Choosing the Right College: Your Trusty 6-Step Guide

So, you finally made it through the strenuous college application process! Goodbye personal statements, farewell supplemental essays, hasta la vista student activities list. Now for the most exciting part: choosing the right college for you.

Whether you applied early action or regular decision, you will inevitably arrive at the same crossroads… Which of these schools is the best fit for me?

Deciding which college or university you will attend is a huge milestone in your academic journey. That’s why you’ll want to make sure to think through your choice carefully and purposefully.

Maybe you already felt overwhelmed with the application process. And now you feel the stakes are even higher. Don’t worry, these feelings are completely normal. But keep reading, and we will cover some specific steps you can take to ensure you are choosing a college that is a great fit for you.

Step 1: Define your non-negotiables

Once you’ve received word from the colleges you applied to, here’s the first thing you should do. Decide on your non-negotiables.

A non-negotiable is one of your top priorities. In other words, I will only attend a school that has _____ or provides _____. Here are two quick examples. The school that I attend will have an accelerated degree program for my major. Or the school that I attend will have an active on-campus student life.

To define your non-negotiables, ask yourself this question: What criteria do I absolutely not want to compromise on? What is most important to me about the college I end up at?

Here’s a list of some factors you may wish to consider when choosing the right college and deciding on your non-negotiables:

• Location
• Size of the school and campus
• Academic majors and programs
• Extracurriculars
• Campus life and culture
• Affordability
• Opportunities in the surrounding area
• Enrichment programs like study abroad opportunities and internships

Now, you’ve probably already thought about many of these when you were initially researching schools. However, that was before it was time to make a final college decision.

So to make this first step as effective as possible, it may help to go through the following process:

• Make a list of all the things your ideal college would have.
• Then make a T-chart that divides these into “must-have” and “nice-to-have.”
• Rank your top 3 “must-haves” from 1 (most important) to 3.

Once you’ve decided on your non-negotiables, it’s time to figure out how each of your potential schools measures up. In the next section, we’ll go over how to do exactly that!

Step 2: Do some deeper research for each college

Again, you have more than likely already done some preliminary research on the colleges you applied to. As you should have! So when you do research this time around, you won’t be starting completely from square one. The purpose of researching your potential colleges at this point is to see what deeper information you can find in light of your priorities.

What you’ll want to do at this stage is first, pull up any prior research you’ve done on the schools you applied to to which you were accepted. Hopefully this is in some sort of organized format like a spreadsheet or college planner.

From there, jot down a list of areas you still need more information about for each college or university. For instance, perhaps you wrote down the school size and cost for attending each school. But you didn’t find information about how the degree program works for the major you are most interested in.

To find some of this deeper information, use any research outlet available to you. You can use college search engines and official college websites. Another great option would be to informally chat with any students you know who have actually attended that institution.

If you don’t know anyone who attends the institution, check out admission Facebook groups, discussion forums, or social media accounts to see if you can find someone that way. Many colleges also have student-led newspapers and blogs that showcase what it’s like being a student on campus there.

Having this information from an actual alumni or current student can be invaluable in helping you make the right decision for you. When I was a high school English teacher, I once mentored one of my students in her college admission process. During her decision process, I was able to connect her with an acquaintance of mine who had attended one of the colleges she was interested in potentially attending.

They had a 30-minute Zoom call. During that call, my student was able to ask the woman questions that she really wanted answered. This helped give her a more honest picture of the school because it wasn’t just information she could learn from a website. Instead, it was insight provided by a human who had actually gone through 4 years of attending that very school.

Ultimately, some of the information learned on this Zoom call steered my student away from pursuing this school further. Now, she is in her second year at a different college that she is thriving at.

Step 3: Get the in-person feel of each college

Choosing the right college is just as much about having all the facts as it is about having all the feels. Once you’ve defined your non-negotiables and  researched each school more deeply, here’s what’s next… Do even more research to get the in-person feel. To experience that “in-person feel,” you can attend college fairs, information sessions, do overnight visits, or even just a regular campus tour. Some schools even allow you to sit in on classes briefly during a tour.

These opportunities allow you to connect with college representatives, gather firsthand information, and form a better overall perspective of the institution.

To get the most out of these types of research opportunities, here’s what you should do:

Beforehand:

• Research dates of various events and tours
• Decide on the ones that fit your schedule
• Plan a list of questions to ask

During and After:

• Engage in conversations (even if you’re shy)
• Take notes on any impressions you form (i.e. the overall vibe)
• Take pictures so that you have them to reference after the fact if needed
• Follow up with any further questions once you’ve had more time to reflect

This second layer of research should ideally give you a better sense of your feelings about the college on a more subconscious level. You’re not only looking for facts and figures at this point. Instead you are trying to imagine yourself as a student there. This step allows you to assess if a college feels aligned with your growth and development.

Step 4: Consult people you trust for guidance on your college decision

Now, as a caveat to this step, keep this in mind first. You will be the one attending the college that you choose. Just you. Not your mom or guidance counselor. Not your friends.

With that said though, there is value in getting perspective from trusted outsiders. This is because as a teen, you can often get too “in-your-head” about things. For more clarity, it may help to talk to someone you trust who knows you and your values well.

Here are some people you may wish to consult for advice or input:

• Your high school guidance counselor
• A coach or club advisor
• A parent or other close family member
• A trustworthy friend or peer
• Current students or alumni of the school you’re considering attending

Step 5: Consider the financial component

Whether this is one of your non-negotiables or not, the financial aspect of your choice is a logistic you will have to face. Some of the costs you will need to consider include: tuition, housing, meals, commuting expenses (if applicable), and more.

You’ll also want to consider scholarship and financial aid opportunities. Many colleges take your initial application into consideration for certain scholarships. Academic scholarships, for example, are usually decided on before your acceptance. However, you can do further research to see if the institution provides any additional scholarship opportunities.

It can be very helpful to compare the aid packages offered by different colleges side by side. This gives you a better picture of the overall cost for each school that you are considering. For instance, maybe College A has a much higher cost of tuition than College B. But College A may provide more aid than College B.

In the end, choose a college that provides a balance between your educational goals and financial affordability.

Step 6: Trust your intuition

Even though this is the last step outlined in the article, it is certainly no less important than the others. Above all, trust your gut. That phrase sounds abstract, but that’s because it is a little abstract.

Most of the previous steps involve thinking through loads of information. But trusting your intuition involves consciously being aware of how each choice makes you feel on a subconscious level.

If you’re having trouble listening to what your intuition is telling you consider doing one of the following:

• Journaling: Write down whatever honest thoughts come to mind about the decision and the schools you’re considering. Do this over the course of a few days or weeks. Write everything down without judgment. Then look back after a few entries and see if you can spot any patterns in your thoughts.
• Meditation: Do a few guided meditations like this one. See if it helps you uncover your true feelings about this big decision. Meditation can be a very powerful tool for unlocking our subconscious thoughts and desires. So even if you’ve never given it a try before, this is the perfect time to try it!

Final thoughts on choosing the right college for you

• Choosing the right college for you takes thoughtful consideration and self-awareness.
• Define your non-negotiables, do your research, get the in-person feel, seek advice, consider the finances, and trust your gut.
• The college that is right for you will do the following. Inspire personal growth. Provide a supportive community. Immerse you in an environment that matches your aspirations and values.