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Planning for College
Choosing a College

Choose a College | Characteristics to Consider | Gather Information | Common Myths

 

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Gather Information

Getting information about college might seem impossible. However, after you narrow your list of characteristics, you can also begin to narrow your list of schools. Once you get accepted, the final choice can seem even more daunting.

Steps to Narrow Your List

Step 1: Look at all of your sources for information:
  • College catalogs
  • College websites
  • College representatives
  • College fairs
  • Parents, students, alumni
  • School counselors and teachers
  • Professionals in your field of study

Step 2: Ask yourself what the most important factor is:

  • How much does this school cost?
  • Where is this school located?
  • What majors are offered?
Step 3: Keep track of your comments for all of your schools.

Make a notebook listing all of your top choices. As you become more aware of exactly what you want, discard the pages of schools that you don’t like.

Campus Visits

One of the best ways to decide if you would be happy at a particular college is to visit in person. Here are some tips for your college visits.

Why should you visit colleges?

  • First-hand experience is always better than brochures or websites. Does the college “fit” who you are?
  • You can ask personalized questions and you will probably think of more once you get there.
  • You have easier access to the information you need regarding anything about the school. You can contact professors or departments more easily.

Preparation

Helpful Links

Colleges.com Search engine
www.colleges.com/admissions/collegesearch/index.html

College Checklist
www.act.org/path/student/college/checkl.html

Princeton Review Search
www.princetonreview.com/college/research/

Gathering Information Tips
mapping-your-future.org/selecting/gatherin.htm



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