How to Get Your College Search Started!

Deciding that you want to go to college after high school is easy. Choosing the right college? Now that’s tough.

The college search process is tricky. Colleges, family members, friends and guidance counselors will all offer advice. But their influence may not be what’s best for your college search. Here is a five-step outline to help you find the best college, and avoid some headaches.

1. Wants: The first step in the college search is the easiest. What do you want from a college? Maybe you attended a large high school and want the same from college. Some students want to be near the great outdoors, while other prefer city living. Do you want to stay close to home or study far away? There are no wrong answers. What you like is what you like. If you’re looking for a small school near the beach why waste your time and money on applications for large schools in the Great Plains?

2. Needs: Unfortunately, college is not cheap. What you can afford may affect where you can go. Each school has its own set of variables. Where you live, for example, can have a great impact on what you can afford. Tuition differs from students living in-state and those from far away. But some schools near state borders offers in-state tuition to nearby out-of-state students. More expensive schools may offer more financial aid dollars or work-study programs to help off-set the cost.

3. The Visit: You may think you know a lot about a school from a brochure, or the overhead video of campus shot by blimps during football games. But you won’t really know a school until you set foot on campus. Your campus visit, though, should be more than a tour. Speak with students and teachers, and get a feel for the atmosphere on campus. If you can’t picture yourself on the grounds then perhaps you should look elsewhere.

4. Admissions: You may love the Ivy League, but let’s be honest: It’s called elite for a reason. Each college has its own GPA and test score admission standards. High marks alone don’t guarantee admission, and admission can be unpredictable. Many factors out of your control may play a part in college admissions. Keep your options open during the college search It never hurts to have a back-up plan, either.

5. Fit: You may love a school on the other side of the country, but you may not like the idea of living so far away. A picturesque small school may not offer the specialized major you seek. The big state school may be too overwhelming.

The college search should be about what fits you best, not what impresses your friends or pleases your parents. In the end, your college search should yield a school that feels at home, a school that gets you excited.