<p>As I embark on this journey in the second semester of my junior year in high school, I keep hearing the word "fit". But as I am from a lower-income immigrant family I know almost nothing about the college search. Without visiting these out of state possibilities, that I've earned the qualifications for, how can I find out if they fit me? How do I even begin to define what "fits" me? What questions should I be asking myself besides the typical ex. costs, location, majors, etc. What are those soul-searching questions that I need to ask myself? Any replies would be deeply appreciated in advance.</p>
<p>Fit is some of the things you have described and some more:</p>
<p>Cost (use the net price calculator for each college), location (including city vs. suburban vs. rural, weather, culture in different parts of the country), majors (available, course offerings, number of students and professors in major), college size, extra curricular activities available, academic intensity, what your post graduation goals are (grad school, work type and location, etc), social aspects (Greek life prevalence, gender split, requirements like LGBT support), diversity of student body, core and major requirements, distance from home & transportation logistics, your likelihood of admission based on your stats. I’m sure others can list more.</p>
<p>I would suggest you make a spreadsheet of things that are important to you – college names down the side and criteria across the top. Get a copy of the Fiske Guide to Colleges and find colleges that interest you. Research further via the college websites, reading old threads out here, College P-R-O-W-L… (you get the idea), and looking at student newspapers online if you can find them.</p>
<p>Look hardest for match and safety schools. Reach schools are easy to find… it is the schools you are likely or very sure to get into and that likely will be affordable that are hardest to find.</p>
<p>If you aren’t sure what type of school you want (size, LAC vs. University vs. STEM school), try to visit a few near your home just to get a feeling for those types of schools.</p>
<p>Different colleges attract different sorts of students. You’ll probably want to consider what sort of students you want to surround yourself with for the next 4 (or more) years of your life. To do this, you might have to ask a few questions about yourself and what you desire in a college experience. Are you looking for ethnic or political diversity? Do you want to be surrounded by people that want to become professors? Doctors? Do you care if your peers aren’t as academically focused as you? Etc. </p>
<p>Intparent already mentioned Fiske, but I would also advise checking out something like Princeton Review. While their ratings certainly aren’t foolproof, going through the school descriptions can give you a pretty basic idea of what the schools (and the student bodies) are all about. </p>
<p>A few questions to consider:</p>
<ol>
<li>Do you want to be in a city and/or have a traditional campus?</li>
<li>Do you already know what you want to study?</li>
<li>Are big sports important to you?</li>
<li>Do you want to be in a certain political environment?</li>
<li>What weather do you want?</li>
<li>Do you want a lot of intellectualism, partying, alternative lifestyles, etc.?</li>
<li>Do you want a certain type of diversity?</li>
<li>How big of a school do you want?</li>
<li>How much does prestige matter to you?</li>
</ol>
<p>Thank you for all your replies, especially intparent for your great spreadsheet idea. Well I wasn’t expecting to put this type of info out there but I’m really in limbo right now and do not know where to head. First of all, I’m an IB magnet student which means that instead of the two-year program I was really involved in a 4-year program that simulated the rigors of the program for the first two years of high school and then I transitioned to the Diploma program, as of right now I’m finishing up all of my Diploma requirements. Having gone through this program I feel that I would be able to succeed anywhere, and that my only concern is that those around me also have a high sense of achievement. I have heard from one graduated senior who is in a very rigorous program at UMD right now that he feels that College requires less effort of him than the Magnet program. Being a MD resident and hearing this, I definitely felt that I wanted to put myself more out there, but my financial issues are what seems to be holding me back. My qualifications: 3.78 UGPA, 4.51 WGPA, 1970 SAT (Retaking in June), 30-33 (ACT, taken but not scored yet). I’m looking for three very general majors which can be found almost anywhere: Accounting/Finance, Economics, or Chemical/Biomolecular Engineering. I am a MD resident.</p>
<p>UMD honors is probably a great choice. You have a good shot at getting in, given your stats.</p>
<p>If you manage to get your SAT up (Or if your ACT matches the projected scores you gave), you can apply to the most selective universities, which often award lots of need-based financial aid. Those schools might offer you the chance to be around more fellow high achievers. </p>