10 Things to Consider When Researching Colleges
Maanya is a veteran at researching colleges and emerged from her own search relatively unscathed. She is starting at Northeastern University in Fall 2024, where she will study business. Below are her tips for your own research process.
Researching colleges may seem like a daunting task, but it's essential to help you find your dream school. To make the process a little easier, we've compiled a list of the 10 most important things to remember when looking at colleges.
Academics: When looking at schools, check to see if they've got the majors/minors, academic departments, and programs you might be interested in. Also, make sure the school offers courses on other subjects you’re interested in and that their academic rigor matches what you’re looking for to find the best fit for your educational goals.
Core Values: A mission statement lays out the school’s core values, or mission, which is what they want to foster and instill in their students. Maybe they focus on religious faith and community service or perhaps leadership and global citizenry. It's a good idea to make sure that the school's values align with yours. For instance, if you prioritize community service, it's important to explore schools with a variety of community service programs and strong connections to volunteer organizations, rather than those that place less emphasis on service over other values.
Strategic Plan: Look at the college’s strategic plan to find out where the school is headed in the next three to five years. Do you want to be in a school focused on global immersion? Or maybe one that’s working toward improving campus life? This information can be found on the college’s website and shows what it prioritizes.
Extracurriculars: Check out the college’s website and social media to find extracurricular and club options you might be interested in. Extracurriculars could include everything from interest-based clubs to service organizations and even club sports. These are an excellent way to make new friends with similar interests and to network!
Location/Size: When deciding which schools to consider, it's important to think about the location and size of the school. Are you looking for a big state school? Small liberal arts school? Near the beach? Close to home? These factors can determine how comfortable you'll be at the school. Additionally, the location can have a financial impact when looking at in-state versus out-of-state tuition, travel costs, and other expenses.
Cost: Consider your likely cost to attend the schools to which you want to apply. A Net Price Calculator is an excellent tool that can help you calculate the expected financial contribution based on your family's income and other relevant factors. Additionally, it's important to factor in potential financial aid and merit scholarships.
Campus Life: Campus life is about being part of your campus community. Look for activities that interest you and will keep you busy while you're away from home. What do students do for fun over the weekend? How do they like to stay busy during their free time? A suitable campus life for you will help you feel connected to your peers, avoid feeling isolated while you’re away from home, and stay motivated!
Resources: Check out the school’s website for resources offered to its students. Some important ones to look for are medical care, mental health services, tutoring, and fitness facilities. Some schools may also provide resources such as career guidance, resume-building workshops, and more. Be sure to identify the resources that will be most helpful to you.
Experiential Opportunities: Do you have a country you’ve always wanted to learn more about and visit? Research opportunities or internships you're interested in pursuing during your time in college? Explore experiential learning opportunities at schools you are interested in and find a few you would genuinely enjoy participating in. These are a great way to delve deeper into your interests and area of study while also learning more about different subjects.
Post-College Data: Review the alumni and post-graduate data for the school to see the destinations of graduating students. What is the job outlook? Are students pursuing master's degrees or further education? Check for an alumni resource center to facilitate connections with graduates from the school.
Although this is by no means an exhaustive list, these 10 key factors can guide you in refining your college search and assist you in finding and applying to schools that you truly love!
