Investigating the Colleges

With over 3,400 colleges to choose from, many of them will satisfy your requirements. We recommend you begin by completing a college search in our Career Center. Some factors you may identify are as follows:

Majors: Programs of study, commonly called majors, are a way of insuring the college has courses in your intended area of concentration. In early planning, it is good to remember that you may be among the 50% of students who change majors and to ask for all of your possible areas of interest.

Location: You and your family have probably decided how far you can go away from home without causing problems for them or for you; search within these bounds. Check, too, to see whether it is in a city or out in the country by itself, or in a small town.

Control: Basically, there are two types of control, public and private. Publicly controlled colleges are largely dependent on legislatures for funding and their policies are frequently influenced by that fact, particularly in quotas for out-of-state students, but in other subtle ways, as well. Privately controlled colleges, while free of this restraint, are responsible to a board of directors, or trustees, and they usually charge more in order to protect their endowment.

Religious Affiliation: Some private colleges are religiously affiliated. As in the case of a publicly controlled college, the religious group both contributes financially and controls, to some extent. As in the case of publicly supported schools, religiously affiliated colleges are often less expensive than other "private" schools.

Costs: For students living on campus, basic costs per year can vary from around $4,000 to about $35,000 per year. Although it is not a good idea to eliminate colleges from your initial list based on cost, if it is very important, some parameters can be placed on cost.

Special programs or services: Listed within this category are specialized programs such as pre-medical or pre-law programs which are not majors. Also included are honors programs, cross-registration, co-operative education, programs for study abroad, ROTC and programs for specific handicaps, among others. Depending on your interests and special circumstances, these may be very important characteristics.

Admissions Information: Although the selectivity level is likely to be the most important bit of information on admissions, your own particular circumstances may require other options, such as credit for AP work in high school, admission in January, or consideration of ethnic and minority students.

Campus Life: This includes dormitory and eating facilities, regulations, fraternities, sororities, and non-athletic activities available, including religious services.

Athletic Programs: Those who want to play intercollegiate sports will want to work closely with their coach as well as their counselor. It is important to understand the differences among NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions with regard to the levels of competition, program funding, and recruiting practice. The Athletic Department provides the NCAA application and clearinghouse information which is required of all Division I and II collegiate athletes.

Make an appointment with your counselor to review your search.