Hey guys, I'm starting to research colleges and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. There are so many options and I don't know where to begin. How did you all narrow down your list of potential colleges? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Hey there! It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed when you start looking for colleges. My child faced the same situation when they were in high school, but we tackled it step by step. First, think about the factors that matter to you, such as size, location, school culture, and available majors or programs. Then, consider financial aid and scholarship opportunities, as well as the overall cost of attendance.
Once you've identified your priorities, create an initial list of schools that meet those criteria. Don't worry about having too many at this point—this is just to help you get started. After that, do some deeper research on each school: read about student experiences, attend virtual college fairs, and reach out to current students or alumni if possible. This will give you a better understanding of what life is like on campus.
Finally, it's crucial to visit the campuses (virtually or in person) so you can get a feel for the environment and the people. Keep narrowing down your list until you have a manageable number of schools to apply to. Good luck!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.