What Does Your Ideal College Look Like?

Where will your college be? Will you look for colleges in your hometown, your home state, or out of state? Will you search for in the city, the country, or colleges in the suburbs? Do you want to live at home, on campus in the dormitories, or in an off-campus apartment? What type of college are you looking for; a technical or trade school, two year or four year colleges? Also will you pick a public (state) or private college, or a liberal arts college?

What are you looking for in a student body size? Would you like a men or women’s only college or a co-educational college? Are you looking for a large (more than 10,000) medium (4,000-10,000) or small (less than 4,000) college? Does ethnic or religious breakdown or affiliation make a difference to you? Do you know any family, friends, or other students from your school or community that attend the college you’re looking into? What types of majors and/or programs are offered and what are you looking for?

What is the college’s academic reputation for teaching styles (hands-on, lecture, seminar)? Are the classes taught by actual professors or teachers assistants? What are the average class sizes of the college, and are you able to study evening, weekend or part time or full time only? What are the qualifications of the average student that is accepted? What is the average GPA, SAT/ACT, and class rank?

What type of non academic activities are you looking for; things like sports (Division I, II or III) both collegiate and intramural, clubs, music, arts, SGA, fraternities or sororities, jobs on campus and all extracurricular activities. What types of internships, career services, community service, and study abroad options are there for you?

Another very important component to ask about that most don’t think about is the support services or programs the college offers? Do they have counseling and tutoring and is it free, and who is the tutor a student or a professional? The next really important thing to consider is the cost of the total tuition, room and board. Do they offer in-state or out of state tuition? What is the percentage of students that receive financial aid and what is the opportunity to renew financial aid after the first year?

How to find out this information? Talk to people – family, friends, teachers, and guidance counselors. Attend college fairs at your school, local schools, or national NACAC fairs.
Use the Internet to research colleges and have them send you information. Finally, schedule campus tours, visit campuses, and engage admission staff.

Aaron Smith
University Advisors

Be Realistic: Plan Ahead for Your College Options

Colleges can't accept everyone. Just like any other consumer product (and yes a college education is a consumer product!) there is supply and demand.

Many colleges have only so many places and the job of the admission office is to find students to fill those places without over enrolling. The Ohio State University marching band can only have one tuba player dotting the "i" on Ohio during the halftime show! And colleges only have so many seats in classrooms and beds in the residence halls.

Supply and demand is what makes certain colleges or majors selective; thus, they can pick and choose exactly who they want and who they think will enroll.

This selectivity causes many very good students (even valedictorians) and those who are class presidents with many extra-curricular activities to be rejected from their first choice college. It comes down to is a numbers game. And sometimes these numbers are not SAT scores, GPA, yards per carry, number of extra-curricular activities or leads in the school play.

If you've “got the numbers and resume” you should still apply to the selective places, but you should also apply to others that are not as competitive for admission. You will get in somewhere. It may not be your top choice, but you will find the place which will be "exactly the right school for you.”

This is also the reason for applying to schools that you definitely want to go to or where you will be happy if your first choice college doesn't accept you. Being realistic about the places you apply will eliminate the stress of the process not only for yourself, but also for your parents.

Plan ahead for options now!

Brian E. Davis
University Advisors