Easier said than done, choosing the right college involves many factors, external & internal, obvious & subtle, fair & unfair. So get ready for an emotional roller coaster and remember to keep your balance. You see, you are in transition from childhood to adulthood and we all want to give you advice, mostly because of all the mistakes we made… The foremost criteria are finding the right college atmosphere, the right challenge and in short, the right match for you. You must patiently persevere in this search and always trust your heart!
In addition, the more prepared you are with essays, grades, recommendations, test scores, etc., the easier it will be to establish a range of colleges to choose from. Don’t forget though, this is your dream to follow so don’t let anyone hold you back! I suggest that you start with a pool of 10-15 colleges and narrow it down to 5-7 that you actually apply to. About one third each of your group should be dream choices, good ones and back ups. Many college guides such as Princeton Review’s Best Colleges will give you a sense of college character. Here are some aspects to consider:
The category or kind of school, e.g. comprehensive college with specific, career oriented majors; liberal arts college focused on the undergraduate community with a diversity requirement to study a wide range of general subjects; or a large university with deep resources but focused on graduate programs (undergraduates tag along)
- Distance from home
- Proximity to a city: The cl oser the city, the less the college is its own community.
- Strength of a college’s departments in your subject areas of interest
- Flexibility of curriculum requirements
- Extent and level of athletic programs
- Racial and socioeconomic diversity
- Availability of internships and involvement in surrounding community
- Study abroad programs
- Quality of opposite sex (or same sex?)
- Chess Clubs? Fraternities? Parties!
Download the review sheet: 1on1 College Search