How To Begin Your College Search

by Carolyn Z. Lawrence, AdmissionsAdvice.com

There are over 2,600 four-year colleges in the United States.  How do you decide where to apply, and, once you’re admitted, where to attend?

The decision begins and ends with you. While you should certainly seek advice and ideas from your family, teachers, advisors, and others who know you well, ultimately, the decision of where to apply and attend college will be yours to make. Therefore, the place to start your college search isn’t a guidebook or a website, but with self-evaluation.

Before you crack open a guidebook, here are some important questions to ask yourself:

Who are you? It’s important to find a school where you can feel comfortable, or at least be able to adapt fairly well. Are you shy or outgoing? Someone who isn’t afraid to take calculated risks, or someone who tends to play things safe? Are you comfortable being around people who are very different than you or more at ease with people who are similar to you? How would you describe yourself to someone who didn’t know you? How would your best friend describe you?

What do you need to succeed in college?  Consider your educational experiences so far. What have you enjoyed most about high school? The least? How strong are you when it comes to the skills necessary to succeed academically – reading, researching, note-taking, organization and time management? Do you need extra support or help such as tutoring in some subjects? Are you the type of student who can work independently or do you need more individual attention and help from your teachers? Are you a self-starter or someone who needs a push every now and then?

What’s your admissions profile? What will an admissions officer notice when he looks at your high school grades and test scores? How closely do they match the typical admitted student at the colleges and universities you’re considering? What do you have to add to a college community? What are your teachers and advisor likely to say about you in their recommendations? What are your strengths and weaknesses as a college applicant?

A word about choosing colleges based on where your friends are applying. As a general rule, always select a college because it is right for you personally, not because a friend is also applying or will be attending. If your friend ends up at the same school, great – but don’t base your entire college decision (and potentially the rest of your life) solely on where your friends are going.

Next: College Search Factors To Consider

Based in San Diego County, California, Carolyn Z. Lawrence is a private college admissions consultant who has helped hundreds of students from across the country and around the world find the right college matches.  Learn more about her college planning services for families.

© Copyright 2010, All rights reserved. May not be copied or distributed without written permission from Carolyn Z. Lawrence.