Building a college list that meets your social, academic, financial and emotional needs (what we refer to as a SAFE match) requires you to do some of your own research. While it can be valuable to gather insights from friends, family, and counselors, by actively engaging in the research process yourself, you take ownership of your educational journey, ensuring that the final college choice resonates with your individual aspirations and requirements.
Additionally, visiting websites, participating in webinars, and communicating directly with colleges can give you a firsthand feel of the institution. To help you get started, consider these steps to researching colleges to determine if they are a SAFE match for you.
Tips for Creating a List of Colleges That Are Right for YOU
1. Consider Financial Factors
Understanding a school’s cost of attendance and available financial and merit aid options is crucial. It’s important not only to understand what you can afford, but what you’re willing to pay. Check each college’s official website for information on tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses. You can use a Net Price Calculator to better understand whether you’ll be expected to pay the full cost of attendance or something less. Net Price Calculators can be found on each college’s website. To find them you can enter “Net Price Calculator” in the search bar or Google “[College name] Net Price Calculator.”
2. Assess Each College’s Academic Programs and Curricula
Evaluating the academic programs offered by colleges is equally important. Identify institutions that offer robust programs in your areas of interest and compare your own academic profile with what the college seeks (GPA, academic requirements, and recommendations). At this point, it’s less about choosing a specific major because you’re still in your teens and close to 80% of students change their major at least once while in college. Focus instead on your larger areas of interest, or learn about how the college helps students explore and discover their eventual major. Most colleges provide detailed information about their curricula, special programs, and current student profile on their websites. This step will help you determine if a college meets your academic aspirations and career goals before adding it to your list of potential schools
3. Take Virtual Tours
Many colleges now offer virtual tours, which can be accessed through their websites or platforms like YouVisit, CampusTours, and CampusReel. Additionally, searching for “[College Name] campus tour” on YouTube can provide you with a visual and immersive experience of the campus environment.
4. Attend Information Sessions
Colleges frequently host live or recorded virtual information sessions. Participating in these sessions can provide you with insights into the academic atmosphere, student life, and the admissions process. Make sure to check the college’s admissions web page regularly to sign up for upcoming sessions. Add the dates to your calendar.
5. Utilize College Research Tools
Exploring student review sites like Niche and Unigo can offer diverse perspectives from current and former students; however, take individual reviews with a grain of salt and look for trends. You can also check out your local library or bookstore for the annual installment of the Fiske Guide to Colleges, which provides a deep dive on over 300 colleges and universities across the country.
6. Engage with College Communications
Subscribe to the email newsletters and communications of the colleges you are interested in. Regularly opening these emails and engaging with the content not only keeps you informed but also demonstrates your interest to the admissions office. You might also consider following these colleges on social media to get a feel for the campus culture and updates on events or changes at the institution over time.
7. Take Notes and Refine Your College List
As you research your colleges, be sure to take notes about what you like and don’t like. These notes can be helpful later on when you want to refine your list of potential colleges. We suggest that you aim for a manageable number of about 8-12 schools. Whatever number you choose, be sure you ask yourself this question with every school on your list that you plan to apply to: “If this is the only school I get into, will I be happy to attend?” If the answer is no, don’t bother applying. Be sure that your list includes at least a couple of “safety” schools that you are sure you will get into and will be happy to attend. And keep in mind that “reach” doesn’t mean good and “safety” doesn’t mean bad. All of the schools on your list need to be a SAFE match for you.
8. Reach Out for More Information
If you have specific questions or need more details, don’t hesitate to contact the admissions office. They can provide tailored information and sometimes put you in touch with current students or faculty members.
By following these steps, you’ll gather comprehensive information to create a well-researched list and make an informed decision about which colleges might be the best fit for your academic and personal growth.
If you’d like to learn more about how the Signature College Counseling team can help you with your entire college planning journey – from search, applications and essays to interview prep, financial aid consultation and final school selection – contact us at info@signaturecollegecounseling.com or by phone, 845.551.6946.
Looking for help with the college search and application process? We help students and families through the entire college planning journey – from search, applications and essays to interview prep, financial aid consultation and final school selection.
Contact us at info@signaturecollegecounseling.com or by phone, 845.551.6946. We work with students through Zoom, over the phone and by email.
