Hello everyone! Thank you so much for checking out these college tips! I hope that this information is helpful whether you are just starting your college search process or in the stage of narrowing down your list. Below is a summary of the college search tips I talk about in the video.
1) Academics
First, if you are looking at four-years colleges, do you want a large, public university, a mid-size university, or a smaller, liberal arts college? Depending on your learning style and preferred social environment, the size and type of school might end up being extremely important! For example, I really wanted to attend a school where the students could easily build relationships with their professors. I also wanted to be in classes that were small and discussion-based. What kind of learner are you? What type of classroom settings do you tend to succeed in?
Beyond just the type of college, taking a look into the academic programs can be a great way to determine if a college is right for you. Instead of just making sure that a school has an academic program that interests you, it can be important to research how the discipline is approached. What kind of research have the professors done? What are the main learning objectives of your specific major? Poking around on the “Academics” page of college admission websites is incredibly helpful. Check out the CVs of professors, the course catalogue, the major requirements, and the type of research that students are completing.
2) Food and dorms
One of my favorite parts of college! Sleeping and eating! If you are mainly interested in colleges where students live off campus for the majority of their time, this might not be as important to you. But at Scripps, for example, 96 percent of students live on campus all four years. We are lucky enough to have great food and dorm buildings…which is probably one of the reasons that students love living on campus!
Make sure there is food that will nourish you! I am vegetarian and try to do limited gluten, so attending a school that, for example, only offers one vegetarian option a night or mainly pasta, pizza, and burgers would not have been sustainable for me. I didn’t think too much about food when looking at schools, but can’t imagine having to worry each day if I can find food I can eat in the dining halls.
In terms of dorms, are there living environments that will suit you? Even more important, are they accessible? Maybe a college has singles, but only seniors have access, or the room and board fees cost more for a single. Making sure that the housing you want is accessible is just as important as making sure it is offered.
3) Support services
Transitioning into college can be a daunting process. It might be the biggest transition of your life so far. It is important to make sure that the college has the resources and ability to support you throughout your four years and create spaces where you feel comfortable and at home. Poke around on college websites—even reach out to deans or the directors of different offices to gather more information.
4) College location
I was set on attending a college either in or near New York City. Obviously, this didn’t happen and looking back I am glad that I am not attending a school in a large city. However, I am incredibly grateful that I have easy access to Los Angeles. Perhaps you want to live in or near a big city, or maybe you want access to nature sites where you can hike, camp, or get away for the weekend. Of course, checking out the surrounding area is important, but also make sure that you can access these destinations! I haven’t had a car on campus, so I rely on public transportation to get into Los Angeles. Take a look at public transportation in the area and check out if the college offers transportation to any desirable nearby locations. If you are more into nature, see if there are clubs and organizations that offer weekend trips. “Outdoor Wilderness Leaders” at Scripps and the 5C club, “On The Loose,” both offer trips with transportation included.
5) After college
Finding out what kinds of professions the alumni are in is a great way to gather more information about a college. Of course, you can carve out your own unique path, but taking a look at alumni can help you understand how the curriculum and classes prepare students for after college. And if you are interested in graduate school, finding out what graduate schools students attend after their undergraduate years can help you decide if a program or major will prepare you enough for your long-term career goals.
6) Cost
The cost of college is incredibly daunting. Especially when looking at private colleges, such as Scripps. However, even though the price tag is unbelievably high at a lot of colleges and universities, most private institutions are able to offer financial aid packages if your family qualifies. A lot of colleges have an “Estimated Cost Calculator” on their websites that can give you and your family a sense of how much attendance will actually cost. Some colleges are “need-blind,” meaning your financial need bears no weight on your application decision. Additionally, some colleges are committed to meeting 100 percent of demonstrated need upon acceptance. Sometimes attending a private school with a high initial price tag is actually more affordable than a public university, because private colleges have a higher capacity to offer financial aid. This is NOT universal, but it is worth investigating beyond the published cost of attendance.
7) What I wish I knew
College admissions have become incredibly competitive. At my high school, low acceptance rates were equated to better and more desirable colleges. However, acceptance rate does not impact whether or not a college is a good fit for you personally. If you are admitted to a highly competitive school, but not able to succeed or are not happy, then it’s probably not worth it!
And in terms of your dream school…I had a dream school, too. And it wasn’t Scripps College. I applied early decision and was deferred and then rejected. At the time it was really, really sad. But looking back I am incredibly glad I chose Scripps. It’s okay to keep an open mind and give up on your dream school. Remember that not being accepted into a school doesn’t mean that you are not a good enough student. It might just mean that the admissions officers knew that the school wasn’t going to be a good match. College admissions are weird: I got waitlisted at schools that had two times the acceptance rate of some of the schools of which I was accepted. It’s confusing, and sometimes frustrating, but finding schools that are the right fit for you will hopefully make it a little easier:)
I wish you all the best on your college search process! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out: nmarx9661@scrippscollege. Cheers!