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College: Deciding Where to Apply

Page 1

College: Deciding Where to ApplyYou've researched the colleges and you've visited some of them. The time has now come for you to decide where you're going to apply. This may seem kind of scary--it's all so final. But you've done a lot of work to find out what you want out of a college and what colleges are out there and you're in a great position to make an informed decision.

In this chapter, we've put together some suggestions for how to turn your research and knowledge about what you're after and what colleges you're considering into a list of colleges where you're going to apply.

Compare and Contrast
Using your ideal college profile--which has probably changed somewhat during your research--and all the material you've gathered about various colleges, you should take some time to compare and contrast your potential choices. The number of colleges you evaluate will vary depending on your individual circumstances and needs. But at this point, you should probably have at least ten so that there is room to discard some. As a general rule, if you have more than fifteen, try to eliminate some by doing a bit more thinking and research.

First, I looked at schools based on my major and then I started narrowing it down--I originally had thirty schools. Then, I did the next cut using special services as my guideline. This brought it down to ten. Location was the next thing. Being in theater, I didn't feel that going to a school out in the middle of nowhere was the best thing for me. I ended up looking at schools around Chicago and New York and that pretty much narrowed it down to six.
--Recent Grad
Adelphi University

A great way to make comparisons is to put together a simple chart. We've included one as an example. In the left column, list the college characteristics that are important to you. (Use your ideal college profile!) Across the top row, list the colleges you're considering. In the appropriate space, simply check below any college that satisfies that particular characteristic. If you want to go a step further, you can use numbers instead of check marks to create a ranking system. Use numbers from 0 to 3, with 3 satisfying a given point completely, 2 satisfying it fairly well, 1 satisfying it somewhat, and 0 not satisfying it at all.

As you fill out your chart, you may find that you have some holes or just don't know how to rank a school in terms of a certain characteristic. This could mean you need to do some more research. Or it may be that this particular area is no longer that important to you.

Even if a college scores high overall but has a quality you know you can't stand, it probably shouldn't make it on your final list. Likewise, if there is something you can't live without, colleges lacking that quality aren't those where you should apply. Be reasonable and realistic when considering what you can and can't live without, but know that this is a great way to prioritize.

As time went on, eliminating schools became easier. During my junior year, I realized that I loved French more than anything else I studied. I started eliminating schools that didn't have French as an available major.
--Freshman
Fairfield University

This ranking exercise might seem cumbersome at first, but it can really be a lifesaver in helping you organize your thoughts, research, and impressions into something that helps you make a decision. Just remember that there's no science to this process--it's a step to help you prioritize your choices and consider each college in comparison to the others. At the end of the day, trust your gut feelings and if a college just feels right, it's probably a great place for you to go.

Page 2Diversity Matters
I think the most important thing is to really like your safeties. I loved my safety, and I got into it first, so it took a lot of pressure off all the other schools. I have a lot of friends who ended up at their safeties, which they didn't like and they're sort of unhappy there.
--Junior
Harvard University

One of the most important things you should do while deciding where to apply is to diversify your college choices based on the difficulty of getting accepted and overall cost of attendance. Even if you have every bit of confidence in your ability to get into a top school and get enough financial aid and scholarships to pay for it, you have to have a Plan B, and it should be a Plan B with which you can be happy. You may never have to go to Plan B, but you'll feel more confident and secure if you know that you're okay if for whatever reason you can't get into your "reach" or ideal school.

You can call them whatever you like, but make sure that you apply to some reach, medium difficulty, and safety schools in terms of difficulty of acceptance.

• A reach school is one where your chance of admittance is not likely, but not outside the realm of possibility (25 percent chance or less).
• A medium difficulty school is one where you're pretty sure you can get in (let's call it a 75 percent chance).
• A safety is one where your chance of admittance is pretty much a sure thing (90 to 100 percent).

Now that you have the categories, how do you spread out the odds? There's no science to this and no magic formula, but based on our interviews with students and checking with admissions counselors, here's a ratio you can start with:

Let's say you're applying to between six and eight schools. The bulk of them--about three or four--should fall in the medium-difficulty category. One or two should be reaches. You don't want to be rejected from every school you apply to, but at the same time it's good to shoot high with a couple, because hey, you never know. And definitely select one or two safeties to fall back on. Just keep in mind that you could end up going to one of them, so make sure you like them enough to live with that if it happens.

