It’s getting down to crunch time. You’re in your senior year, still have a long college list, and still don’t know which schools you truly want to attend. While your consultant or parent or next-door neighbor can’t pick a school for you, we can give a few strategies on how to narrow down the list.
Take some time to really think about the absolute must-haves for your college search. This is going to be different for each student. We always say there is no perfect college. Our advice is to trust your gut for which schools feel right and check off those must-have factors. Do you see yourself up late on a Tuesday night deeply invested in a biology research lab? Then start to hone in on the schools that have research opportunities for undergraduates. After a long week of classes, would you desperately want to go off campus to sit down for a nice meal? Maybe a school in a college town is right for you. Have you always dreamed of cheering on the home team on a football Saturday? Circle those schools on your list that have great school spirit. Your recipe for what makes a great school might be different from others. Once you take care of your essentials, you can compromise on the things that are nice to have but not as important for you.
For many students and families, you will get a definitive picture of affordability once you’re accepted and receive a merit scholarship or a financial aid package. There might be some schools that you were less interested in before that all of a sudden become financially attractive options. Make sure to have another family discussion so everyone is on the same page when it comes down to decision time.
Rest assured that there are a lot of great colleges for you. Millions of students have attended a wide range of schools, had memorable experiences, and gone on to accomplish their goals. You can choose the school that you feel is right for you right now, but remember that your time in college is ultimately what you make of it when you arrive on campus.