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photo: GETTY IMAGES (STUDENTS AT CROSSROADS)
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A Good Fit
BY ABBY McCARTNEY College is one of the most fun and valuable ways to spend four years of your life. That’s not just my opinion: According to U.S. News and World Report, college graduates earn an average of $800,000 more than high school graduates over the course of their lives, get better job benefits, stay healthier, contribute more to their communities and raise better-prepared kids. And those stats don’t even consider the personal growth and lifelong friendships that college can provide. But with thousands of schools to choose from, finding a college that’s a good fit can feel overwhelming. So whether you’re a senior getting ready to apply or a freshman just beginning to consider college, here are five tips for finding a school that’s right for you:
Narrow down your options by location and size. Do you want a school that’s the same size as your high school? Bigger? Much, much bigger? Do you want to stay near home or go far away? If you want to leave your state, what kind of culture or weather are you looking for? These decisions are the most basic you will make during your search, and they’ll help your list go from, well, every college in the U.S., to a few dozen possibilities. Pick as many brains as you can find. Teachers, counselors, friends’ parents, friends’ older siblings: Start asking them questions. Where did they go to school? What did they like about it? This is a good way to find out about lesser-known schools, and to get a sense of what people take away from their college experiences. If an alumnus thinks you’re a good fit for his school, he can also write you a letter of recommendation when you apply. Visit! The best way to find out whether you would fit in at a school is to see it in person. If it’s at all possible, travel to your top choices. And make the visit count! Don’t just take the campus tour. If you’re given the opportunity to sit in on a class or stay overnight, take it. Also make sure to seek out a family friend or a graduate of your high school who actually goes to the college, offer to buy them a burger and ask to hear a real student’s perspective. The three questions I found the most valuable were: What is a typical weekend like? What do students here do for fun? And, what’s your least favorite part of your school? Also make sure to ask about freshman housing, and to see a dorm room if possible. (A note on parents: They’re as anxious about your future as you are, so naturally they have a lot of questions. But make sure you agree beforehand on when they should back off and let you do the talking. If you have a particularly overbearing parent, suggest splitting up into different tour groups (to get another perspective, of course!) so that they can talk all they want without getting in your way.) If you get into a school but haven’t been able to visit because of cost, call the admissions office and explain your situation. Many schools have a travel budget for prospective students. If you can’t visit, talk to someone in the know. Don’t feel awkward about approaching someone you don’t know well, even if it’s your grandmother’s hairdresser’s best friend’s nephew. Students love to talk about their schools. Ask tons of questions—stupid ones, silly ones, thoughtful ones, obvious ones. Talking to a current student can give you a sense of things you would have seen on a tour, like the campus, the weather and typical campus events. Don’t be scared by the sticker price. College is expensive, but the tuition number listed in the brochures isn’t necessarily the price most people pay. Many colleges will cover the cost of your “demonstrated financial need,” which they calculate based on a formula that’s hard to predict. When talking to admissions officers, make sure to ask what percentage of aid is in the form of grants or scholarships, and how much comes in loans that must be paid back. If you do get an aid package you’re not happy with, keep in mind that it is negotiable. Financial-aid offices can often tweak the numbers, especially if you got a better offer from a competing school. Concerns about cost should never stop you from applying to a school you think you would love. Choosing a college can be stressful, but it’s also an opportunity to get to know yourself better and dream big about your future. With a little homework and a little courage, it can even be as fun as college itself.
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