hile your college choice is not irrevocable, making the best and most appropriate decision requires much time, energy and effort. The checklist below is provided to help you plan your college search.

Planning Your College Search

Checklist

 

1. THINK about your educational and personal priorities and write them down. What is your best learning and living environment? Will you be comfortable in large classes without much student discussion or do you prefer a smaller setting with extensive exchange of ideas? How far from home are you willing to go? What kind of co-curricular opportunities do you wish to pursue? Are you interested in the opportunity for internships, directed study, or hands-on research with faculty? Every student is different so your list of priorities will likely reflect different needs than those of your friends or siblings.
   
   
2. CONSULT with your parents, counselor, teachers, friends, minister or rabbi, boss and alumni of various colleges. When you have identified what matters most in your college experience, people who know you well and know something about colleges will be in a good position to advise you about various options.
   
   
3. READ everything you can find about the college application process and individual schools you are considering! Start with college search engines available on the Web, general college guides, and each university's own web site. Then email, write or telephone the colleges that interest you and ask for general information, along with information on your special interests.
   
   
4. LIST the colleges that interest you the most and your reasons why. Each school on your list should tie back to the specific features, programs and educational priorities you identified earlier. The schools you list should vary in terms of selectivity and should include at least one or two schools where you know you will be accepted. (Your college counselor may be especially helpful here.)
   
   
5. VISIT the colleges on your list. Spend your time on campus productively by taking a tour, sitting in on a class, and talking with students, faculty and admission officers. If possible, stay overnight in a residence hall to learn about life outside the classroom. Don't be reluctant to ask questions about anything that is important to you and ask a variety of people the same questions to get different impressions.
   
   
6. APPLY to several colleges in your senior year. There is no magic number of schools to which you "should" apply. One may be too few; ten is probably too many! Check the admission and financial aid application deadlines to be sure you meet them - it is your responsibility to be sure all of the application parts arrive on time. If you have a clear first choice, you may want to consider an early decision or early notification option. If not, apply to a range of colleges - again, include at least one college where you are confident you will be admitted.
   
   
7. REEVALUATE your college selection criteria as you receive your admission decisions and financial aid awards. This is a good time to talk with your parents about financial realities and what is really possible.
   
   
8. DECIDE which college you will attend. Choosing a college is like selecting an athletic shoe. There are lots of great shoes out there, but not all of them will be great for you. Once you have weighed all the objective factors, consider your instincts. Fit and feel are an important part of college satisfaction.