Hello I need help narrowing my college list down. I have narrowed my list down based on the basic questions like location, diversity, etc. I know my list is long. I plan on being an education major or a school counselor. I live in Illinois by the way.
Vanderbilt
UW Madison
ILLINOIS STATE
Augustana
Loyola University
ILLINOIS WESLEYAN
UIUC
Ohio State University
Purdue
Indiana University
University of Michigan
Marquette
University of Iowa
Brynn Marr
Barnard
Bowdoin
Bates
UT Austin
Baylor
Wake forest
Actually, I don’t think your list is that long–but it is very diverse. So here are a few questions you might want to think about as you review your list. You have some large universities on your list as well as some smaller liberal arts schools. Do you prefer one over the other? Are you looking for a large university experience or would you feel more comfortable with a smaller community? Have you spoken to your parents and are you clear on your budget for college? An in-state school will cost far less than OOS or an elite SLAC. Are you (or will you be) a candidate for merit aid or for scholarship programs? Available aid or scholarships can impact your decision making about what schools to choose. And have you researched schools with well-regarded programs in your proposed field of study? Do the schools on your list fit with your plan? Have you visited any of these schools? Can you visit even the local ones?
I know for my kids a lot of places looked like perfect fits on paper only to be less than stellar when they set foot on campus (and vice versa).
Good luck. You are right to start thinking about these issues now. Keep us posted.
If you plan on being an education major/school counselor, there is absolutely no reason for you to go OOS, or to pay premium prices for elite private universities (Vanderbilt, Wake Forest); you need to consider ROI. Focus on the very fine education programs that you can avail yourself of in Illinois colleges and universities.