STEP 1: SEARCHING FOR COLLEGES
To develop your college list, it is important to understand the options available to you. The best way to do this is by researching colleges in your area and beyond. You can use several tools to look up colleges. For example:
1- Counselmore - All EduPlan students have access to Counselmore, which also offers a useful search tool to learn about colleges. Its College Admissions Database provides descriptions, insights and relevant statistics on many colleges and can be useful for a glance at the options available. To access the database, CLICK HERE.
2- College Websites - Every college has its own website with details about majors, student activities, campus life, and more. It is highly recommended to browse the college websites in detail and sign up for their newsletter to stay informed about their news and developments.
Let’s talk about how to select colleges that align with your aspirations.
Developing College List!
3- FISKE Guide to Colleges - Another highly recommended resource is the latest Fiske Guide on Colleges. This book provides descriptions, analyses, and rankings of hundreds of American colleges across disciplines. It is a comprehensive guide to college options helping students make informed decisions. The book is easily available at Amazon, or you can also check your school libraries.
4- Recommendations from Friends & Family - Discuss your aspirations and college program expectations with your friends and families who might be able to narrate personal experiences. Also, seek guidance from your high school counselors.
5- School Visits - Every year colleges visit high schools across the country to help students learn what they have to offer. Do not miss out this opportunity to meet college representatives, ask questions directly, and learn valuable insights about the schools you are considering.
6- College Fairs - In addition, colleges also participate in college fairs. Visit NACAC website to learn more about the schedule of the upcoming college fairs and plan to attend at least a few events which would give you the opportunity to meet different college representatives, and understand how their offerings suit your interests and preferences.
STEP 2: SHORTLISTING COLLEGES
Once you have researched colleges and shortlisted and familiarized yourself with the available options, it is time to start listing colleges that match your preferences.
Consider the key aspects you are looking for in a college, such as: Cost of College Attendance, Location, Campus Life, Cultural Diversity, Religious Orientation, Extra-curricular Activities, etc.
Once you have a clearer idea of your priorities, you can use CORSAVA to explore and refine your preferences further. Corsava is a useful search engine that helps you find colleges based on your preferences, making it easier to narrow down your options and identify schools that align with your personal values.
STEP 3: SELECTING MAJOR
The next important step is to get a better understanding of your major preferences. Selection of major will have an important impact on college list. There are several tools to help you with selecting a major based on your interests, passion and strengths.
Visit the EduPlan page on COLLEGE MAJORS to learn more about how to select a major that is aligned with your aspiration and your skillset.
STEP 4: FINALIZING THE LIST
When requesting financial aid or scholarships, you will need to write several types of letters. Some letters are written by the parents while others can be written by the students. It is important to convey your request with clarity.
CLICK HERE to review some sample letters that can serve as important references for writing scholarship requests or appeal letters. These samples cover various scenarios and can provide guidance on how to structure and present your request.