Picture this: It’s September, and you’re a high school sophomore sitting in your college counselor’s office. There’s a loud thud as your counselor tosses the big book of colleges down on the wooden coffee table in front of you. They don’t say it out loud, but it’s implied from your counselor, your teachers, and your parents: “Pick one. Now.” You start to feel sweaty. Your stomach feels like it’s climbing up your throat. All your upperclassmen friends seem to know not only where they want to enroll but also how they are going to get in. Everyone has the colleges they want to apply to solidified. Everyone except you, that is. You aren’t even 16 years old yet, but already, if feels like you’re being left behind on what seems like the most important decision of your life.
To a lot of 21st-century high school students, this is how the college search process feels. Parents and teachers tell us that the world is our oyster, that we have every choice and opportunity in the world set up for us. But there are too many choices, and they're all just too big for us to make on our own. However, instead of getting overwhelmed by the college search process, it is best to just dive right in and tackle it step-by-step. Here are my steps for success that may help you too. I went through this process and came out well on the other side.
1. Figure out what you want in a college
In the sea of chaos that is the entire college search and application process, you have at least two things that you know for sure: your thoughts and opinions. Of course, those are subject to change over the next few years, but at this moment you know what you want. Or at least you can deduce what you want with a little introspection. Here are some questions to consider for exploring your wants in a college or university:
- Do you want a big school or a small school?
- What are your favorite subjects in school?
- What are you best at?
- How far away do you want to be from home?
- Where would you like your school to be located?
- What are your favorite extracurricular activities?
- What are your thoughts on Greek Life?
- Will you be playing a sport in college, and at what competitive level?
You don’t necessarily have to answer all of these questions, and you can adjust accordingly if you change your mind. But to get your list down to a handful of colleges worth visiting before senior year comes, you should go with your gut feeling on your current answer to each. You might be surprised by how much answering those few questions narrows your focus! I remember answering them myself and realizing how few small liberal arts colleges (with less than 10,000 students) in the Northeast there were than I thought. I also remember having a friend realize that a school he was interested in turned out to be a women’s college. Although it seems daunting now, your list will narrow itself down for you if guide yourself with the right questions.
Related: How to Figure Out What Really Matters in Your College Search
2. Figure out what you need in a college
Your wants and needs are two different things. Do you want a small research university? Awesome, now your list is even shorter. Do you need a lot of financial aid? Who doesn't? You should be looking at state schools and private schools where you’re a super competitive applicant—meaning your academic and extracurricular profiles put you among the top students applying. It is important to involve your parents or guardians in conversations like this to figure out what you can afford as a family. To get a sense of what you might receive in federal aid, which you can use at all public and nearly all private schools, use the Federal Student Aid Estimator tool on the FAFSA website.
3. Visit everywhere you can
If you get the opportunity to visit a college or university, take it. Even if you don’t end up wanting to apply, visiting helps you get your priorities straightened out more than any amount of research online ever could. I remember thinking I would love to go to school in a big city, but when I actually visited an urban school, I realized it wasn’t right for me and that I should not apply to schools with city campuses. That one visit probably saved me hours of research, not to mention the time and money spent applying to schools I wouldn’t have even liked. It’s really hard to know if you feel at home on a campus or not until you visit. We are visual creatures, so go see and feel the vibe before sending in that application.
Related: 7 Ways to Make Campus Visits More Affordable
4. Keep an open mind about your options
Maybe your dad’s dream has always been for you to go to his alma mater. Maybe your boyfriend or girlfriend is begging you to visit the school that’s recruiting them for sports. Maybe you cringe at the thought of going to a school 30 minutes away from home. No matter how much you think you'll hate the schools being forced upon you, give them a chance and go for a visit. Your priorities can change pretty quickly when you fall in love with a campus.
That being said, never forget that you are the #1 priority during this process. Not your significant other, not your friends, and not your parents. They aren’t the ones who will have to live with your college selection for the rest of their lives. But you will. You don’t want to find yourself sitting in your dorm three years from now hating every minute, just because you made your college choice based on someone else’s expectations.
5. Have fun!
You might find this hard to believe, but the college search process can be a ton of fun if you let it! Go on a college visit road trip with your best friends. Compare notes with other students in the same situation as you and ask them why they are applying to their schools. Talk to older friends/siblings in college about their search process, and see if you can spend some time with them (even sleepover) on campus. This process is tough, I admit, but it can be really enjoyable too!
Related: How to Team Up With Your Friends on the College Search
The best part about starting your college search process now is you still have a ton of time before you have to make any final decisions. It seems intimidating, but starting early means you can take your time to find great colleges and universities that fit your wants and needs. Use these tips, visit your schools, and really look inward about where you want to end up. The process should be just as fun as it is stressful. While you may be making a big decision about you're future, you're also at the beginning of a one-in-a-lifetime journey that's worth celebrating!
