I am a high school sophomore, and I have no idea which universities I really want to apply to. I’m not sure what I want to major in, and I haven’t visited any universities. I have names of universities in my mind (Ivy Leagues and other top universities), but I don’t know how to narrow down my focus. I have a 4.0 unweighted GPA, and I haven’t taken the SAT/ACT officially yet. Do you have tips on what I should do first? And what did you narrow your college selection focus by? (I know that’s a personal thing, but I’d just like some ideas.) Sorry for the long post, and thanks for reading.
-
First start by asking your parents how much they can pay for college and get a solid committment with a number. This will determine if you need to look for merit and need-based aid and which schools you need to target for your needs.
-
You can ask for parents to start visiting some local universities first, such as a Large in-state public and a small private LAC. This will give you an idea of your likes and dislikes and most can trips can be done in a day. Always start with your in-state schools which will be the most reasonable in costs.
-
This summer, start looking into some study prep for the SAT/ACT and take during your the beginning-middle of your Junior year. This will then give you plenty of time to study and retake again if needed.
-
Do some research yourself on the internet by checking common datasets for schools of interest to find out unweighted GPA/ Test scores and acceptance rates for schools of interest.
Keep up your grades. Get involved in EC’s that you enjoy and work hard this next year.
Good Luck
Thank you @Gumbymom for the advice!
Sorry for the typos. GPA/Test scores/Intended major besides affordability will be the most important factors in determining which colleges to put on your list.