There are over 4,500 colleges and universities in the US, and most schools accept most students (the national average is around 65%). But which of the 4,500 schools is right for you, and how do you narrow down that list? Your high school counselor can help, and we LOVE to help with college lists at College Admission Pros. But if your high school counselor is too busy and you can’t afford a private counselor, this post will show you how to develop your own list, for free. There are two parts to this process:
Part 1: How do I figure out what I’m looking for?
Steven Antonoff literally wrote the book on this process. In his book College Match, he has an 80-question “Self-Survey for the College Bound.” Amazingly, you don’t have to buy the book to use this resource! He gives it away on his website!
You can find the Self-Survey for the College Bound at schoolbuff.com.
What are some other ways to get to know your interests and preferences?
I’m a big fan of YouScience, which Hoover students can use FOR FREE (just ask your counselor if you don’t know how to access it). It’s all-encompassing, and therefore overwhelming at times, but it gives great insight into your interests and your aptitudes.
Once you’ve spent some time thinking about your interests and preferences, it’s time to start thinking about…
Part 2: Where do I start finding schools?
I love Steven Antonoff’s book The College Finder, and once again, he makes this information available for free online. (He really is amazing.) Go to collegeexpress.com, and type in anything from “Colleges that Offer A Lot of Financial Aid Opportunities” to “Top Ten Activist Schools” and you’ll get results. Search for your interests. Search for factors that are important to you. Make lists.
(Another thing I love is that Steven doesn’t rank schools. Rankings are misleading and often lead students down the wrong path. You’re not looking for the #1 school on a list – you’re looking for the #1 school for YOU!)
What do I do next?
Notice which colleges are coming up repeatedly.
Example: maybe you’ve never heard of Gonzago, but you see it on the lists for “Best Journalism Programs in the West” and “Colleges with Best Merit Scholarships” (and you want to major in Journalism somewhere in the west). Put it on your list. Which list? One you create, that looks something like the one below. List a bunch, maybe 20 or more. You’ll whittle it down. How? Through research!
What are some good sites for researching schools?
Stay on www.collegeexpress.com and type in the school name. Then click “Lists” to see what other lists that school is on.
I use a lot of sources, but the Fiske Guide to Colleges is one of my favorites. You can get access online for only $20, which isn’t free, but it’s totally worth it. Go to collegecountdown.com to purchase.
For the student perspective, go to unigo.com, where you can read real students’ opinions on their schools. But don’t just read 1-2 reviews, read a bunch of them, in particular the “What’s the stereotype of students at your school?” and “Is the stereotype true?” You’ll get a sense of the school vibe pretty quickly.
How many schools should I apply to?
Apply to no more than ten schools. Why ten? Because that allows you to divide your list like this:
- 1 Wild Card (1%-10% chance)
- 3 Low Chance of Acceptance (10%-25% chance)
- 3 Medium Chance of Acceptance (25%-60% chance)
- 3 High Chance of Acceptance (60%+ chance)
Pay attention to application fees – they can really add up! Eliminate schools you really wouldn’t consider, and save those fees. Keep searching and researching until you’re in love with every school on your list.
How do I know my chances of getting in?
You can find the general acceptance rates on many sites, but I like parchment.com.
Why Parchment? Because you can enter more specific info on yourself: in addition to GPA and test scores, you can also add extra info – extracurriculars, leadership, hardship – basically details that will give you a slightly more accurate sense of how you compare. It will give you at least a sense of whether it’s a low/medium/high chance of acceptance or a Wild Card.
And that’s it! You have your list, and it’s time to apply! Now you just have to think about Teacher Recommendations, Activity Lists, Essays, Financial Aid, Scholarships…whew! Call us if you need help!
CAP – College Admission Pros – – 205.541.4434 – – janet@collegeadmissionpros.com
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