A College Match Made In Heaven(…if you follow these tips!)
It’s totally normal to feel apprehension about researching colleges and ultimately choosing which to attend. Where does one even begin? Is there really a college you can get excited about and commit to -- for four WHOLE years? After all, this four-year relationship you’re potentially entering is maybe one of the most significant, longest commitments you’ve made up to this point; okay, admittedly, when I frame it like that, this does sound a little bit scary.
BUT it really doesn’t need to be -- because this doesn’t need to be a scary trainwreck of a blind date! Like any relationship you take seriously, you need to learn about who you’re getting involved with before committing. Carefully researching your potential college matches takes away the fear and makes this future relationship something to get excited about! Knowledge is power, my Sagely friends! So, let’s get you started on the joyous, not-scary-but-instead-very-empowering journey of college research!
Below are some helpful tips to narrow down the college playing field so you can find colleges that match your values and interests!
(If you have zero clue about what you want out of a college, check out at our previous blog post here for some ideas!)
Work that College Website
You probably have a college or two you’re interested in learning more about, so let’s start there, at the school’s webpage.
About Sections and Mission Statements
We recommend looking carefully at the college’s landing page as well as its About Us section, typically found in a tab or drop-down menu on the main landing page. Also keep your eye out for the school’s mission and vision statements. In your initial search on these pages, pay attention to key words, phrases and themes that are repeated. Do you see a lot of verbiage about their prestigious faculty or their commitment to diversity? Do they emphasize their close-knit environment and small class size? Or is it the groundbreaking research professors and graduate students are conducting that they’re eager to highlight? Poking around the college’s landing and About pages will give you a sense of the college’s values.
Sagely Tip: Whenever you see a video on a college website, watch it and take some notes. These videos often offer tons of specific info that doesn’t make its way onto the written page!
Department Homepages
After checking out those main pages, do a deep dive into the academic programs and check out the majors and minors offered. Do they have programs you’re interested in exploring and that match your interests? Explore the major or department’s landing page, and again be mindful of what they choose to highlight there. What they value and are most proud of will typically find its way on the homepage.
Sagely Tip: This research you’re doing now about the college’s values, its academic programs, and ways you’d contribute to the college are all topics you’ll soon be writing in those admissions essays. Take notes and save links so you can easily refer to the information when you start writing essays.
Search for Campus Clubs, Organizations and Activities
This takes a bit more digging, but after exploring the academic opportunities, don’t forget about how you’ll spend time outside the classroom. Check out the clubs and activities you’d be excited to join. Your time spent at college should ideally not be a marriage of convenience, but one of genuine excitement. You’re too young to settle for a passionless relationship.
If you’re passionate about mental health, are there activities, clubs, and organizations where you can learn while helping others? Are you a trailblazer for LGBTQ+ rights and are there ways for you to further the cause on campus? Think about social issues and hobbies you care about and see how you can get involved with those while at school. Colleges want students who will engage and add value to the community, so start envisioning how you would contribute your time and skills at that college.
Sagely Tip: If you’re having trouble finding specific organizations or clubs with your interests on the college webpage, try a Google search that includes the name of the college and the topic or interest you want to explore.
Find The College’s Socials
Now, this is really going to feel like an actual dating experience, for better or worse. It’s time to deep dive into those socials! Look up the college’s official Facebook, IG, and other social media to see what they’re up to. Don’t forget Reddit – it’s a helpful tool to see what actual students are saying about their college experience, sometimes in a very unfiltered way.
There are lots of online forums where students share their college experiences. Check these out, but do so with a balanced, thoughtful perspective, remembering that while the internet is truly awesome, it’s also an easy-access venue where people go to vent. That said, seeing what students say about their college experience can give you an inkling about the campus vibe.
Sagely Tip: If you’re “feeling” the school vibe, show some love and consider liking the college’s page, following, or subscribing so you can stay up-to-date about what they’re doing (again, what you learn now will come in really handy when it’s time to write essays that show the college admissions officers that you’re knowledgeable and passionate about their school and community).