If you have gotten this far in my blog you have probably made most of the really important decisions. However, when you find yourself looking at colleges like me you are disappointed that none of the colleges seem to actually meet all of your standards. The unfortunate reality of the situation is that for most people you will never find the college that meets all of your ideals. This leads to the question of how do you choose when none of the colleges actually fit all of your criteria. 

The first thing to do is to pick the top five things that are important for you in college. You should write these things down in a list format with the most important thing in the number one spot. The things on your list should become less important to you as you go further down the list. According to College Raptor, some things to consider putting on your list include “a specific sport , total cost of education, financial aid, campus size, campus location, class size, campus atmosphere, housing options, distance from home, majors and classes offered, extracurricular activities, and research facilities”(College Raptor). After you have made your list you can find which colleges have the most of your top five important things. I would not recommend picking any colleges that doesn’t have your number one thing on your list. 

ANother important thing to do in order to narrow down your list of colleges that don’t seem perfect is to visit the campus. Although this can be inconvenient at times, the vibe you get from campus is very important. You should be able to imagine yourself going to that college and having a good time. If the college doesn’t appear inviting to you or even just feels wrong, you probably should avoid going there. As collegexpress states, college should be a place where “you’re comfortable being yourself, but also challenged to be better”(CollegeXpress). While you are visiting those colleges, you should make sure to talk to professors and current students about their experiences at their school. It may even be helpful to brainstorm some questions before you go to visit. Another thing you may want to consider doing, is asking alumni about what they thought about the college they went to. This can give you valuable insight as to what is it like to actually graduate from there. They may also be more likely to tell you the truth about their college experiences. 

While it is important to research things beforehand it is also important to visit colleges in person. What looks good on paper, may not also be as great in person. It is also important to remember that you are not going to find the perfect college that fits every single one of your criteria so you have to decide what is most important to you. Hopefully this website will help guide you in your choices.

Works Cited

Author: College Raptor Staff Applying to college can be challenging, and Author: College Raptor Staff. “How To Evaluate Colleges On Your List – College Raptor.” College Raptor Blog, 2019, www.collegeraptor.com/find-colleges/articles/college-search/how-to-evaluate-colleges-on-your-list/. Accessed on 14 December 2019.

CollegeXpress. “The Ultimate Guide to the College Search: How to Find Your Perfect College Match.” CollegeXpress, www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/admission/articles/find-college/finding-right-college-match/. Accessed on 14 December 2019.