<p>So how do you guys start looking for colleges and how do you get information from them. How does one actually start looking and know if a college is right for them?</p>
<p>First start by thinking of the kind of school you fell will be a good option. Small or large, private or public, urban or not. Then look at your finances to add options which are affordable (public universities in your state). Once you have a long list start to look at what median test scores are admitted for the schools you are interested in and the majors you are interested in. This will further reduce your list. Finally, it is always good to visit the schools to see if you are really comfortable there. Sometimes, the school of your dreams is not a good fit while another one you were not too keen about just feels right.</p>
<p>Good Luck!</p>
<p>1) Start with a conversation with your parents about what they can afford and what selection criteria, if any, they have. Get it on the table up front. Remember to discuss grad school if that’s part of the equation.</p>
<p>2) Get your own profile lined up: GPA, class rank, test scores, degree of program rigor - and whatever you have to offer a school that they might value in a prospective student.</p>
<p>3) Then start xraymancs’ line of inquiry: You are trying to develop selection criteria first. Once you have those, the names of specific schools are next. For example: if you know you are pre-med, and you want liberal arts colleges that are within a 3 hr drive of your home that don’t cost more than x, you can then do a very targeted search (and CC can help by suggesting schools you might not have considered that fit some or all of your criteria). We can also help you figure out which are reaches, matches and (most important) safeties.</p>
<p>And if you are pre-med (Medicalboy?) then do a search on CC for the threads related to being pre-med. Lots of great info there.</p>
<p>Yea thanks. And yes i want to go into pre-med but more importantly BS/MD programs. I want to apply to both undergrad and BS/MD with high hopes of BS/MD. Thanks for the info!</p>
<p>[Combined</a> College/Medical School Program](<a href=“http://www.drtracey.net/BSMD.html]Combined”>http://www.drtracey.net/BSMD.html)</p>
<p>If there are any colleges near you that you can go to an information session/tour, that helps to see what they (sessions/tours) are typically like, and you have a baseline to compare other schools to. Usually scheduling a tour can be done on the campus website.</p>
<p>Also, there are a lot of websites like collegeboard that will allow you to search based on various criteria and will provide options meeting your criteria.</p>