Step 3: Whittle down.
After you have a list of schools, it’s time to cut out the ones that aren’t worthy of you. If cost of attendance is an issue, financial aid should be the first thing you look at.Low-income family: The biggest priority for you is finding a school that covers 100% of demonstrated need. The more this need is covered by grants and scholarships, the better. The best schools have removed student loans entirely, ensuring that their students don’t graduate with debt. If a school’s financial aid rating is low, or worse, it looks at a student’s ability to pay as a factor of admission (non-need-blind admission) then you might not be able to afford it. If you’re not sure, apply just in case to see what kind of offer they make.
Middle and Upper income: If the amount of need-based aid you get won’t be that high, then look for merit scholarships. This information can usually be found on a college’s website. If the “Scholarships” section doesn’t mention merit, check the FAQ. Chances are, the college has answered “No.” the question about offering merit scholarships.
If you’re at least somewhat sure about what major you’ll choose in college, the strength of that major’s department can disqualify some colleges. For example, if you’re going to major in Political Science but the college you’re looking at doesn’t even offer that major, you should cross it off your list. At the same time though, the question becomes a little trickier if you think a department at your school is just “bad.” Is it worth disqualifying an otherwise excellent school just because one major is not that great? Most college students change majors at least once, exploring different options. You might go into a school worrying about its terrible Computer Science department, only to realize that Computer Science was a terrible major for you to begin with.
Those are the factors that are most important for everyone, but you’ll also choose certain criteria like setting, size, and distance from home that could whittle down your list even more. If at all possible, visit the college campus while class is in session and ask questions of everyone. The internet still can’t replace an old-fashioned visit.
And when in doubt, leave the college on your list. It might have redeeming qualities that outweigh its shortcomings.
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