Juniors, it’s your spring semester and you’re counting down the days until you’re officially a senior. It’s an exciting time! During this time, you should also begin thinking about where you want to apply to college next year. Applications begin to open up in the summer either July or August, so now is a great time to prepare for the upcoming application season. Where should you start?
First, you should think about college fit. College fit is a school that meets your needs – academically, socially, and financially where the environment will foster your growth and personal development. What are you looking for in a college? What are looking to study? Are you looking for a small or large school? What campus resources does your school need to have? Brainstorming your needs and interests is a great starting point in this process.
Next, begin researching colleges that best align with your interests and needs. Here are a few college search websites that you might consider using: BigFuture, CollegeData, and College Navigator. Using websites like the ones listed here are great resources because you can also filter your search by location, majors, selectivity, and much more! Visiting colleges is also a great way to research and interact with the environment of each campus. Make a plan to visit schools with your parents during your school breaks. Campus visits are a great way to meet current students, tour buildings and residence halls, and observe the campus culture in real time to get a better sense if the prospective school is right for you.
Keep an open mind and explore all of your options. Sometimes we only apply to schools that are familiar to us but what if they don’t meet our needs? Explore schools that you are unfamiliar with because there are schools throughout this nation that are truly hidden gems, many of which I have only recently discovered in the past couple of years. Challenge yourself to step outside of your comfort zone. If you want to stay in-state, consider adding at least one out-of-state school to your list. Maybe you want to go to a small school, consider also adding one medium school. Opening up your search will allow for options as you decide where to enroll.
As you develop your college list, be sure to keep all of the information organized. You’ll need to track everything from deadlines and application requirements to college fit factors so find a system that works best for you! Whether you use spreadsheets, notebooks, or college readiness websites and apps, staying organized during the college application process is imperative to a smooth process.
Today’s a great day to start creating your college list! If you have questions, be sure to advocate for yourself. Reach out to your high school counselor, a teacher, mentor, or peer. You don’t have to go through this process alone. You got this!
Additional resources to utilize during your search:
How to Make a College Spreadsheet | Road2College
How to Build the Ultimate College Comparison Spreadsheet – The Scholarship System
College in Me 