Assessing Your List of Colleges

As you develop a list of colleges that interest you, be sure you can answer these questions about them. 

The Basics 

• Where is the college? Can you locate it on a map? 
• Have you taken the course work the college requires for admission?  
• What size is the college? How many students are undergraduates? 
• What is the college’s selectivity ratio (what proportion of applicants were admitted last year)?  
• Does the college offer majors that interest you?  
• Is the college coed or single sex?  
• What percentage of students live off campus?  
• How many of the students graduate in four years? Five years? Six years?  
• How many first-year students return for their sophomore year? 
• How much does the program cost? What is the total peper year expense?  
• What type of financial aid is available? 

Where would you fit in? 

• What are the admission requirements at the colleges of interest to you? Where does that place you? 
• What were the high school GPAs of most of the freshmen last year? 
• Are freshmen guaranteed on-campus housing? If not, where do they live?  
• Are there extracurricular activities that interest you? 

Visit their websites and read college guidebooks 

• What are their strong academic programs? (Ask a college representative, students, graduates, and teachers.)  
• What courses are required for graduation?  
• Are the courses you need/want available each semester? At convenient times?  
• Are there special programs (study abroad, internships, etc.) of interest to you?  
• Do the pictures and the language the college uses to describe itself attract you? 
• What is the social life like?  
• What is your general impression of the college?  
• Is the school accredited?  
• If professional certification is required for employment in the field that interests you, how many students enrolled in the school’s program pass the certification exam?  
• What does the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard tell you about the school? 

Admission Process 

• When are applications due?  
• What does the application contain? Are essays required?  
• Is an interview suggested or required? Is an interview available from staff or alumni? 
• When may you visit the college? What is its policy regarding campus visits?  
• What are the financial aid deadlines? What financial aid forms are required? 

Now Answer These Questions 

• Am I a strong candidate for admission to this college?  
• If I am not a strong candidate, what are my chances?  
• Do I want to visit this college?  
• What additional information do I need? 

For more help staying organized and making smart college choices, check out the College Advising Essentials guides.