Your Ultimate College Search Starter Kit: A Step-by-Step Guide Part 2
After completing a thorough self-assessment, the next step in your college search journey is to actually start researching colleges and creating a preliminary list. This stage involves gathering broad information about potential schools and compiling options based on your search criteria from Part 1 of Your Ultimate College Search Starter Kit. If you don’t have an idea of what your priorities or preferences are, I highly recommend reading that article.
Step 2: Begin Researching and Creating a Preliminary College List
To begin your college research, you should first have a place to organize all the information you’ll find.
Action Item: Make a copy of this Google Sheet college list building template we’ve created for you. We recommend you fill out the provided columns, but feel free to customize the template to fit your needs.
Where do I even start researching?
Based on your self-assessment, you now have a set personal criteria you will use to guide your search. Use them to get exposed to as many options as possible and put those schools onto your list. Here are a few ways to cast a wide net of options:
Online college search tools: There are lots of online search tools available. We like College Board’s Big Future and their interactive quizzes as a way to learn about the possibilities out there for you based on your preferences.
College rankings and guides: We don’t recommend putting too much stock into college rankings, but we do believe that they are a good place to get an initial idea of strong programs that may match your interests. The most popular one is U.S. News & World Report.
School counselors: Your school counselor can provide personalized guidance and information about potential college options. Their job is to help you, so ask them!
Independent college counselors: Independent college counselors, like us, can also help you with your college search and the rest of the application process like the essays. You’ll usually have to pay them and each counselor offers different services, but the individualized support they provide can be worth it since they can dedicate more time to you compared to a public school counselor who may have 100+ students they have to help.
Friends, family, alumni: Reach out to people you know to get an idea of where you could apply to. Specifically, we recommend reaching out to people who are already studying or working in the field you’re interested in. Ask them where they applied to or what schools they recommend since they’ll have firsthand experience and knowledge.
ChatGPT: Ask ChatGPT for a list of colleges you should consider based on your preferences. Try this prompt, but replace the brackets:
"I am looking for a list of colleges that match my preferences for size, location, and academic fit. Here are my criteria:
Size:
Prefer [smaller to medium]-sized universities.
Location:
Prefer colleges [on the West Coast (California, Oregon, Washington)].
Open to colleges in nearby states like [Arizona and Colorado] if they have strong programs.
Academic Fit:
Interested in studying [engineering, specifically mechanical or electrical engineering].
Based on these criteria, can you provide an initial list of colleges that I should research further?"
A comprehensive list of resources
Once you have a broad list of colleges that meet your criteria, you can then gradually start to narrow it down. Below are different types of resources to use:
Online Research Tools
College Search Engines and Apps: Use platforms like College Board’s BigFuture, Scoir, Niche, and Peterson’s to filter colleges based on your preferences. These tools allow you to search by criteria such as location, size, academic programs, and campus culture.
College Websites: Visit the official websites of the colleges you’re interested in. These sites provide detailed information on academic programs, admissions requirements, campus life, and more. They are a crucial source of up-to-date and official information.
College Guides and Rankings: Consult printed guides and online rankings from sources like U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review. Again, we’re not particularly fond of rankings, but these resources can still offer additional insights into college strengths, reputation, and student experiences.
Social Media
Youtube: Speaking of student experiences, one of the most underrated ways to find out more about the lifestyle of students on a specific college campus is to watch vlogs. Just type the college’s name + “vlog” like “brown university tour”.
Follow Colleges on Social Media: Follow the social media accounts of colleges on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. These accounts often share news, events, and updates that can give you a sense of the campus culture and community.
Join Online Communities: Participate in online forums and communities such as Reddit or College Confidential to connect with current students and other applicants. These communities can provide firsthand experiences and advice.
Virtual Tours
Explore Campuses from Home: Use virtual tours to explore campus facilities, dormitories, libraries, and other important areas without leaving your home. This can give you a good feel for the campus environment and can provide additional perspective on top of watching Youtube vlogs.
Books
College Guides: Read comprehensive college guides like "The Fiske Guide to Colleges" and "Colleges That Change Lives." These books provide profiles and reviews of various colleges that can be wide-ranging to in-depth and includes student perspectives.
Information Sessions
Attend Online and In-Person Sessions: Participate in online and in-person information sessions hosted by college admissions officers to learn about application processes, financial aid options, and student life. These sessions can provide valuable insights and answer specific questions you might have straight from the source: admissions officers.
Campus Visits
Schedule Official Tours: Book official campus tours through the college admissions offices. These tours often include guided visits to key areas of the campus and opportunities to meet faculty and current students.
Explore Independently: If you can visit in person, take time to explore the campus on your own. Walk around the local area, visit important facilities, and talk to current students to get a firsthand experience of the campus culture. Visiting in-person and talking to students is the best way to get a sense of what your life could look like as a student on campus.
Attend Classes: Sit in on a class if possible to get a sense of the academic environment and teaching style. This can help you determine if the academic setting matches your learning preferences.
Creating Your Preliminary College List
If you’ve done some of the activities above, you should now have a preliminary list of colleges with some of their basic information such as location, demographics, acceptance rate, and costs.
Most of your search will be online at first, but remember that physically visiting the campus or attending college fairs will provide a perspective that you just can’t get on the internet.
It’s also normal for your preferences to evolve as you learn more about what different colleges have to offer. As you gather more information and gain a clearer picture of each college, expect to constantly revisit and refine your list.
In case you missed it, download our free college list building template.