College Selection

College Preparation: College Selection

Normally, students will apply to three "reach" schools whose average GPA and test score requirements are slightly higher than the applicant's performance, four "target" schools whose average requirements match the applicants performance, and two or three "safety" schools whose average requirements are slightly lower than the applicant's performance. To choose which colleges to apply to, the student has to consider some very important questions:   Type of Institute: There are two types of four-year colleges: universities and liberal arts colleges. Which do you prefer? Some colleges also have religious affiliations.  Would you be uncomfortable attending such a school, or would you prefer such a school over a secular school? Major and Career: Does the college offer the field you would like to study? How strong is this college's curriculum compared to that of other schools? Does the college help students enter their desired careers after the students graduate? Don't be blinded by the school rank. Academic: How many professors are in the department you wish to major in? How easy is it for students to contact them? What is the average freshman high school GPA? What is the average undergraduate student GPA? Are there any academic advisors? What is the percentage of freshmen who complete the year in good standing and return as sophomores? What is the percentage of students who graduate within six years? Location and Size: Where is the college located (city, suburb, rural)? How big is the school? Does it fit your personality? Will you be happy there? Are there any safety issues for students? How far is it from your home? Social Life: What activities does the college provide? What clubs does the college have? What do the students do on weekends and during holidays? Would you like the clubs and social events? Are the students friendly? How is their athletic program? Cost: Can you afford attending the college? Does the college offer on-campus housing? How much is tuition, room and board, and other fees? How much would you pay for books, supplies, and personal expenses? How is the school financial aid package?   Liberal Arts Colleges vs. Universities: Most students consider studying at two types of institutions of higher learning: Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities. Compared to universities, liberal arts colleges focus more on undergraduate students; classes are smaller and students receive more personal attention. The benefit of a liberal arts education is that students are better prepared for a broad range of careers and graduate schools. Universities are larger than liberal arts colleges and offer more courses and research facilities. Many students and families favor universities, but think it over to decide which one is better for you.     Early Action vs. Early Decision: Early Action means that students can apply to a college early and receive a decision early.  Early Action is non-binding; students can continue to receive decisions from other schools before deciding which to attend.  Early Decision means that students can apply to a college early, but they must attend the school if they are accepted.  There are no drawbacks to applying Early Action, but students should apply Early Decision only if they are certain that they would wish to attend the school if they are accepted.   Reach, Target, and Safety Schools: According to the student's academic performance (high school GPA, class rank, and standardized test scores) and extracurricular activities, a student can usually classify colleges into three categories: reach, target, and safety schools.  "Reach" schools have average requirements that are slightly higher than the student's performance.   "Target" schools have average requirements that match the student's performance.  "Safety" schools have average requirements that are slightly lower than the student's performance.  Normally, students apply to three to five "reach" schools, three "target" schools, and two or three "safety" schools.  When you categorize a college, you need to pay some attention to the admission history of the college.  Some colleges pay more attention to a student's class rank and high school GPA, while others give more weight to standardized test scores.