Applying to college can be exhausting. Lots of writing, lots of reflection on your academic (and personal) past. While you could apply to a long list of schools, it’s usually better to zero in on a strong few that are a good fit.
Instead of working tirelessly on 20-plus applications, try following some of these suggestions to streamline your process, and end up at a school that genuinely suits you.
1. Pick a few top choices (2–3), a few second choices (3–5), and one or two safety schools.
By mapping out a concrete 6 to 10 schools, you can give each application careful energy. You are a unique student, with unique goals and interests. There’s no need to throw applications at schools of no interest to you. It’s a waste of your time, and money.
If you want a quick way to sort schools into reach, match, and safety, BigFuture compares your GPA or test scores against each school’s middle 50%. If you want a more in-depth way to do so, consider one of our paid memberships for 1-on-1 guidance.
You want to be both realistic and considerate. Don’t just apply to schools based on common knowledge of them. Research programs, curriculums, and specific opportunities offered at schools to make sure the place you are applying genuinely has something to offer you.
2. Visit as many schools as you can.
A big variable often overlooked when applying to schools is how the location will serve you as a person, as well as a student. You want awareness of the actual area you may end up studying in. This will become important when looking into internships, and even potential job options.
Furthermore, if you already know that you thrive when you have access to the outdoors, or city life, museums, art galleries, or whatever your free time entails, make sure you can nurture those parts of yourself while in college. A campus visit shows you things a brochure can’t: the feel of the quad, a class in session, the energy of the dorms. Touring can also offer some insight into campus culture, where you can reflect on how you see yourself as an active participant in these communities. Campus tour guides are usually quite helpful for digging deeper into these sorts of topics, too.
3. Ivy Leagues aren’t everything. Look into specific programs.
Look, we know the big eight are top of many students’ minds when application season rolls around. While we aren’t here to diminish those ambitions, for students with a decent grasp on the area they want to study, it’s important to focus on specific programs. For instance, some of the country’s best nursing programs are based in colleges like Emory University in Georgia, or the University of Michigan, neither of which is an Ivy. Prioritize the best option for your education, not just prestige.
4. Research, research, research.
Your education is meant to serve you beyond the four years you attend. By finding colleges with strong alumni networks and opportunities, or even career pathways extending beyond graduation, you can zero in on the long-term benefits of a certain school.
Researching colleges, how they fit your specific goals, and how you would genuinely contribute to their mission and community also makes the writing easier. The supplemental essays were created to help schools understand applicants on a personal level, to see how a student would actually fit within the school. When you do the research, thoughtful answers to those “Why Us?” questions come more easily, with honest responses informed by what you found.
At Tribs EC, we’re here to help you find these answers and apply to colleges that genuinely excite you. Even if you’re not quite sure what major or program you want, we can help you find the schools that leave room to explore. All members receive access to our Resource Library which includes a number of helpful guides and checklists to help you through the application process. Whatever you’re working toward, we can help you get there.
Links Worth Reading
On building your college list:
On the essays: