All across New England,
high school seniors are finalizing their shortlists of where to apply for
college. If you are like most college-bound students, your aim is to be accepted
by schools that are the “right fit.” With over 4,000 colleges, universities,
community and junior colleges, and technical and vocational schools in the U.S.,
identifying the right schools should start with an honest self-evaluation of
your abilities and personality, your interests and goals, and your basic
expectations of college.
Consider why you’re
going to college in the first place.
Do you already have a specific or general career focus? Are you looking for an
intellectual challenge? Will you be exploring different academic fields?
Understanding those distinctions can help you narrow the field to a
professional-degree program, technical institute, or liberal arts college. Keep
in mind that more than half of college students change majors once, and many
change majors several times.
What type of college
experience are you looking for?
Identify what’s important to you in a school. A school’s size, location,
academic offerings, culture, and facilities will affect your quality of life as
a student. Is it important that your college have a wide variety of majors,
strong athletic program, cultural and extracurricular activities, a particular
ethnic or religious component, or a foreign study program? Are you looking for
school where you will be comfortable academically or where you will be
challenged intellectually? While most colleges have web sites with lots of
information, there’s no substitute for a campus visit that includes a tour, an
interview with admissions, and a chance to talk to students on campus.
How much college can
you afford? Knowing what you can
afford helps determine whether you'll be considering private or public colleges.
While your ability to pay (or willingness to borrow) is a consideration, great
financial need can warrant a major financial aid package. Many private colleges
offer generous aid grants. Don't count on it, but don't rule out applying to
private school simply because tuition is high.
Apply to several
schools. Plan to complete between
five and seven applications: three for schools at which you're confident you'll
be comfortable academically, environmentally, geographically, etc; one or two
for "reach" schools that might be academically challenging, but comfortable in
other areas; and one or two "safety" schools for which you may be academically
overqualified.
Tip: The
Common Application. This single
admission application (online and in print) is a major timesaver; it simplifies
the application process by letting students use one form to apply to 300 private
and public colleges and universities. To see if your target schools participate
in this program, visit
www.commonapp.org.
A step toward the
independence you’ll enjoy at college starts with an honest evaluation of your
educational needs. Nellie Mae, Massachusetts’ #1
student loan provider, has more information on getting into and paying for
college at
www.nelliemae.com.
