<p>Hello,</p>
<p>What does it mean to research a college?During this search what am I looking for?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>What you are looking for is:
a) does it meet whatever criteria I’ve set for my college search (size, majors, location, availability of ECs or research, culture, distance from home, etc…)
b) does it feel like a ‘fit?’ That is, based on the information provided, does it look like the kind of place I’d be happy at?<br>
c) can I afford it?
d) how likely am I to be admitted?</p>
<p>How do you find this information?</p>
<p>1) Google the Common Data Set for the school and read it. Pay attention to Section C to gauge your chances of admission.<br>
2) Read the school’s web-site carefully and check their course catalog (usually available on-line)
3) Read some back issues of the student newspaper to get a feel for what’s on the students’ minds
4) Read the section of the web-site about visiting (how to sign up, interviewing, etc…) and figure out if/when you can visit.
5) Get on the CC forum for that school and read peoples’ questions and answers. </p>
<p>And before you do any of this, have a conversation with your parents about how much money they can afford to pay for school, how much debt they are willing to assume, and what, if any, limitations or expectations they have about where you will go to school. No point in doing tons of research only to discover that your parents want you at the local State U.</p>