Questions to Consider Before Courting Colleges
No one, to our knowledge, has yet to create an official Bumble-like app for courting colleges – though some apps and websites come pretty close! There are tons of outstanding tools on the interweb to help determine the fit, vibe and the character of your dream person college, and we’ll share those with you in a future post. But before we do, it’s good to pause and take inventory.
Just like real-life dating, you want to enter the college dating pool with some ideas about what you might need and want in order to experience a healthy college relationship. That said (and as expert daters we can’t stress this enough), you also need to stay open and flexible to readjusting your ideas and expectations as you delve deeper into your college research.
In time, you might discover that what you originally thought you just HAD TO HAVE isn’t as crucial as you once believed. Right now, you might think you’ll shrivel up and die from boredom if your college isn’t in the heart of NYC. But months from now, after college tours, research, and chatting with students, the intimate vibe at that small, sunny college on the west coast might unexpectedly steal your affections. Love is a fickle mistress, indeed.
So, before and during these intial stages of your college vetting and research, we recommend jotting down what you currently hope to experience in college – which can help give your search some focus. However, as you research, stay open to adapting your expectations as you learn more. Leave room for your college suitors to surprise you, as they often will.
Before getting started in serious online research, here are some initial questions to consider:
Does class size matter to me? Would I prefer smaller classes that leave room for discussion? Is face time with professors important to me? Or do I enjoy lecture style classes and like to learn more independently?
What kind of “vibe” am I looking for on campus? Something Quiet? Intimate? Active? Energetic?
Are there certain values I care deeply about and want the school to mirror? (For example, are you a passionate environmentalist and want a college that practices what they preach by enacting school policies that build a sustainable campus environment?)
As you begin to research more deeply about specific colleges, also keep these questions in mind:
Does this school have strong programs that fit the subjects and majors I’m excited to explore?
Are there cool clubs, organizations and activities on campus that match my interests (both academically and personally?)
How viable an option is this school based on my GPA and test scores?
(Word to the wise: in your “school list,” you should have some reach schools, as well as safety and matches, so don’t totally write off schools that might seem too hard to crack just yet. However, do be realistic and honest with yourself about the likelihood of admittance. We’ll discuss this more in another post).
How generous is the school about meeting demonstrated financial need and offering scholarships?
(This topic deserves its own article and will get one!)
Now that you have some questions to consider while vetting potential matches, swipe right…I mean, scroll down to access our next post where we offer tips, so you can find colleges you’ll fall head over heels for.