Hi guys. I am going to be a junior and high school this upcoming school year… and of course that means my parents and I need to start looking into colleges. My dad wants me to come up with a top ten list of colleges. So far, I have down Emory University and John Hopkins. I make good grades (3.9 UW and 5.52 W GPA) in school and I dream of going to a prestigious university. i also want to play soccer in college. I am good at soccer, but I am not great, so I will be able to play at lower ranked D1 schools, D2, or D3 schools. I am having a difficult time coming up with colleges on my own. I was thinking about looking into ivy leagues but I would love some feedback form the College Confidential community. I am open to suggestions. Thank you so much!
(1) Disregard “prestige” or anything like it in coming up with your list. You want to attend a school where you will be able to maximize your abilities and opportunities; that does not necessarily equate to a school that someone else thinks is prestigious. Really, when it comes down to it, college is what you make of it and what you do with the opportunities that are placed in your path.
(2) If you are a good but not great soccer player, and you really really want to play at the collegiate level, then look for D-II and D-III schools.
(3) Here are some questions that you need to ask yourself:
(A) What are you interested in studying (if you know), and do you have any preferences in regard to size of school or urban vs. suburban vs. rural environment? Are there any limitations on what part of the country you wish to be in for college?
(B) Do you wish to attend a public or private college/university? Do you wish to attend a liberal arts college (LAC) or a research university, or something else?
(C) Will money be a factor in where you attend school -- will you be looking for need-based aid, or merit-based aid, or is money even a consideration?
I suggest that you and your parents visit different types of schools in different types of locations; that might help you narrow down what you might be interested in, so you can focus on identifying schools from a smaller pool.
If you wish to avoid the “prestige” trap, one source for you and your parents is the Colleges That Change LIves: http://www.ctcl.org/
Thank you!