Choosing where to apply to college is a big decision. There are lots of ways to go about it. Some people use rankings, others rely on impressions from social circles and recommendations from friends. Many use selectivity as a measure for quality. These are all influential sources of information based on broad assumptions. The truth is every student has their own objectives, preferences, learning styles, expectations and ideas for what a great college experience would be for them. A one-size-fits-all measure of institutions can be a starting place, but it isn't enough to build a college list that meets a student's specific needs and desires.
To build a list that fits your expectations, I recommend reflecting on what you want from your undergraduate experience. This is a quick guide with a series of questions to help you identify undergraduate universities and programs that fit your needs. It is by no means exhaustive, but I hope it sparks a line of inquiry that will help you get curious about the many great options that exist out there.
If you'd like to share your questions or ideas around searching for college options, please leave them in the comments.
Why do you want to go to university?
What is the purpose of college for you? This is a very personal question that rankings and selectivity can't measure. It requires authentic reflection, asking questions that rankings can't answer for you. There are many external factors that may drive you to apply to this or that school, including a perceived prestige-factor or following where your friends go. External factors may spark your curiosity, but only you will be living your college experience. Instead, identify internal preferences and drives to help guide your search more precisely. University can be where you explore your deepest questions, make things you couldn't make on your own, develop skills for the future, connect with people, ideas and places on profound levels, and cultivate a life that supports your personal and professional growth.
What is your readiness level for university?
There are lots of ways to think about this question:
Are you are you prepared academically for university-level coursework, including reading, writing and math? High school graduation requirements are not the same as university entry requirements.
Are you ready to commit your time and energy to university coursework?
Are you ready to keep yourself on track to do research and coursework, and to meet deadlines?
Are you ready to be have the initiative to schedule office hours with the professor, academic advisor and other university supports?
Are you ready to live away from home?
Are you ready to be proactive to solve problems like navigating a canceled flight or getting a new pair of glasses on your own?
Are you ready to be in a new environment of people, ideas and cultures?
There are no right and wrong answers - just your answers. Some universities have a higher expectation of independence from their students than others. If you feel you need a certain level of guidance, look for institutions that offer those supports. If you feel that your are not yet ready to take on the commitment required to succeed in an undergraduate program, seek alternatives that will help you gain that preparedness. Remember it is not a race.
What program?
This question relates to academic focus and how you learn, and the basic question, "Is the program going to get you where you want to go?"
Do you prefer dedicating your undergraduate years focused on a single subject or on a range of academic areas?
How much flexibility of choice is important to you?
Would you like to gain theoretical knowledge or learn a set of practical skills? Or both?
How much more math do you want to study?
How do you see yourself learning best? Attending lectures, using maker spaces, doing field research, engaging with the public? What activities spark your curiosity?
Will the program teach you the competencies you'll need for future employment?
Will the degree grant you access to what you'd like to do after graduation (seek employment, pursue post-graduate or further professional study or licensure)?
Dig deep into the resources on the university website that describes the course requirements for a program that interests you. Understand what classes you need to take, and identify opportunities for adding to that learning with elective choices, minors or co-curricular experiences. If you have a certain career path in mind, reverse engineer the process. Search job listings in career areas on your horizon. Understand the experiences, competencies and skills employers expect from a competitive candidate. Will the program you are thinking about prepare you?
Where do you want to be for your undergraduate years?
How far from home? How many hours on a plane? How many planes?
What is the physical space of the school like, and how do you feel in it? Is it large, small, urban, rural, new, old, snowy, beachy, fancy, shabby?
What are the spaces like for living, eating, studying and gathering?
Is the school located near places you would like to spend time or have access to? Near industry and internships? Near conveniences and entertainment? Natural spaces? Cultural spaces?
Would you feel comfortable there?
The university location should have something to do with your interests. For example, if you want to study marine biology, you probably should choose a college near a coast. The best way to get the feel of a university is to visit it, take a tour, eat the food, talk to students, see a dorm, and visit the surrounding neighborhood. The next best thing is to do a virtual tour - these are usually found on the university's website. Also do your own detective work looking at online maps to understand the location and surrounding neighborhood. How far away is a pharmacy and grocery store? Research nearby industries and internship opportunities. Student videos are also great ways to get a feel of the vibe on campus, and a look into the dorms.
