Question 1 – What am I good at?
There are many different types of schools that specialize in different things. Understanding what you are good at can help you narrow down the type of school.
Are you a great writer or do you really like history? A liberal arts college may be your best option because you will be spending a lot of time in these areas.
Are you interested in cooking, photography or digital media? A 2-year trade school or community college will give you the opportunity to take classes in these areas and take your skills to a level where you could turn this into a career.
Are computers your greatest love? Maybe you should go to a technical school where you can focus on computer technology and not so much on history, English, and other traditional subject areas.
Are you sure what you want to specialize in? Many 4-year colleges will allow you to enter their content area directly without the need for a full liberal arts foundation.
Question 2 – How much can I pay?
This will be critical to narrowing down the different types of schools and finding schools where you have the best chance of getting financial aid. You must consider three things to answer this question: 1) What have you (or your parents) already saved for college? 2) What can you (or your parents) pay while in school? 3) How much financial aid can you qualify for?
The best way to find out how much financial aid you may qualify for is by using the FAFSA Forecaster and looking at your college’s Net Price Calculators. You can Google the “FAFSA forecaster” to get some sites that offer this tool and tell you what it means. Almost all college websites will have a link to a Net Price Calculator within their Admissions information. This is a great way to see what going to college can really cost you.
Question 3 – What are my goals?
Do you intend to pursue both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree? If so, you may want to start with a lower-cost 4-year college. A public school in your home state may be your most affordable option.
Eager to join the workforce ASAP? In that case, it may make sense to start with a 2-year degree and then decide whether you want to transfer directly to a 4-year school or go out to work for a while.
Question 4: Where do my grades and test scores best fit?
Look at the range of high school GPA and ACT / SAT scores that a school says it supports. This will tell you how selective the school is. If you have excellent grades and test scores, you may be able to find a private university that will award you a sufficient merit scholarship to make it the lowest cost option.
Question 5 – What characteristics of the school do I prefer?
Narrow down the type of campus you want to see.
· Small, medium or large?
· Close to home or far?
· Very selective in who you enter or not so selective?
· Rural, suburban or urban?
Once you can answer these questions, find a website that has a good college search tool and enter the characteristics you want. This will give you a good list of colleges to explore further. Then start visiting schools and narrow down your options. Try to finish with a list of 3-8 schools to which you will apply.
When it comes to making the final decision on a school, you need to look at where you were accepted, how much each school costs, and how much you like each one. Determine what the deciding factor will be and choose the one that works best for it.