FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE

Finding the right type of college can be tricky and confusing when exploring all the available options.  The first resource you should consult to narrow your college search is your school’s college counselor.  The counselor’s office has numerous pamphlets, flyers and brochures from various colleges, which will give you a head start on the search for the right college, but don’t stop there.

Many colleges will send you postcards or other advertisements for their college starting in your sophomore year, but you will need to send postcards or letters requesting information from the colleges that you are actually interested in.  Making contact with a college and getting to know their admissions staff can be a very valuable asset during the application process.  Distinguishing yourself from other applicants in anyway possible is a necessary step for success as administrators will be looking at thousands of applications.  Seeking out a college and letting them know that you’re interested in their institution will not only help you find a college and get information regarding the college but will give you an air of familiarity during the application process, which could make all the difference.

Today however, the internet offers the most helpful search tools to aid students in their search for the right college.  A myriad of new internet resources can help you locate colleges, scholarships and aid you in the process of applying to college.  These resources can also find institutions with specific programs of study helping you locate and target certain colleges.   These websites are comprehensive in nature offering all these opportunities on a single website.  The most prominent of these resources are described below:

1)     Petersons- www.petersons.com/ugchannel  This website offers all the necessary tools in the application process to college in their “college bound” area.  You can locate a college using several different search areas, as well as get help with your admissions essay.  It also offers help finding financial aid and scholarships as well as hemp preparing for the SATs and ACT. 

2)     College View- http://www.collegeview.com  This site provides an in-depth college search allowing you to narrow your search using almost 20 different fields.  This will help find you a college that is exactly what you are looking for in several different areas.  It also gives several other links including scholarship as well as job searches that are very useful.

3)     Fast Web- http://www.fastweb.com presents you with the most extensive scholarship search on the web.  Just fill out a profile and fast web will match you with any scholarship or financial aid opportunity that corresponds to your profile.  You can also search their extensive college match system that provides the same service as college view.  Also you can find jobs and offerings that give you an idea of what to do with your major after college.  

4)     Government- http://www.students.gov Displayed by the government, this page exhibits a comprehensive guide to prepare for college.  This site offers a guide to planning, preparing, and financing a college education as well as employment opportunities that can pay for your education. 

5)     The University of Texas – http://www.utexas.edu/world/univ offers one of the most comprehensive lists of colleges in the United States on the internet.  This site not only lists all 4-year universities and colleges, but also lists all two year community colleges, giving a user the unique ability to match themselves to any type of college that can further their educational goals.

6)     USC- http://preparingforcollege.usc.edu gives you a very accessible college search tool.  Once you register on their website, you can not only tour the website but also directly visit their office and gain valuable knowledge from their counseling staff.  Having the opportunity for interaction with actual college counselor’s in southern California is a unique opportunity that should be taken advantage of. 

Although these are the most comprehensive and useful websites, below is a list of other websites that will help you search for colleges as well as prepare for college.