School Selection

Once you have completed the Getting Started/Initial Steps, it's time to start creating a list of potential schools

Factors to Consider

Start by identifying which factors are most important to you. You don't need to analyze every school by all the factors listed - pick the factors that are most important and start by researching those.

Admission Rate

Admission rate is the percentage of students who apply and are accepted. Highly competitive schools have many students apply but only accept a small amount. Higher GPA and entrance test scores mean students are more likely to be accepted even at highly competitive schools. If a student has a lower GPA considering Admission Rate as a factor is important.

Graduation Rate

Graduation rate is the percentage of students who start at the University and earn a degree. If a school has a low graduate rate it's a red flag that students are attending but not graduating.

Freshmen Retention Rate

Retention rate is the percentage of freshmen returning for their sophomore year. A high retention rate indicates overall student satisfaction and also indicates that few students failed their freshmen year.

Student to Faculty Ratio

What is the average class size? Are common class sizes 30 or a large lecture hall of 500?

Accreditation

Students who attend unaccredited schools are not eligible for financial aid! For well-known universities and colleges, accreditation is almost a given, but smaller colleges and online schools aren't. It's important to make sure the school is accredited.

Cost

Some students may be okay with expensive schools, but others want to afford college without taking out student loans. Ask what the total cost of attendance is - remember to include room and board, meal plans, textbooks, and fees when calculating the total costs for attending a school!

Financial Aid

Some schools off more student aid than others. Look at the types of financial aid packages available. The school’s website may also provide details about the percentage of students who receive financial aid, and the average amount of financial aid students receive. Also, consider the number of students receiving college scholarships and grants, and review scholarship opportunities for schools to determine eligibility.

Working Students

Many college students work while they attend school, but some have a higher number of working students than others. Many schools also offer work-study opportunities for students in need of financial aid; the jobs offered by the schools can supplement loans and grants.

On-Campus Living

For the most part, student life begins and ends in dorm rooms. Look for the schools that have a high percentage of on-campus living and make sure there is availability in the dorms. Living in the dorms can also mean having to pay for expensive Meal Plans. Are Meal Plans required and affordable?

Location

Location is an important factors for most students. Location could mean geographic location (like what State and City) or how far from home it is. Some students may want to live at home while attending school while others may want to move away.

Size of Campus

The size of the campus - some students don't mind long walks between buildings or taking transit such as a bus or train to get to classes. Other students would prefer a small campus where every building is within easy walking distance.

Extracurricular Activities

Consider a school’s extracurricular activities - these activities may include clubs, sports, or groups

Safety Statistics

How well are students protected from crimes? How many college police officers are there compared to the number of enrolled students? Can you easily see evidence of campus security’s presence?

Demographics

Schools always publish demographics information, such as gender, race, and religion

Transportation

How is transportation around and off campus such as bookstores, apartments, and shopping? Consider the number of students who have cars on campus, as well as the costs and availability of campus parking. Parking can be a huge ordeal at some schools, and on some campuses, first-year students cannot have cars on campus at all.

Wondering which colleges match your lifestyle?

Creating a Balanced List

With your list of important factors you're ready to begin creating a school list.

Your list should:

Contain different types of institutions (ex: Community College, Tech College, 4-year University)
Contain 5-8 schools
Consist of a combination of “safety,” “fit” and “reach” institutions

"Safety" School

A "safety" school is one that accepts almost all students who apply. Most students apply to just one safety, but a student may opt for an academic safety and a financial safety.

"Fit" School

A "fit" school is one the student could happily attend. The student should fit the general admission criteria in academic and social arenas. A good rule of thumb is to have 2-4 probable colleges under consideration.

"Reach" School

A "reach" school is a top choice, but one with low(er) acceptance rates. This maybe because the student's qualifications match or fall slightly short of the college's average, and the competition for the limited places in the freshman class is intense. Students should have 1-2 schools in this category.

Wondering how to determine how to classify a school?

Wondering how to track a list of schools?

Next Steps

Now that you have your list of potential schools it's time to start the Application Process!

Counseling Department

Bethel Virtual Academy