school have programs to travel to countries in which you are interested in studying?
