What do these numbers represent? 3,781 indicates the number of colleges and universities in the country (public and private non-profit) and 1 is the college you will attend following your graduation from high school. Clearly, you are not expected to research or even know every college in the country. But the winnowing process will be more likely a group of 50 or so colleges that are on your radar due to proximity, affordability, reputation, connections, or programs. Let’s review these factors since each is critical in supporting the list building process that begins over the summer and concludes in the fall with about 10 college choices before application deadlines start materializing in early November.
Propinquity – (BTW, a great SAT word) Studies have shown that most students on average travel less than 100 miles from home to attend college. This makes sense. Many families tend to cluster, never more than an hour or two from relatives. Familiarity breeds a level of comfort and brand recognition that results in nearby colleges as a likely choice. Though I do not challenge this fact or take issue with it since I attended college precisely 85 miles from home. I do ask students to cast a wider net, at first. In my case, 85 miles from a sleepy Connecticut hamlet to Manhattan in New York City, felt more like traveling to a foreign country than to a neighboring state. My motivation for going to Hunter College was a desire to be surrounded by diversity vis-à-vis ethnicity, race, and opinion. When building your summer travel schedule seek colleges that may be within your predetermined radius and some that are not. Explore well-known colleges in the area and some with minor brand recognition. You will find that the latter are not lesser in quality or value but just in awareness. A future blog will tackle this topic.
Affordability – I am sure you have heard of the term “safety school,” but I introduced the idea of “financial safety school” to my audience years ago. I defined the term as one college you could still attend even if you were offered little or no financial aid. My view is to provide honest and sound advice. Attending college is a family decision, in most cases, and college costs rank number one among parents. Therefore, discussing with your parents the amount of money they have to fund your college education is critical. If they have little or no money to contribute, and you do not qualify for any form of federal, state, or institutional aid other than federal loans (virtually every student qualifies), then the amount you can borrow in year one is $5,500 (Technically it is higher, but in that case a few circumstances must be met which seldom applies to the average student.). With this total in hand, identify a school that will fall within that amount. Be aware this is for list building purposes and being prepared.
Please note, your list should also include high-priced universities that offer institutional aid in the form of grants and scholarships which will significantly reduce the cost. In some instances, the institutional aid from a private school will lower the cost to an amount equal to or less than its public counterparts. How does this work? Universities will review your credentials during the admissions process and determine your scholarship eligibility; however, this will occur in the late winter or early spring, too late to add other colleges into the fold. In the interim, you can use the net price calculator found at the financial aid section of each college’s website to get an approximate value in scholarship or grant aid.
Reputation – It takes many forms but most common is word-of-mouth or affirmation from rankings such as US News & World Report. What one will mention about a particular college can influence your decision. I have written about this previously (add link), so I will not go in depth here, but I will remind you that each college is different and may appeal to you for a host of reasons that are not applicable to others. Finding the right college is about fit and opportunities you believe are advantageous for your future. One size does not fit all. Keep an open mind.
Connections – This factor is not complicated. Many relationships contribute to decisions about what college applications will be submitted. For example, your parents are alums of a college, and you attended their class reunions while growing up. The nostalgia or comfort you feel about that institution is vital to you. Or you might feel a connection because of a close relative or family friend. Maybe your parents are on the faculty or an administrator with benefits that include free tuition, hard to turn that down. The hook could also be your interest in competitive athletics. A college coach recruiting you with the opportunity to participate at the college level is a connection.
Program – What academic programs offered align with your future goals? This one is probably the most direct linkage to list building (they either have the major you’re interested in, or they don’t). However, many students are unsure of an academic pursuit let alone a career or industry path. Undecided ranks as the number one major of entering students in the country. How does unsureness fit into your list building exercise? To begin, you can work in the opposite direction. Reduce the number of choices by eliminating educational programs you have no interest in. For example, if your artistry is comparable to the stick figures I drew in 3rd grade, art is probably not your major. I often counsel students who enjoy technology but not math or science, so engineering is out of the picture (you have to like these subjects). But maybe working indirectly in the field may be interesting (selling technology – business or marketing or explaining technology – technical writing). Using this method will help narrow your options and remove some colleges, thus making your list more manageable.
Finally, you can always contact me. My wealth of knowledge and understanding of programs, career paths, and higher education can help you sort through an extensive list and derive a more realistic selection of institutions to work with over the summer. The process of building your final list of colleges will take time, but it’s a learning process and one that I find enjoyable. You are discovering the vast academic resources available to you in support of your future. I know of no better way to ensure success than taking the time to research which colleges offer you the best chance for future triumphs. Good luck and have some fun.
yourcollegeselection.com 