The end of my sophomore year of high school was the first time I remember being asked if I’d started to look at what college I wanted to go to. The answer was absolutely not. Building a college list is a process that takes some students months of research to come up with options while others decided on their dream university in middle school and haven’t wavered since. While both strategies might work, I found creating a list of schools challenging and confusing. It seemed absurd to pick just a few institutions as “safeties,” “targets,” and “reaches” out of the thousands available based mostly on the acceptance rate listed online. I didn’t know what was important to consider or how to know what I wanted in a school. I had a target tuition price and that was about it. If you’re still working on financial planning for college, check out some more quantitative tips on URochester’s Financial Aid Office website. In terms of qualitative guide posts, there is truly no perfect way to decide where to send applications. However, it can be helpful to consider a few general traits to make the process feel more approachable.
What you’ll learn
First and foremost, college is a place to pursue education and it’s important to apply to schools that offer programs and opportunities that will allow you to have the richest academic experience possible. For high school students who feel confident in their interest or career goals, this might look like exploring different majors offered at different schools, reading descriptions of courses, and researching what university graduates in your field of interest have gone on to accomplish. Some universities even offer special programs like Combined Degree Programs which can help you towards a higher degree while completing your undergraduate education. For me, and for many students, deciding on a career path feels daunting as a teenager. Instead, it can be helpful to focus on how a college will allow you to explore a variety of academic opportunities. For instance, if you want to do undergraduate research, but aren’t sure what field of study you want to pursue, you could start by exploring the differences between research universities and liberal arts colleges. It can also be helpful to compare the curriculum requirements for different colleges. Many schools have general education requirements or major declaration requirements that can make it harder to take courses across disciplines. One of the first things that drew me to URochester as a student who wanted to explore different interests was the flexible curriculum and lack of general requirements!
Where you’ll live
While college is where you go to school, it is also so much more, including the physical location where you live for the majority of four years. When building a college list, consider where you want to be. How far from home is too far? Do you prefer to be driving distance or across the country? Universities can be in city environments with no enclosed campus or more rural and far from metropolitan areas. Think about where you grew up or places you’ve visited and what aspects you like and what you wish was different.
Another aspect of physical location is campus size. Some schools feel like small cities, with thousands of students on campus and buses from one side of campus to the other. Others are the size of many public high schools. It can be really helpful to visit schools in different types of areas and of different sizes at the beginning of your college journey. For example, if you discover that you really like the experience of a huge university with a large student population and campus, that can help narrow your search for schools.
Who you’ll be
The most ambiguous factor in building a college list is the culture. Unfortunately, campus culture is also something that is difficult to define. It can include everything from school spirit to fraternity and sorority life to student organizations to religious and cultural groups. Each of these helps make universities unique and different from one another. It can also be helpful to think about how you spend your leisure time and what you value spending time on. Do you love attending sports events? Look for schools with strong athletic programs and school spirit. Are you looking to meet other students with a shared background or culture? Check out the demographic statistics and cultural groups available for students at a school. Is it important for you to join a Greek life organization? Make sure schools you apply to offer that opportunity. While it is difficult to pinpoint the specific “vibe” of a particular school, being able to picture yourself walking the campus or joining specific clubs is a signal that a campus culture might be a good fit. Visiting campus is a great way to get a feel for a school.
Sign up for a URochester campus tour
During my application process, I appreciated that URochester student organizations advertise and organize tons of volunteer opportunities, like this walk supporting Alzheimer’s awareness.
Trust your gut
I heard the saying “there is no best college, only the best college for you” often during my college admission process. While it is certainly true that there is no best university, I would have loved for someone to tell me that it’s also okay if you don’t feel like any school on your list is exactly right. During your exploration process, it can be easy to think everyone else has their perfect school figured out or get caught up in classmates’ college application plans. Outside voices, even from loved ones and trusted friends, can often cloud your own thoughts. The biggest tip I can offer is to listen to your gut. No one’s input matters more than the person who gets to live, learn and grow at college – you! As you begin to get a feel for the type of school, programs, location and environment you’re looking for, trust the process and yourself.