College Applications: How to Decide Where to Apply
July 26, 2023
With nearly 4,000 colleges and universities in the United States, deciding where to apply can seem overwhelming. Even with time-saving options such as SAGE Scholars FastTrak program and Common Application, no one has the time to apply everywhere; however, if you apply to too few colleges, you risk not receiving the offer that your qualifications deserve. Having a clear strategy in mind can help you to avoid overwhelm, efficiently research potential options, and identify a reasonable number of promising colleges to apply.
Making a List and a Timeline
The first step in planning your applications should be to make a list of all of the colleges you have researched and a timeline for when you will apply. If you don't know where to start, you could begin by combing through lists that attempt to rank the best colleges and universities—U.S. News and Princeton Review are two popular ranking websites. Since you won't have time to check out every college on a list, it's a good idea to have some selection criteria in mind before you start. Perhaps you are only looking for schools that offer a computer science program, or maybe you want your college to be in your home state. Beginning your research with a list of priorities like these can help you to save time by discounting options that don't meet your criteria. You might also consider asking your parents, your teachers, or your high school admissions counselor if they have suggestions for universities that might be a good fit.
Although you can use paper or individual Word documents to list any options that seem promising, creating a spreadsheet to keep track of important information about each college on your list may be more productive. Not only does this allow you to compare information about different schools easily, but a spreadsheet also makes it possible to sort and rearrange your list as your thoughts develop. A simple spreadsheet could have columns for the name of the college, its location, its national ranking, its acceptance rate and/or test score distribution, tuition and/or estimated total cost of attendance, and, most importantly, the application deadline. It's also a good idea to have a separate column to record your notes about unique advantages a college might offer that aren't reflected in these facts and figures.
Once your research stops turning up any new options that seem compelling, you should stop and prioritize narrowing down your list to the colleges to where you will actually apply. Depending on how specific your search criteria were, you could easily accumulate a list with several dozen potential options, but you will probably only have the time to prepare compelling applications for a dozen or fewer colleges. Once you have a final list, you can create a schedule to spread out the work of filling out application forms and writing essays. Use the Common Application whenever possible-there's no reason to duplicate work you've already done.
Factors to Consider
Ultimately, the decision of where to apply is personal, and everyone will have different priorities as they plan for the future. Here are some common factors that might influence your decision; feel free to adjust the list to include other important factors as you begin narrowing down your list of options.
National reputation.
Ultimately, a degree is a credential that will open doors for you later on, so if all other factors are equal, a college or program that ranks highly on a national level is better than one with a low ranking. Although there are plenty of reasons why you might ultimately choose a less well-known university, you should still take college rankings into account during your decision-making process.Program offerings.
If you already know what you want to study (or have a few options in mind), then check to see if a college offers that program of study. If you have a career path in mind, it can also be helpful to examine the quality of the individual program by looking at placement statistics for graduates of that major.Core requirements.
If you don't already know what you want to major in or value developing a broad perspective on the world, a substantial core curriculum might be attractive to you. However, if you want to focus on a particular major or perhaps graduate early, it might better to select a school with fewer general requirements or that would allow you to bypass requirements with AP credit or by taking a CLEP test.Class sizes.
The quality of teaching at your college will have a significant impact on your experience. Although it's not a perfect indicator, smaller class sizes tend to mean that professors will be more readily accessible to help you learn and offer career advice. If building a relationship with professors in your field is important to you, then a smaller school might be preferable to a larger state university with large class sizes and labs run primarily by teaching assistants.Cost of attendance.
Unless your degree leads into a highly profitable career path, it's generally not worth it to take on significant debt for your college degree. Be sure to pay attention to in-state versus out-of-state tuition rates when you compare college options, and make sure you factor in room and board, as well as student fees, into your estimation of the final cost.Scholarships/financial aid.
If a school is likely to offer generous funding to accepted students, then it could be an excellent place to apply even if the baseline cost of attendance is high. Some colleges require a separate application for scholarships—research those deadlines before you apply.Location.
A college close to home makes it easier and cheaper to visit your family on breaks, and it might provide better connections to jobs in your community. However, there can also be advantages to moving farther away from home-college is a time for you to grow in taking on responsibilities and independence.Community.
College is a time for reflecting on who you are and building friendships that can last a lifetime. This makes finding a community that will help you to grow one of the most important factors to consider in the application process. Unfortunately, a college's community is hard to judge from a distance-plan college visits if you can, and take time to explore campus off the beaten path during an official tour. (Remember, the tour guide is paid to convince you to attend-asking ordinary students about their experience is likely to give you a fuller picture of life at the school.)An Application Strategy
Finally, as you narrow down your list of options, it's wise to have a an application strategy that will maximize your chances of receiving an excellent offer. In general, it's a good idea to apply to a few colleges in each of the following categories.
Reach.
These universities have highly competitive acceptance rates, and many applicants have higher test scores and grades than you do. However, they also might also have stronger job placement rates and better resources for you to learn. Don't be afraid to reach out and apply for a few of these colleges—you'll never know what's open to you unless you ask.Match.
These colleges have moderately competitive acceptance rates and your academic record is on par with the majority of students here. Prioritize tailoring your applications to these schools—although you have good chances of getting accepted here, it's not guaranteed.Safety.
Your qualifications exceed that of most students at these colleges, but they still offer enough advantages that it wouldn't be a waste of your time to complete a degree here. These institutions are highly like to accept you, and they are the most likely to offer you solid funding.Applying to colleges from these categories maximizes your chances of receiving a few competitive offers. Not only does this reduce the anxiety of applications, but it also means that you can negotiate with admissions offices for better funding at the college that you find most appealing.
Although applying to college seems daunting, the right strategy can make it simple and much less stressful. As you research potential options, don't forget to have fun-so many wonderful opportunities are open to you!
Connor Daniels
Connor Daniels teaches humanities to 7th through 12th grade students at Bloomfield Christian School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. In 2021, he graduated summa cum laude from Hillsdale College with a degree in history and politics. Connor intends to pursue a graduate degree in early modern history. In his free time, Connor enjoys reading and cooking with his lovely wife.View all posts
