The Search | psrg

Getting Started

As you begin to search for a college, take some time to assess your personal strengths, weaknesses, goals, learning style, and social skills.

What values are most important to you?
Of your unique gifts and strengths, which would like to develop most?
What are you good at?
What are your personal weaknesses?
What are your academic weaknesses?
How do you learn best?
What is most important to you in a post-secondary learning environment?

For another 10 questions to guide your exploration, go here.

Visit the CollegeBoard's Know Yourself here to begin the self exploration process.

The College Search and Exploration Process

This information is to help you learn how to research colleges and universities.

Do the Research

College exploration and the search process will take some time and effort, but it will be worth it when you find the school that fits you the best.

First you will want to research different types of colleges and make some basic decisions.

Where do you want to live?
4-year or 2-year college?
Public, private, community, technical, trade, online?
Large, medium, or small student body?
Will you attend full time or part time?
Co-ed or single sex?
On campus housing or off campus housing?
Athletic division I, II, or III?
Campus culture and diversity?

For the ACT's important factors in choosing a college, go here.

For KnowHow2Go's 4 steps to college, go here.

Finding Information

After you do some self exploration and brainstorm what you are looking for in a college, it's time for the actual search process. Don't be afraid to enlist help from your school counselor, teachers, parents, and family. Consult the wide assortments of references and wesbites that are available and make a list of your top choices. Don't forget to research admission criteria! U.S. News & World Report lists the top 10 college search engines. Go right to the website to learn more here. You can also explore the links to college search engines below by clicking on each button.

College Navigator

collegeVIEW

Michigan College Access Portal

Big Future College Search

Peterson's

This is a federal website containing the most data on colleges and universities in the U.S.

After registering for free, this site provides free support for all students and families in Michigan to simplify the transition from high school to college. This is a "one stop shop" to learn about michigan colleges and universities as well as estimate cost and fill out your application.

This search engine designed by the Collegeboard, allows you to search over 3,800 colleges in the U.S. You can easily filter your search results by different characteristics and requirements you are looking for.

This site offers detailed searches for over 3,800 universities. You can search for a wide range of information as well as explore campus tours, careers, minority information, and admission information.

This site provides you with information on thousands of colleges located in the United States and in other countries. This site also provides a wide range of tools and resources for college planning. This site can also help you find scholarships.

Get Active

One of the best ways to learn about a college or university is to get out and explore.

College Fairs: A college fair has a variety of college representatives who gather at one location to meet with students and parents. You can learn a lot about a wide variety of colleges in one evening. Check to see if your school, or one near you, offers a yearly college fair.

You can also find a list of National College Fairs at this link.

For more FAQ's related to college fairs, look here.

Click here to download the NACAC's College Fair Checklist

College Visits/Tours: Actually visiting a college, walking around, attending a class, speaking with current students, and checking out the campus is the best way to see if a college is right for you. You can attend group tours set up by your high school, sign up for your own personal tours through each college, or take a virtual tour online.

You can find the CollegeBoard's Campus Visit Checklist here.

Virtual campus tours can be found at Campus Tours and eCampus Tours.

Talk with a Representative: Sign up to talk with college representatives that visit your school. Compile a list of questions to ask.

Click here to download The College Board's list of questions.

Students with Disabilities

Understand your rights related to your post-secondary education. Consider what programs and services you'll need to succeed and which colleges would work best for you.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ensures that students with disabilities have equal access to post-secondary options.

All information regarding your disability must be kept confidential.
A school cannot deny admission based on disability.
You do not have to tell any college about your disability.
Colleges must provide accomodations.
If the school provides housing, it must have comparable housing options to students with disabilities.