Applying to college is an exciting step towards your future! However, choosing colleges from the thousands of US colleges can feel overwhelming and stressful. This blog post will offer a few critical pieces of advice to help you refine your search.

Consider these key factors:

When choosing colleges to apply to, students typically have some nonnegotiable in mind. These things might include on-campus housing, certain majors, being close to home, and more. Here are the 8 most common factors students consider:

1. Size

Are you more of a small-town or big city person? Do you feel more at home when you can meet with hundreds of new people, or do you prefer a close-knit atmosphere where you can get to know your classmates and professors better? Colleges vary greatly in size; some have less than 2,000 students, while others have over 80,000 students. There are pros and cons to each!

2. Location

Are you drawn to a certain location? Is your dream career centered in a few areas? If so, you may want to consider applying for schools in those locations.

3. Distance from home

Some students choose to apply for schools in a different location than their hometown so they can gain more appreciation for different cultures and lifestyles. Others choose to stay close to home in order to visit family more frequently. If your school is extremely close to home, you may be able to live with family while earning your degree- a move that can save tens of thousands of dollars.

4. Available majors and classes

Make sure to check each college’s list of majors and classes before applying! Some schools specialize in certain fields, which means they may have underdeveloped or small non-central majors. For example, Oregon State University is known for their engineering and STEM-based majors. While they offer some Liberal Art majors, the number and variety of art, writing, and English classes offered is significantly smaller than the number of engineering courses.

5. Housing options

Do you want to live on or off campus? Many colleges require all freshmen to live on campus, usually in a dorm or small apartment.

Living on campus provides advantages of a faster and easier commute to classes, easier access to school activities, and increased opportunity to connect with other on-campus students and make friends. Colleges usually require on-campus students to have a meal plan. This means that most (or all) of their meals will come from the school’s cafeteria. Not needing to cook can free up a lot of time! However, dorms also come with some disadvantages. Students commonly complain about the lack of private space, lack of a kitchen, and noise levels in dormitories. Some of these problems can be solved by applying to live in a suite, an apartment-like dorm that contains multiple private bedrooms (either individual or shared), a bathroom, a communal living room, and a small kitchen. Colleges usually provide extensive information about their housing options online, and you can always contact colleges’ housing directors if you have any questions!

Living off campus can provide a greater sense of independence and freedom. Depending on the area, off-campus housing may be more or less expensive than on-campus housing and come with additional responsibilities, such as cooking and cleaning. You may be able to commute to campus via foot, or you may need to take a bus, bicycle, or another mode of transportation.

6. Available extracurriculars and/or sports

For students who love being involved in clubs and sports, a vibrant campus life is a must! Many schools offer clubs and recreational sports, and you can check their website to learn more. Don’t see anything you like? Don’t worry! Most colleges give students the opportunity to create and manage their own clubs! Starting a club can look great on a resume, and you may consider doing this.

7. Makeup of the student body

Colleges vary in their gender, religious, and ethnic makeup. Some colleges focus on accepting students of a certain gender, religion, or ethnicity. For example, Booker T. Washington Junior College is a historically Black college, meaning that it accepts African American students. If you are very passionate about certain parts of your identity, you might want to search for colleges that will celebrate those aspects of yourself.

8. Campus atmosphere

Do you see yourself attending a quiet, studious college? Or do you want more of a social, extroverted experience? Colleges vary on the spectrum of how much attention they pay to studying vs socializing, with most schools tending to fall somewhere in the middle.

 

When thinking about these eight factors, consider which ones are most important to you. It’s likely that you will have a few “must haves” and a few things you’re flexible about. Weighing the factors can help to narrow down your list of colleges to visit and apply to.

Stay tuned to read more blog posts about the college application process! Future posts will cover steps you can take to applying for colleges, advice on how to make your application stand out, and more.