Online demographic resources are terrific to better understand a place. I recommend looking at municipal crime maps, voter data, maps that show gun laws and access to reproductive health and other issues that might be specifically important to you.
Who do you want to spend time with during your undergraduate years?
Who are the faculty and advisors?
Who are your supporters - academic supporters, health and wellness supporters, career counselors, international services supporters, housing and safety supporters?
What is the mission and the values of the school? Who are they aiming to serve?
Who are the students?
How many students are in the school, in your program, in your dorm?
Does the campus have the diversity, be it of gender, race, sexual orientation, culture, socioeconomic status, political views, openness of thought, values orientation, or other identity, that you would feel included?
Do most students travel a great distance to be there? Do most of them go home on the weekends?
How many students live on campus?
What do students do outside of class? Sports, cultural events, greek life, work, study?
Is there a sense of community? What are the communities?
Do you see where you would be part of a community? In a band, on a team, in a club.
Do you see yourself there? If not, do you want to be the pioneer?
What is the network of friends, teachers, advisors, alumni that you will have after graduation?
University websites publish a lot of information about campus life. Social media accounts, not just those maintained by the university, but those maintained by student clubs and organizations, can reveal so much about campus culture. And don't forget the student-run newspaper. There you will find out the issues concerning students from academics to food quality.
What is the Price?
What is the cost of studying: the tuition, fees, supplies?
What is the cost of being there: housing, meals, health insurance, living expenses?
What is the cost of getting there and back: travel costs including going home for the year end holidays?
The calculus of value is also part of this question.
What is the ROI on the major or degree? What are the expected earnings in the first year, five years, ten years after graduation?
What is the opportunity cost of not pursuing another degree, not studying somewhere else, or of not going to college at all?
I strongly recommend students and their families have this conversation at the beginning of their search process. It is very important to have financial expectations and responsibilities defined and aligned before applying to a university.
Look for institutions that offer merit-based scholarships. These are discounts to attract strong applicants. Include schools on your list where you are a stand-out candidate.
What about selectivity?
Universities have varying degrees of selectivity. A "selective" university is one that receives more applications than students they can admit. Highly selective universities receive many more applications than students they can admit. It's really just a matter of space. This might be true for the whole university or only for some popular programs with limited spots. For example, Loyola Marymount University in 2023 admitted 40% of first year applicants, but had to turn well over 90% of applicants to their film production programs away due to the popularity of the program and its resources focused on just a few dozen students.
Understand your profile in comparison to the profiles of students admitted in the previous application cycle. This will give you an idea how you match up academically. It is important to understand that being a competitive applicant is essential, but not every competitive applicant will gain admission.
For highly selective programs, it is important to respect the competition. There may be many applicants with superior academic qualifications, that don't gain admission. It is essential to understand how you might be a compelling applicant - one that fits with the university's mission and priorities. Just like you have been identifying your priorities through the series of questions above, universities also have identified their own priorities, and would like to enroll students who help meet them. They have orchestras for which they need bassoonists, and fencing teams for which they need fencers, and philosophy departments, and marching bands, and plasma physics laboratories, and...They seek students to contribute and give continuity to their projects and mission. It is impossible to know a specific need or priority a university might have any given year. Instead of figuring our what they want, go back to the questions above, and identify what you want. Then apply to the programs and institutions that fit with you.
Collecting a list of Options
There is no perfect university. Some factors might be more important to you than others. Some might be nice-to-haves and others might be deal breakers. Your list should include an ample number of options that match your preference of program, place, people and price, and where you would be a compelling applicant.
I recommend starting early. Allow yourself time to reflect on what you want. Researching colleges also takes time. If you are planning to apply this year, it is already time to get started!
I can help you translate your preferences into a list of colleges. Schedule an initial consultation to find out more.
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