What Comes Next?
Post Secondary Resource Guide
Selecting a College
This information is to help you make your final decision. Check out the information below to help you select the perfect college.
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Explore your personal goals, values, strengths, and interests.
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Research potential schools and make a list of what you are looking for and colleges you are interested in. You can do your research online, attend college fairs, talk with your school counselor, talk with college representatives, and visit colleges.
Make a list for each school comparing and contrasting different details.
-Academic Programs
-Athletics
-Campus atmosphere
-Location
-Classrooms and class size
-Housing
-Food plans/Campus dining
-Professors
-Safety
-Student body
-Size
-Cost
-Clubs
-Financial aid options
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Go on campus visits. Visiting a campus is crucial to choosing a college. Once you have been accepted into schools you have applied to, it may be necessary to revisit colleges to help you make your final decision. Revisit schools you have been accepted to. Choose a “Stay the Night” tour option offered by some colleges.
-Prepare a list of questions before your visit. Here are a few examples:
What academic and social support services does the school offer?
What health services are available?
What activities are students involved in outside the classroom?
Are faculty members accessible and supportive?
Do students work together or independently in classrooms
How much time do students spend on homework each week?
For more questions visit the links below:
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Narrow your list of college down to those that you are most interested in. Check out the resources listed below:
Education Quest: Selecting a College
College Bound: Choose a College
TOP REASONS NOT TO CHOOSE A COLLEGE
-Your boyfriend/girlfriend is going there.
-Your best friend is going there.
-It's a party school.
-You decided in the 7th grade that you wanted to go there.
-Your mom and dad are alumni.
-It has a good football team.
-The school is prestigious.
-The tuition is low.
-It looks good in the guidebook.
-A computer college matching program said this was your best choice.
-You know you'll be accepted there.
-It's located in your city and you didn't consider other locations.
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Apply! Make sure to gather the required application materials early. Keep track of all deadlines.
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Revisit colleges you have been accepted to before making your final decision.
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Select a college!
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If you haven't done so already, research different types of colleges and what they have to offer. To learn more, check out the resources below:
4 Year Colleges and Universities page
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While waiting for the admission decision,
apply for scholarships and financial aid.