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Selecting Colleges

On average, College Prep students apply to approximately 8-10 colleges. Some apply only to the U.C. system, a few apply to more than eight schools. (Applying to more than 8 schools is often a sign of insufficient research prior to finalizing one’s list. It is not recommended. Students should be able to come up with several good reasons why each college on their final list represents a good "fit" or "match" for them.) Students should plan to complete from 4 to 8 applications, including 1-2 "reaches," 2-4 "possibles" (schools in their target range), and 2 "highly likely" candidates. The bulk of colleges should fall into the middle group of "possibles." Don’t apply to a college that you wouldn’t attend just to see if you’ll be admitted. Similarly, don’t apply to a "sure thing" that you would not want to attend. The particular category a college falls into for you depends on your academic record and extracurricular involvement.

"Reaches" are colleges where the student’s credentials suggest that admission is unlikely, and some colleges are "reaches" for virtually every student, no matter how strong, because of the extraordinary selectivity of the institution.

"Possibles" are colleges where the proximity of the student’s credentials and the college’s admission profile suggest that the chances may be around the 50/50 range.

"Likelys" are colleges where the student’s credentials suggest that the chances for admission are very good, and where the students would gladly go if admitted.

Your final list will be sorted out in consultation with your counselor. Don’t feel that you must have a finalized list in your junior year. Most students don’t, and it's usually not advisable to attempt this. Do, however, start to think about preferences with regard to the following characteristics that determine if a college is a good match for you.

The following are some areas to consider when selecting colleges. This information can be found in college catalogs and web sites, as well as college guides such as Fiske and Peterson’s. The more you have reflected on your own interests and priorities, the easier it will be to determine which colleges will be good matches for you.

STUDENT ENROLLMENT

Enrollment: Total. Percent of undergraduates. Freshman class size.

Retention: Percentage of freshmen who graduate.

Background: Male/female ratio. % commuter vs. resident. % on financial aid. % minorities. % of religious affiliations. Political affiliation, student interests, athletic participation, etc.

LOCATION AND SURROUNDINGS

Location: Geographic region. Distance from home. Travel costs and convenience.

Setting: Urban vs. rural or suburban. Weather. Nearest city. Recreational opportunities.

Facilities: Libraries, labs, studios, practice rooms, computer access. Sports and recreational facilities. Residence halls. Student center.

COLLEGE TYPE AND PHILOSOPHY

Type: 2 or 4 year. Church/state/private control. College or university.

Purpose: Liberal arts. Pre-professional for business, education, fine arts, engineering, etc. Technical or vocational . Degrees offered.

Philosophy: Traditional or progressive. Deeply scholarly or career-oriented. Comprehensive.

Calendar: Semester/trimester/quarter. Inter-term programs. Accelerated programs.

Curriculum Requirements: Core curriculum or highly flexible requirements.

Proportion of study to general education/concentration/student choice.

Course offerings: Majors offered in your areas of interest. Breadth and depth of courses offered. Interdisciplinary courses/majors offered. Strength of departments.

Independent Study: Individual tutorials. Seminars. Senior projects. Research opportunities.

Special Study: Fieldwork. Internships. Exchange programs. Foreign study. Joint degree programs. Cooperative work/study plan. Pre-professional programs (law, medicine, etc.)

Standards: Degree requirements. Grading system. Honor Code. Accreditation.

ADMISSIONS

Selectivity: Percentage of applicants offered admission. Range of test scores. Class rank of admitted freshmen.

ACADEMIC ENVIRONMENT

Faculty: Percent with PhD’s. Origins of degrees earned. Original faculty research/scholarship. Teaching course load. Undergraduate research opportunities. Emphasis on undergraduate teaching and learning.

Faculty-Student Relationships: Faculty:student ratio. Advising. Accessibility. Assistance. Departmental clubs, colloquia, committees with student representation. Average class size. Classes under 20 students/over 50 students. Opportunities for discussion/student participation/exchange of ideas.

Academic Demands: Workload. Course expectations. Type of assignments. Academic pressure/competition. Availability of classes. Ease of registration.

Intellectual vitality: Students’ attitude towards learning. Flexibility/structure for study. Interest in political, social issues. Exchange of ideas.

Career Preparation: Pre-professional programs. Career advising and information programs. Percentage to go on to graduate school. Graduate school/job placement.

CAMPUS & STUDENT LIFE

Types of students: Diversity and tolerance of differences. Typical/off-beat student. Importance of money/material possessions/social appearances.

Community type: Homogeneous. Pluralistic. Cohesive or fragmented. School spirit. Controversial campus issues. Liberal/directive/restrictive social policies.

Living quarters: Predominantly large dorms/housing clusters/small houses. Availability of singles/doubles/suites. System of housing allocation/roommate selection. Coed vs. single sex. Centralized/decentralized dining. Alternative dining programs. Percentage of commuters. Off-campus housing availability.

Campus activities: Activities related to your interests. Emphasis on social life, fraternities, sports, or other dominant interests. Clubs and organizations-traditional, creative, competitive, issue-oriented. Presence of religious, ethnic, or cultural groups. Cultural opportunities on campus or in community. Focus of social life on campus/fraternities/community/other colleges nearby/home. Athletic teams in Divisions I, II, III.