With over 2,200 four-year colleges in the United States, it can be a daunting task to decide where to apply. Here is Part One of our three-part, step-by-step guide to making this process effective and even fun! We recommend that you explore colleges throughout junior year and finalize your list in the summer before senior year. This will help you get a head-start on developing supplemental essays for the colleges on your list.

Look for our next two posts of our three-part blog series, Crafting Your College List, including Part II: College Visits, where we discuss how to make the most out of your college trips and virtual visits; and Part III: Balancing Your List.

Contact us to schedule your complimentary consult!

Identify Your “Best-Fit” College Features

The most important aspect of the college admissions process is determining which colleges will be the best fit for you as a unique individual. At which colleges will you be most able to grow academically, socially, and personally?

Your first step in crafting your college list is to consider your preferences, then use them to build your list of “best-fit” features:

  • Size. A small college has fewer than 4,000 students and tends to offer a more close-knit community, with smaller, discussion-based classes and closer relationships with professors. On the other hand, a large college (with more than 10,000 students) tends to offer more options for courses, specialized programs, clubs, and other campus organizations. A medium-sized college (with about 4,000 – 10,000 students) provides a blend of the aforementioned qualities and features. Here are some examples of institutions of varying sizes to get you started:
  • Liberal Arts vs. Specialized, Pre-Professional Programs. A “liberal arts” curriculum includes courses in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities, such as psychology, history, and biology, and is typically offered by small colleges. Examples of small liberal arts colleges (SLACs) include Bates, Claremont McKenna, and Swarthmore. Other colleges offer specialized, pre-professional colleges within their schools, which focus on areas such as business, engineering, communication, and architecture. For example, Cornell University consists of ten undergraduate colleges, including engineering, business, and hotel administration, as well as its newest division of computing and information science.  A few other well-known preprofessional programs include Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications, and Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of Education and Human Development. In addition, some colleges offer a totally specialized curriculum, such as Bentley for business and Harvey Mudd College for STEM. Pair your academic interests with your preferences regarding student body size to decide which type of school is best for you.
  • Academics: Majors and Minors. Which subjects interest you the most? Which high school classes have you most enjoyed? Use colleges’ websites to research the academic programs and faculty members in the departments of your areas of interest. Review the course listings and research opportunities. If you have a few different academic areas of interest, you will likely be able to pursue multiple subjects in college through a double-major or a combination of a major and minor.In addition, colleges are increasingly offering degrees in interdisciplinary areas, such as the Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) major at University of Pennsylvania, Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon, and Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) at Lehigh University. There are even programs like the Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities major at the University of Chicago in which students can design their own major to incorporate their unique array of academic interests.
  • Distribution Requirements. In addition to the courses in your academic major, think about whether you have a strong preference for being exposed to a broad-based curriculum or if you prefer having the freedom to construct your entire course of study. Most colleges require that you take 8-10 courses (about a third of your total coursework) in a variety of academic areas as part of a broad-based education. Colleges range from having no distribution requirements (e.g., Brown University) to having a prescribed core curriculum (Columbia University).

Most colleges fall somewhere in between, offering choices of courses in a variety of categories. For example, students pursuing a bachelor of arts degree at Princeton must complete distribution requirements in the areas of Language, Culture and Difference, Epistemology and Cognition, Ethical Thought and Moral Values, Historical Analysis, Literature and the Arts, Social Analysis, Quantitative and Computational Reasoning, and Science and Engineering, and a Writing Seminar.

  • Study Abroad. Most colleges offer the opportunity to study abroad for a semester or year and provide credit for coursework at other universities. Some colleges, such as New York University and Syracuse University, have developed their own programs abroad, staffed by their own faculty. If studying abroad is important to you, research colleges’ policies to see how feasible it would be given your intended major, and find out the percentage of students who typically do study abroad to determine if it is a significant part of the school’s culture.
  • Internships. Working for a professional organization for a semester or more during your college years can be an excellent supplement to your academic coursework and expose you to potential careers. Some colleges build internships into the curriculum by requiring that you participate in one or more “co-op” semesters.

If securing an internship during college is a priority for you, keep in mind that internships are more available in cities than in remote areas. Georgetown and University of Southern California offer many undergraduate internship programs, and Georgia Tech, Drexel, and Northeastern are known for their co-op programs.

  • Extracurricular Activities. College will offer you limitless opportunities to explore your interests. Have fun perusing the websites for clubs and organizations that appeal to you. These might include a cappella groups, theater, athletic clubs and intramural teams, religious organizations, pre-professional clubs, or community service opportunities.
  • Location. Do you prefer a certain location in the US or beyond? Do you want to be in or near a city, or do you prefer proximity to nature or a more self-contained campus? Is it important for you to be close to home? Here are some ideas to get you started in your exploration:
  • Religious or Cultural Affiliation. Would you like to attend a college that has a strong religious affiliation? University of Notre Dame’s mission is strongly guided by Catholic traditions of faith and service; Brandeis University follows a set of values rooted in Jewish history and experience; and Haverford College relies on its Quaker origins to inform many aspects of the school, including its Honor Code. The US is also home to over 100 HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities), including Spelman College and Howard University.
  • Social Life. What do you envision for your social life in college? How important is it to have strong school spirit? Can you see yourself rooting for your team at a school like Penn State or University of Michigan? Would you like a school with a significant Greek Life presence on campus, like Vanderbilt or Wake Forest?

What is your personality like?

As you reflect on these features, take into consideration your personality! Are you more extroverted or introverted? Would you prefer meeting a lot of new people or spending time with a small group of close friends? Do you prefer a more structured or laid-back environment? Do you like to learn from classroom instruction, or do you prefer taking part in more hands-on learning opportunities? The more you understand yourself, the better equipped you will be to find a college that is a good fit for you.

Look for our next two posts of our three-part blog series, Crafting Your College List, including Part II: College Visits, where we discuss how to make the most out of your college trips and virtual visits; and Part III: Balancing Your List.

For more guidance, set up a complimentary consultation to learn about our admissions consulting services.

Whatever your question, Collegiate Gateway is happy to help!

   

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