The hardest part of deciding which colleges to apply to is.. well, deciding. Some people know from an early age what their ‘dream college’ is, whether it’s because of a family tradition, loyalty to a sports team, or some other motivation. Some of us aren’t so lucky. When I started I had no idea where I wanted to apply. I found that a good place to start is the college board website. They have a college finder, and you can search and compare colleges based on a lot of different aspects. But even before that, you may want to start deciding what you do and don’t want in a college. These things can help you narrow down your options.
Program & Majors
This one should seem obvious, but it’s worth pointing out. If you know what you plan to major in, or what career goal you have in mind, it can help narrow down some of your choices. An aspiring music teacher doesn’t want to go to the school with no music or education programs. My friends, the future engineer and future vet, they want to go to NC State. All of the colleges I’ve applied to have a biology, chemistry, or biochemistry major, because that’s what I need. I’d prefer a biochem combination, but since I plan on specializing later on, I’m not going to let it play a huge role in my final decision between these schools.
Size, Proximity to Home, Co-ed or not
I used to think I wanted a really small college, but I changed my mind after this summer. I live in a small town now, and I like that big-campus-near-downtown feel. Even if I end up back here down the road from my parents, I want to spend my college years somewhere different and bigger. Its a matter of preference. Where do you live now, and do you want to stay in your comfort zone or branch out? Something else to think about is distance from home. I also used to think I wanted to stay really close to my family, and again I changed my mind. Now I know I could be happy in another state. Staying in NC has its advantages, like being able to come home on weekends, and also lower in-state tuition, but one of my schools is pretty far away.
For a lot of people, girl-only or boy-only schools are out the question. I was at one point considering (read, in love with) Meredith, an all-girls school, but I ended up not applying there. I like my guy friends, and the school wasn’t right for me for several reasons, including that. One of my friends is applying to another all-girls school, and I think she would flourish there. She would also be close to several other co-ed colleges, and she lists these things among the school’s assets. Again, its all about what is right for you.
‘Feel’
This is something you can’t really measure, and it isn’t listed on the college board website. The best way to get a feel for a college is to visit. It’s how I knew NC State wasn’t right for me, and how I fell in love with UNC Chapel Hill. Official tours led by current students let you get inside dorm life and give you the chance to ask questions you would never ask the admissions office. Students will usually tell you the good with the bad. My cousin led me on an unofficial tour of Chapel Hill, and I got inside her dorm and favorite hangouts. Now that I’m in, I’m going back for an official tour. Our school has a system where we get two days for college visits that count as excused absences during senior year (and one during junior year). Check with your counselor and you’ll probably be okay to leave for one day.
Making the List
When I finally made my list, I arranged them (mentally) in order of “Can I get in?”. I think its good to have a ‘reach’ school, that you know you might not get in, but that you’d love to go to. Two of mine are technically ‘reach schools’, but I couldn’t pick between the two of them. Chapel Hill was my ‘I’m pretty sure I can get in’ school, and Greensboro was my ‘Double safety net’ school. These schools all have their merits to me, and I’d be happy at any of them.
And that’s what it’s really all about. You have to spend four years at this school. Pick colleges that are going to make you happy.
