How Many Colleges Should I Research?
Many school counselors suggest putting together a list of ten to twelve schools, with three to four in each of the following categories:
Likely or Safety Schools:
Likely or Safety Schools:
- Your GPA and Test Scores are above the school's ranges for GPA and test scores
- You are solidly in the middle of the school's range for GPA and test scores
- It would be a stretch to get accepted into one of these schools
Organize Your Search
It's recommended to take some time and organize your search process. Basic information regarding deadlines, academics, cost, acceptance rates and "to do" lists can be a little cumbersome. The Santiago Counseling Department has put together a "College Search Spreadsheet" to help you out.
You will want to:
1. Click Here to access the College Search Spreadsheet.
2. Once you have the Spreadsheet, click on "File" and "Make a copy".
3. Rename the Spreadsheet (suggestion YOUR NAME's college search spreadsheet")
How Should I Research Colleges?
With so many colleges to choose from, how do you find the right one?
The College Board has two excellent resources to utilize.
The College Board has two excellent resources to utilize.
- BigFuture College Search: This college search engine will allow you to apply different "filters" to find colleges that match your personal requirements. The filters include:
- Test Scores & Selectivity
- Type of School
- Location
- Campus and Housing
- Majors and Learning Environment
- Sports and Activities
- Academic Credit
- Paying
- Additional Support Programs
- Diversity
- College Search Step-by-Step: This search engine will ask you questions to help you:
- Learn about some key college search categories
- Answer Questions to discover what's important to you
- Get advice from college students and educators