Identify What You're Looking for in College

Take some time to think about your goals.

• What do you want to get out of college?
• Are you looking for a trade or occupational certificate, license or degree?
• What qualities in a college do you think will help you accomplish those goals?

The following CollegeData resources might help inspire you:

Finding Your Target School

• College Match

The Road to College

• Thinking It Through
  • Why Go to College?
  • 6 Ways College Is Different from High School
• What's Ahead
  • Steps to Launch Your Journey to College
  • Eight Milestones on the Road to College
• Who Can Help
  • Meet Your College Admissions Support Team
  • Six Best College Planning Jobs for Parents

The Facts on Fit

• College Fit Is Important
  • What Is Your Ideal College?
  • What's Your College Fit, Academically Speaking?
  • What's Your College Fit, Financially Speaking?
  • College Match
• Features That Set Colleges Apart
  • What Makes Colleges Different?
  • What Makes a College Famous?
  • College Size: Small, Medium, or Large?
  • Who's On Campus
  • College Setting and Location Matter
  • Understanding College Selectivity
  • Should Your College Be Public or Private?
  • Outcomes Matter: Do Students Succeed?
  • Is a College Honors Program Right for You?
  • Seven Signs That Studying Abroad Might Be Right For You
  • Considering U.S. Military Academies
• Major and Degree Options
  • The ABCs of College Majors
  • How to Choose a Major
  • Your College Degree Options
  • Is a Combined Degree Program Right for You?
• Making Sense of It All
  • How to Choose Your Top College Priorities
  • Coping with Everyone's Opinions About College
  • Should You Consider a Gap Year?
• Just for Transfer Students
  • Should You Transfer to Another College?
  • What You Need to Know Before You Decide to Transfer
• Just for Parents
  • Words to the Wise College-Bound Parent

Explore Your Options

• College Search Strategies
  • Five Steps to Begin Your College Search
  • How to Start Your College List
  • Making Your First (Serious) College List
  • Get Smart About College Rankings
  • How to Find Colleges with Strength in Your Major
  • How to Find Colleges If Your Major Is Undecided
  • Finding Financially Friendly Colleges
  • Colleges That Connect Work and Learning
  • If You Want to Play Your Sport in College
  • How to Tell If a College Has a Strong Study Abroad Program
  • Get Help From Your College Counselor
• Find Out More About Your Colleges
  • Mining for Gold on College Websites
  • Get the Most from College Visits
  • Do's and Don'ts for College Fairs
  • Tips for Your College Tours
  • Visit a College Without Stepping on Campus
  • Ten College Qualities You Shouldn't Ignore
  • Questions to Ask on College Visits
• Deciding Which Colleges Might Work For You
  • Looking at Colleges Side by Side
  • Narrowing Down Your College List
  • If Highly Selective Colleges Are on Your List
• The Final Cut
  • Deciding Which Colleges to Apply To
  • How to Visit a College You Might Attend