Getting into the Right College

With the increasingly competitive college admissions environment, students and their parents are finding themselves with more to worry about and less information to rely on when getting into college. Even with record low admission rates, you have to remember that getting into college should also be about getting into the RIGHT college.

Some students choose their schools based solely on where they rank in any one of a number of college ranking publications. Some students choose their schools based solely on the social scene at the college and the party-school ranking factor. Other students are pressured to attend schools that are close to home or schools that their friends want to attend. What is easy to lose in all of these factors is that the choice of school makes a big difference not only in the relevance of your education, but also in the chances of even getting into college.

It is important that you choose a school that fits your values. It is important to you because you will spend at least four years of your life here, and college will play a huge role in shaping the rest of your adult life. Picking a school simply because it ranks high will not ensure that you will fit in there and have the best experience possible. Colleges are also looking for students that fit their values because maintaining a certain image and a certain caliber of students is important for attracting new students (who they hope will become contributing alumni).

In order to get the best fit for your college, a good amount of research is in order. Check the rankings of the schools you think you might want to attend, but don’t only look at the rankings. Look at the social scene, but don’t only look at the social scene. Geographical location is important for many reasons, and the cities or towns near the school should also be part of your consideration.

In addition to providing the best experience, applying to a college that fits who you are will also up your chances of getting into college in the first place. Admissions officers are looking for students who fit the “mold” of the type of students that a particular college wants to attract. This means that when the college fits you, you also fit the college.