5 Tips for Choosing the Right College

Within a matter of weeks, college-bound high school seniors will need to winnow their list of potential schools from a universe of choices to the reasonable selection that will eventually receive their applications.

Daunting? Yep.

In the era of the common application when applying to just one more college is as easy as checking a box, it can be tempting just to eschew decision-making and apply to every school that makes a top college list.

Don’t do it. Please. You’ll be doing everyone a favor: your guidance counselor who has to ferry applications and recommendation letters in the right directions; the weary admission officers for whom it isn’t “just one more application”; and most especially, yourself.

If you’re sincere about the colleges you’re applying to, it’s going to show in your application. And there’s nothing college admission officers like more than admitting students they’re pretty sure are going to matriculate.

So here are tips on turning an overwhelming task into something manageable and, in some cases, even fun.

• Visit campuses. If you haven’t toured any campuses yet, take a cue from Raven Symone and hit the road. Even if you plan on applying early decision somewhere, there’s still time to take a few tours, attend information sessions and maybe even go to a class or two. There’s no better way to know if a college feels like home than to spend time among the students.
• Evaluate what’s important to you. If academics are your priority, a school known for its party reputation might not be your best bet. If it’s critical you get a scholarship, look more closely at universities with generous financial aid packages. Thinking first about what you really want out of college can help you more easily find schools that match that profile.
• Talk to recent high school grads. Even if you can’t make it out to campus, chat with recent alumni from your high school about what their experiences have been like so far at college. Your high school guidance counselor might be able to hook you up with alumni who attend a particular university. College admission offices can often put you in touch with current students, as well, though they might not necessarily be from your hometown.
• Ask questions. Don’t be shy during college fairs or when college reps come to visit your school. That’s what those events are for—to give you a chance to ask whatever questions you have about the school or the admission process. If you think of something at a later time, pick up the phone and give the college a call. Most admission offices have people on duty to answer questions from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. weekdays, and sometimes even on weekends.
• Take control. Parents mean well when they help with the college admission process. They really do. But only you know what feels right for yourself. Family often needs to be part of the decision, especially when it comes to matters such as financial aid. But the rest of the factors? Those are up to you. So read the pamphlets, ask the questions and ultimately make the decisions for yourself. After all, it’s not going to be your mom eating cafeteria food and cramming for finals the next four years: It’s going to be you.