Applying to the right schools involves finding the ones that work best for you. This means knowing who you are and where you want to be down the road.
Everyone's priorities are different. What makes a school perfect for you? Consider the following when making your choice:
Curriculum
- What do you want to study? Does the school offer it as a major?
- Do you have a specific subject in mind, like science or music, or do you want a more general education?
- Do you want to be able to choose from a wide range of majors and study programs?
- Are you interested in a career that requires professional certification? Does the school provide the necessary training?
- Do you want special programs, like study abroad and internships?
Quality of education
- How much contact do you want with your professors?
- Does it matter to you whether professors or graduate students teach your courses?
- How involved do you want to be in research and in learning outside the classroom?
Size
- Do you want to be on a big campus with many majors, an impressive library, and lots to do? Or do you prefer a small college where you know everyone's name?
- Do you prefer large lectures with hundreds of students or small classes with lots of student participation?
Admission requirements
- What does the school require for admission?
- What does the school look for in prospective students?
- What are your chances of being accepted?
Facilities
- What would you like to see on or near your college campus?
- Are restaurants, shops, and health clubs important to you?
- What about laundry rooms?
- The computer lab?
- The library and research facilities?
- What about transportation on and around the campus?
Campus life
- How is life outside the classroom?
- What special interest groups, activities, and fraternities/sororities do you want to be involved in?
- Are they active in campus life?
Campus security
- What measures does the school take to ensure your safety?
- What's the surrounding community like?
- How safe is the campus and its neighborhood?
Athletics
- Does the school offer intramural and varsity sports?
- How are the sports facilities and coaches?
Location
- Which part of the country would you like to experience?
- Do you want an urban or small-town setting?
- Do you want to stay close to home?
Housing and resources
- If you plan to live on campus, check out the quality of dorm life.
- Find out if housing is guaranteed for returning students.
- Can the school's meal plan accommodate special diet needs?
Retention and graduation rates
- What is the school's retention rate (percentage of students who stay for four years)?
- What is the graduation rate (percentage who graduate within four years)?
- How do your potential schools rank? (High rates indicate students were satisfied with their school experience.)
Cost
- How much can you afford?
- What types of financial aid are available?
Other
In addition to these items and others you come up with, you might also want to consider:
- Percentage of applicants accepted
- Average test scores of the students
- Job placement services
Choosing your major
One of the most important considerations in choosing a school is whether it offers a course of study that you would find interesting — something that you may want to major in.
