How to Research Schools
Researching schools is a vital step to finding the one that best meets your needs, ideals, and academic goals. You may think you know where you want to go; but research anyway. Who knows? You could find the perfect school buried away in lists of colleges, piles of brochures, and the like. But where do you begin? Luckily, there are plenty of tools at your disposal.
Students and Alumni
For the real inside scoop, talk to enrolled students and alumni. They're the best source for a candid, unvarnished opinion of what the school is like and how it could serve your needs and goals.
Don't be shy about asking them the tough questions: Do you like it? ...What's it like to live there? ...Was the school helpful in finding a job? ...What are the classes like?
The Internet
Most colleges and universities have a web site. Visit them. They're an invaluable resource for information on the school. Many of them, obviously, are like online brochures. But, you can often read between the lines to gain insight into what the school is really like. Look for pictures of the campus, school resources, the catalog of courses, and data like demographics, graduation rates, etc.
Professional Guidance
Your admissions process should begin with a chat with your guidance counselor. Together, you should go over your goals and your transcript. Discuss factors like your exam results, admissions test scores, etc. Find out how you stack up against the admission requirements of your target schools. And determine what you can do to enhance your chances of getting in.
Commercial Sources
There are countless books, software packages, and commercial web sites that offer information on schools, financial aid, the admissions process, scholarships, and more. Before spending any money, research the company and look for brand names you know.
