With more than 4,000 colleges, universities, community and junior colleges, and technical and vocational schools in the U.S., identifying the right schools should start with an honest self-evaluation of your abilities and personality, your interests and goals, and your basic expectations of college.
Consider why you're going to college in the first place. Do you already have a specific or general career focus? Are you looking for an intellectual challenge? Will you be exploring different academic fields? Understanding those distinctions can help you narrow the field to a professional-degree program, technical institute, or liberal arts college. Keep in mind that more than half of college students change majors once, and many change majors several times.
What type of college experience are you looking for? Identify what's important to you in a school. A school's size, location, academic offerings, culture, and facilities will affect your quality of life as a student. Is it important that your college have a wide variety of majors, strong athletic program, cultural and extracurricular activities, a particular ethnic or religious component, or an international study program? Are you looking for a school where you will be comfortable academically or where you will be challenged intellectually? While most colleges have web sites with lots of information, there's no substitute for a campus visit that includes a tour, an interview with admissions, and a chance to talk with students on campus.
How much college can you afford? Knowing what you can afford helps determine whether you'll be considering private or public colleges. While your ability to pay (or willingness to borrow) is a consideration, great financial need can warrant a major financial aid package. Many private colleges offer generous aid grants. Don't count on it, but don't rule out private schools simply because tuition is high.
Apply to several schools. Plan to submit five to seven applications: three for schools where you're confident you'll be comfortable academically, environmentally, geographically, etc; one or two for "reach" schools that might be academically challenging, but comfortable in other areas; and one or two "safety" schools for which you may be academically overqualified.
Use the Common App if you can. This single admission application (online and in print) is a major timesaver. It simplifies the application process by letting you use one form to apply to 300 private and public colleges and universities. To see if your target schools participate, visit www.commonapp.org.
A step toward the independence you'll enjoy at college starts with an honest evaluation of your education needs. For more information on getting into and paying for college, sign up for Nellie Mae's monthly financial aid tips. Also, check out our Loan Center to find the right student loan for you.