Determining Which Colleges to Apply To

The junior year is perhaps the most critical year in high school — at least in terms of implications for your future. It’s during the junior year that you’re often taking the tough courseload, prepping for the SATs, thinking about careers, and deciding about attending college — while also developing an initial list of colleges that interest you.

The good news? You have a year to really contemplate some of the issues I’ll discuss here. The college admissions process begins in earnest for you about this time next year.

So, here you are, with hundreds and hundreds of college possibilities out there. How can you narrow the list? One of the best resources is your high school’s guidance counselor. I know that in some public high schools, these folks are way overworked and have way too many advisees to know each one — thus, it is your job to make sure your guidance counselor knows who you are and what your interests are. Later, it will be important that he/she knows which of your college choices are your favorites in case one of the colleges calls to inquire about you.

But, don’t stop there. Talk with your family, friends, and neighbors. Find out where adults you respect went to college. Go to the library and start looking through the various college guide books, such as The Fiske Guide to Colleges. (Find more books in our Teen College Books.) Next, go online to one (or more) of the many college-choice Websites and search for college by programs, type, size, and location…or just browse through the lists. (Find more college-related sites in our College Planning Resources for Teens.) Finally, watch for college fairs and visits from colleges at your high school — and attend as many of those as you need.

At this stage in the game, don’t rule out any college based on cost. Many private colleges have a high cost, but counter those costs with attractive scholarships and aid packages to attract the better students. The ideal scenario would be to have a list of 20 or so by the end of the year … then narrow it down some more and visit that smaller list over the spring and summer.

Need more specifics about the process? Read my article, Choosing a College that’s Right for You, published on Quintessential Careers.

You can also find more tips and suggestions in my College Admissions Do’s and Don’ts, published on Quintessential Careers.

Finally, be sure to check out our work related to college admissions: Answers to Common College Admissions Questions.