With the Common App opening in a few weeks, it's definitely time for rising high school seniors to finalize their college list and start drafting their essays. This summer is the perfect time to finalize (or start) your college list to get ready for the November deadlines.
If you're wondering where to start your search for the college of your dreams, here are the four steps to take to find and eventually choose the perfect institution for you:
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Apply NowStep 1: Make an initial list
The first step to finding your dream school is lots and lots of research. The U.S. alone has almost 4,000 colleges to choose from! To narrow down your options here are a few suggestions for compiling a college list:
Brainstorm schools that you're interested in learning more about
Unfortunately, we don't have time to research every university in the country. Instead, jot down a list of schools that you want to know more about. Think about schools that are local, in a city you want to live in, or colleges that have piqued your interest.
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Look through college search engines
College Board, The Princeton Review, and College Vine are among some of the college search tools available for free online. Through these tools, you can filter out colleges based on location, cost, school size, majors offered, and more. If you know what you want from a campus but aren't sure which schools meet your criteria, these platforms are a great place to start. Even if you're not sure whether you would prefer a small school or a larger university, these search engines can still give you some colleges to add to your list.
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Step 2: Finalize your list and apply to colleges
After making your initial list of colleges, now it's time for research into the programs, activities, location, and resources offered by the university.
Conducting light research on each school can help you decide which college you want to apply to. Once you feel good about your list, begin to write your supplemental essays and submit your applications. Here are some options to finalizing your dream list:
Check out the school's website for your major/program
Academics are one of the most important factors in choosing a college, so look into a university's selection of majors, minors, and interdisciplinary programs.
If you're not sure exactly what you want to major in, think about your favorite high school classes, dream careers, and academic strengths. Many schools allow you to search for majors based on interests or job pathways to help you narrow down your search.
However, if you know what you want to major in, research the specific courses required for the major. Look at the course catalog and major requirements to see the classes that a student needs to take to graduate with that major. Also, look at unique opportunities within that major like special study abroad programs or research opportunities.
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Look over the admissions requirements
Before you send in your application, double check the admissions requirements to see the GPA and course requirements, whether letters of recommendation are required, the essay prompts, and how many extracurricular activities you can add to your application.
When looking over the requirements, make sure to note if the college requires supplemental essays, personal statements, or resumes. Schools like Stanford have upwards of eight short essays while other universities like San Diego State do not require or take essays. Each college has their own system for writing requirements, so be sure to do your research for each school on your list.
Furthermore, if the schools that you are planning on applying to require letters of recommendation from your teachers, be sure to ask ahead in order to secure the letters by the deadlines. Generally, you want to ask any recommender at least a month before the deadline in order to give them enough time to write your letter.
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Decide whether to apply early decision, early action, or regular decision
Depending on the university, applying early could help your chances of getting in and let you know your college decisions months in advance. However, the deadline for early applications is normally is mid-October or early November which gives you less time to write your essays, get your letters of rec, and fill out the application.
To decide which option is best for you, research whether the schools you are applying to favor early applicants and when the early applications deadline is. If your dream school accepts early applications, consider early decision (if you are certain that you want to attend the college) or early action (if you want to keep your options open). Also, consider that some schools like UCLA do not use early decision or early action.
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Step 3: Pick your home for the next four
After you get all of your college decisions back, first take a deep breath and pat yourself on the back. The college admissions process is tough and you managed to make it through and get accepted to university. Even if you didn't get into your dream school, remember that college admissions is extremely competitive and that when one door closes, another one opens.
If you're not sure which school to choose out of your acceptances, here are some ways to narrow down your options to your future home:
Check out YouTube and other social media
YouTube has a plethora of vloggers who capture the behind the scenes of college life at a variety of universities across the country. Searching “pros and cons of [university]” or “what I wished I knew about [university]" will allow you to get a student's unfiltered opinions on the school, social life, and academics along with their overall experience.
Also, think about checking out the social media pages of the university itself where schools often post about the unique academic programs, extracurricular activities, and experiences that students get to take advantage of. During the application period, oftentimes colleges will have current students “take-over” their Instagram pages to answer questions by prospective students or show off what their daily routine looks like which can be helpful tools to know if the school is for you.
Talk to current students and alumni about their experiences
If you know a student or alum from a school on your list, reach out to them. Ask them to share their experiences at the college, both in and out of the classroom. If you're unsure what to ask, consider questions about academic workload, maintaining a balance between work and leisure, class scheduling, and any unique campus-wide events.
If you don't have any connections with current students or recent alumni, you can always contact the admissions office of the school you're interested in. Often, the admissions office can link you up with current students or a student ambassador who can address any questions you have about the campus.
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Tour the campus (in-person or virtually)
If you have the chance to visit the campus in person, it's highly recommended. Being there and taking a campus tour can provide answers to your questions, give you a feel for the campus atmosphere, and allow you to evaluate nearby dining and housing options. To make the most of your visit, be sure to schedule a campus tour in advance (typically four to eight weeks ahead) and prepare a list of questions for your tour guide.
If an in-person visit isn't possible, there's no need to worry. Many schools now offer official virtual tours on their websites, where tour guides digitally walk you through the campus with 360-degree views of the same locations you'd see on an in-person tour. YouTube is another excellent resource for virtual tours conducted by current students or alumni, showcasing both the major landmarks and some hidden gems of the campus.
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Step 4: Celebrate!
The college admissions process is over which means that a celebration has to take place! Take the time from Decision Day (on May 1st) to graduation to celebrate your future plans with your family and friends along with cherishing the last moments of high school. After all, high school will be over before you know it and eventually the college years will begin.
