When it comes to choosing colleges, there’s no magic formula for finding the right fit. What’s most important is to have a clear idea of your goals, expected areas of study, career aspirations, and what you’d like to get out of your college experience. While it’s always great to ask for other peoples’ opinions and advice, it’s a very personal choice, and you’ll want to feel confident in your decision.
Be sure to create a balanced list that reflects your educational wants and needs, while considering which schools can meet those needs and help you succeed. Most students narrow down their list of colleges based on factors such as:
- Location. Whether you want to be close to home, far away, or in a specific city or state—a college’s location is one of the main things most people consider.
- Cost. Make sure you can afford to pay for the college of your choice is key, whether it's in or out of state tuition.
- Area of study. Although many incoming students are undecided about their major, it’s still important to consider which college match with your interests and have the programs you're seeking to pursue.
- Campus life. Identify how colleges create spaces for students to have fun, share relevant issues, and what events, organizations, and activities they offer. Discover if you'd prefer on campus living, in comparison to off campus.
- Reputation and prestige. Where you go to college matters. Depending on the reputation and level of prestige, your choice could impact your networking opportunities and earnings after graduation.
After considering these factors, it can still be a challenge to decide which colleges where to apply. Take these steps to help you narrow down your list of options:
- Attend college fairs
- Go on campus tours
- Take advantage of virtual tours
- Talk with alums from schools of interest
Narrow your choice based on your chances of being accepted
Once you've decided on which schools you plan to apply to, consider comparing your SAT or ACT scores to the average scores of the previous year's freshman class for each school. This is to be sure your scores are in line with the accepted criteria.
Then, determine which colleges you're confident you'll have a better chance of getting into based on scores, affordability, and even those that may be a challenge but are worth applying.