I didn't apply to some super-competitive schools, but I wish I had. In retrospect, I might've gotten in, but I got intimidated and didn't leave myself the opportunity. I loved where I ended up going, but my advice would be to not sell yourself short and apply to several reach schools, even if they seem intimidating.
--Recent Grad
Wesleyan University

As you go through and categorize your college selections, think about cost. Unless you're in the lucky situation of not having to worry about paying for college, this is an important factor. Don't ever rule out a school just because it's expensive--your family likely qualifies for financial aid and you can get scholarships and grants to make up the difference between the cost and what your family can pay. At the same time, it's important to have a financial safety school on your list--just in case.

Page 3Early Decision, Anyone?
My big mistake was deciding where I was going to apply Early Decision before I'd looked at any of the schools. I ended up not applying early to my number-one-choice school and applying early, I'm told, might have been that one extra thing that would've gotten me in.
--Freshman
Harvard University

If you have a very clear first choice that you feel is a perfect fit for you, Early Decision can be the right way to go. This is how it works:

You get to apply early to the school of your dreams--in most cases, your application has to be in by November 15. You also get to hear back early, by mid-December, whether you've been accepted, rejected, or deferred to regular decision. Here's the tricky part: By applying Early Decision, you're agreeing in advance to attend that school if you're accepted and you can only apply to one school using this method. You're allowed to apply to other schools under regular application procedures, but if you're accepted by your Early Decision school, you must then withdraw your applications from all other colleges.

I applied Early Decision to Vassar. It was definitely my number-one choice. I really wanted to show them that I was 100 percent interested, so I filled out the Vassar application instead of the common one. I didn't have the best SATs, but I had really good grades and a lot of extracurriculars. When I got accepted, it just confirmed that it was the right place for me to go. It was nice to be able to take a deep sigh and enjoy my senior year.
--Recent Grad
Vassar College

According to the College Board, about a quarter of all four-year colleges have some sort of early application program and about 14 percent of college applicants go this route. The College Board's website, www.CollegeBoard.org, has a list of colleges that offer either Early Decision or Early Action. There are stats on the number of students who applied this way and were accepted--check it out.

There has been a lot of controversy in recent years about the fairness or lack of fairness of the Early Decision system. Similarly, there are never-ending arguments about just how much better your chances of admission are if you apply early--they are better, but how much better? We're not experts on this and won't go into detail here, but you should discuss this option with your parents and your guidance counselor. Applying Early Decision is a significant commitment.

Many colleges now offer Early Action as an option to applicants. Under this procedure, you apply early, like you do for Early Decision, but if you're accepted at a school, you're not obligated to go there. If you like a certain college but aren't one hundred percent sure that you want to enroll, or need to see what your financial-aid packages come out to be, this option might be a good choice for you.

 

Early Decision Pros And Cons     Pros Cons Relief to know early where Can't change your mind if you're going to college you're accepted     Increases chances of Risk not getting enough admission for many financial aid or scholarships students       Takes pressure off senior Have less time to research year schools and apply     Saves money on application Your senior-year costs achievements can't   strengthen your   application

Get Some Feedback
Deciding where to apply to college is a big decision and you shouldn't make big decisions without talking them over with other knowledgeable people. Definitely get feedback on your choices from your parents, guidance counselors, or college advisors (if your school has them). Tell them where you're thinking of applying and ask for their opinions and feedback.

Listen to what your trusted resources have to say. You may agree with them, or you may not. Take it all in and decide what is useful or relevant. Keep an open mind but remember--this is your decision.

My dad advised me to go to Columbia. I think he felt that the kinds of opportunities I would have there would be pretty tremendous and would be worth the money. Easy for him to say. But in the end, it really was. I think that parents want you to go where you're going to be happy, but I think a lot of them are also enticed by the pull of a big-name university.
--Recent Grad
Columbia University