How To Start Searching for Colleges
Finding the right school feels like a monumental task your whole future depends on. That kind of pressure can make it hard to know how to begin. Don't worry - you're in the right spot and getting started is easier than you think. Learn how to find the right schools (plural!) to help you meet your goals and craft your future. But first, take a second to appreciate the moment, because by the time you finish this sentence your journey to college will already be on a whole different level.
Make a List of Schools
Choosing a college starts with creating a list of all the schools you are considering. Continue adding colleges that catch your attention so you can conduct plenty of research.
Consider opting in to the ACT Educational Opportunity Service (EOS) when registering for the PreACT® or the ACT® test to let colleges find you. Explore schools you may not have heard of or ever considered that could be a perfect fit. You might just find your new dream school.
Learn how to make a list of colleges you want to explore.
Rank Your “Must Haves”
Every student has a different priority list for their college experience. Before you become too set on a specific school, outline your “must haves”. Make sure you are finding colleges that fit your list and aren’t just following others. Do you see yourself attending lots of student activities and living on campus or would you prefer to live at home and commute to campus? How about time with professors? Are you okay with larger class sizes or would you prefer to keep it smaller? Every student will prefer something different!
Plan College Visits
Part of finding the right school is to make college visits a part of your search! While on your college visit, attend a campus tour, drive around the local area to see what is nearby, meet with professors and current students, and explore the campus on your own. Does it feel like a good fit? You might be surprised how much your perception of the school changes once you are actually there.
Questions to ask on your visit:
- How safe is the campus and surrounding areas?
- Are the professors in your desired major experts in their field?
- Are they currently working on any exciting projects?
- What student support services are available?
- How competitive of an environment is it for students?
- What is the degree completion rate at their school?
Can’t go in person? Visit colleges virtually! With a few simple searches you can access plenty of resources to help you get familiar with what the campus has to offer.
