Most graduating seniors have already sent off their college applications. Many may already know where they will head this fall. But for high school juniors, the world of college admissions is just beginning. In the final semester of junior year, students should already be thinking about where they might want to apply come fall. But in a country with literally thousands of colleges to choose from, narrowing the list down can be very difficult.
This weekend, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni contributed a unique take on choosing colleges. Rather than focusing on rankings, test scores, earning potential, graduation rates, and a barrage of other numbers and statistics, Bruni posits that students should focus on less tangible factors in the college decision making process:
If you’re among the lucky who can factor more than cost and proximity into where you decide to go, college is a ticket to an adventure beyond the parameters of what you’ve experienced so far. It’s a passport to the far side of what you already know. It’s a chance to be challenged, not coddled. To be provoked, not pacified.
Bruni has an excellent point: College is, for most students, the last stop on the path to adulthood. These years will be the final chance that many of these students will have to take chances and experiment with their environments before being shoved into the reality of the working world, complete with rent checks, student loan bills, and 40+ hour workweeks.
But Bruni’s advice should be taken with a grain of salt as it may not apply universally. For many students, using college as chance to explore new environments and experiences is hugely beneficial; but for others, stepping too far outside the comfort zone may be a recipe for disaster. The true key to choosing the right college is not to listen to the well-meant advice of others, but to reflect on who you are and what you really want from college.
Choosing the right college is an incredibly individual decision. What’s important for one student may not be important for another student. There are certainly guidelines to be followed — selectivity, price, location, and quality among them — but the final decision will come down to this: “Which college suits MY needs?” We can’t tell you which colleges to apply to, but we can help you start the hunt for the right school:
STEP ONE: Cost and Location
For many — if not most — students, these are the two biggest limiting factors. Use these factors to eliminate schools that:
- Are way too expensive and don’t offer a lot of need-based financial aid (unless you’re pretty sure you can score some merit scholarships)?
- Are in a location you have absolutely no interest in living in?
As you consider cost and location, also consider any state-based financial aid that you may qualify for. Many states offer scholarships to residents who meet certain academic requirements, and most states provide in-state tuition at public schools.
STEP TWO: The Numbers
When you first begin looking at schools, you’ll likely turn to the many compilations of rankings and statistics available online and in print. And although numbers offer a limited picture, they are actually a good place to start. Here are some things to keep in mind as you look over the numbers:
- Rankings: Rankings shouldn’t be the primary reason behind your decision. As we’ve written before, research shows that smart, motivated students will likely be successful regardless of the rank of their college. Attending high ranking colleges provides some benefits (such as networks for graduates and a slight edge in the job hunt), but a school’s rank shouldn’t be the motivating factor for attending.
- Selectivity: Most statistics compilations also include information such as median test scores and/or GPAs for the previous year’s class. These numbers are important because they offer a frame of reference for the school’s selectivity. Remember that these numbers represent the middle 50% of the admitted students — many students who were admitted fell below or above these ranges. As you create your list of potential schools, use this data to determine your odds of being admitted to the school. Your list should include some reach schools (schools you think you’d consider yourself lucky to get into) and some safety schools (schools you think you’ll most likely get into).
- Class sizes and student-teacher ratios: These may seem like unimportant numbers, but they can offer a great deal of insight into the academic experience at that school. Schools with large class sizes and high student-teacher ratios likely depend on a large number of huge lecture hall classes. These classes, often with 100+ students in them, limit the face time that students have with their professors. Instead, students must often rely on the expertise of Teaching Assistants for help. Schools with small class sizes and low student-teacher ratios, on the other hand, often feature small seminars with fewer than 20 students. These classes provide the opportunity for in-depth discussions and additional support from the professor. Consider your academic needs when looking at class sizes!
- Graduation Rates: If you’re a relatively high performing student with good mental focus and a strong work ethic, these numbers likely aren’t all that important for you. If you find that you need a lot of faculty support, in or out of the classroom, then these numbers are worth looking at. These numbers reflect how well the school does at keeping students — do they offer the support necessary for less than perfect students to succeed?
- Post-graduation Salaries: These numbers are becoming increasingly common in college guides. Keep a few things in mind, though. First, these numbers are often easily manipulated by schools. All of this data is self-reported and isn’t fact-checked. Second, these numbers represent averages — many graduates make a lot more or a lot less than the number on the page. And third, even in our current economic situation, remember that money isn’t everything. We hope that our students will seek passion and joy in their careers, not merely impressive salaries.
The numbers should help you to eliminate hundreds of schools that you can’t or just don’t want to get into. Then it’s on to the next step.
STEP THREE: The Websites
Once you have a more reasonably sized list, it’s time to dig deeper. Visit the websites of each of the schools on your list. The websites hold a host of information that can shed light on each school’s campus culture, academic offerings, and student body.
- Academic Programs: What are you interested in studying — and does the school offer courses in that field? If you already have some idea of what field you hope to enter, you can narrow your list down by a lot. For example, if you know you want to pursue engineering, MIT, Cal Tech, and Georgia Tech should top your list.
- Social Offerings: What kinds of clubs and student organizations are available? What kinds of student activities does the school plan? This information gives you clues about the student body and their interests, which can help you choose a school where you know you’ll find people with common interests. Yes, as Frank Bruni says, college is an adventure — but it’s an adventure where you want to make friends!
- The Feel of the Page: Colleges use their websites to reflect their school culture. Is the website stiff and formal? That’s how the school wants it to be. Is the website fun and organic? The school probably is, too. Don’t use the website as your sole measuring stick of school culture, but it is a first taste of the campus’s feel.
STEP FOUR: Campus Visits
By this point, you should have a workable list of schools you’re interested in. Now it’s time to visit them. It may be unrealistic to visit all of your potential schools, but you should try to visit as many as you possibly can. Visiting the campus offers insights that you can’t get any other way. And remember — whichever school you attend will be your new home for four years; would you buy a house without at least visiting it first?
- Surrounding Area: Pay attention to the area surrounding the campus. Unless you plan on staying on campus 24 hours per day, the local area will play a big role in your life as a student. Be sure that the setting is somewhere you’d like to live for a while.
- Campus Grounds: Is the campus well kept? Does it feel safe and comfortable?
- Students: The best time to visit college campuses is during spring break because most colleges have their breaks at different times from high schools. This means that visiting during your spring break will allow you to see the campus while all the students are still around. Observe the students around campus — what do they do between classes? Do they seem happy? Most students will be more than happy to answer any questions that you might have for them. This is a resource that you should utilize whenever possible.
- Faculty: Many schools will allow you to meet with some of the faculty. If this is an opportunity offered to you, take full advantage. The faculty will be a huge part of your college experience!
In the end, it’s your job to find the schools that best suit your particular academic and social needs. The first step to college success is finding a college that will provide the support and environment that you think will best support you in your college endeavors.
For more on choosing the right school, check out these past articles:
