College Search Fact Sheet
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
There are thousands of accredited four-year colleges in the United States. No wonder you may be feeling overwhelmed by all of the choices. It’s time to begin an organized search and start focusing on schools that will be right for you. Follow these steps. Get to know yourself and what you want in college.
• Develop and review your Key College Criteria List (found in this unit) – then prioritize it.
• Take career-interest inventories — they will help you look at majors and the schools that offer the best coursework for you.
• Look at your grades and test scores, so you can compare how you will fit in at different campuses.
Do your research.
• Look at college websites—you will find information on admissions, campus events, special programs and majors, athletics, the faculty, student services, financial aid, blogs, and more.
• Review books at your local library or school career center. Look for college guidebooks such as The Fiske Guide to Colleges, The College Handbook, and the Book of Majors (both published by College Board) and other books such as Colleges That Change Lives and The Insider’s Guide to Colleges.
• Use websites such as www.bigfuture.org, www.petersons.com, and www.collegedata.com to help you find colleges that match your criteria and interests.
• Talk to people – your educational consultant, high school counselor, teachers, parents, friends, and college alumni.
• Attend college fairs in your area. Use the College Fair Checklist to ensure you are prepared with questions to ask the college representatives.
• Ask questions and take notes when college representatives come to your school.
Visit college campuses in person or online: See the back of this fact sheet for information on making the most of your campus visit. If you can’t visit, check out www.ecampustours.com and www.collegeweeklive.com for online virtual tours.
Action Steps:
- Download and review the College Search fact sheet.
- Download and share with your parent or guardian the College Tour de Force parent article.
- Upload the fact sheet, worksheet, and parent article to your Unit 5 folder.
