Find a college
Find the right college for you!
You've taken all the tests and made the grades. Now it's time for you to decide where to go to school!
There are lots of schools to choose from, so make it easy on yourself. Follow these steps to help you make this important decision.
Go to your school's guidance office, library, or career center. Ask the counselors what information they have about colleges and careers.
Counselors can help you focus on your needs and goals. Counselors have information about different types of schools. Counselors can also help you find information about specific colleges you are interested in attending.
Ask your high school counselor for dates of career fairs. Representatives from public, private, community, trade, and vocational colleges will be there to answer questions and provide you with catalogs.
Your counselor can also help you collect or prepare application materials.
It is important that you consider a variety of schools.
Check out Regional College/University Information to find out more about schools in our region.
Some things to consider when choosing a school:
- Does it have the major I'm interested in?
- Do I want a small or large campus?
- Do I want to be close to home?
- What are the costs and average student debt?
- What is the student-to-professor ratio?
- What is the job placement rate?
- What is the school’s graduation rate?
To search for schools nationwide you may want to visit College Opportunities Online Locator (COOL). This site, created by The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), allows users to see and even complete side-by-side comparisons of nearly 7,000 colleges and universities throughout the nation. You can search by state, program or major, and institution type to identify schools that fit your preferences. The site also provides detailed information about each school like how much it costs, how many students are enrolled and what athletic programs are available.
Another good resource available for finding which colleges best match your needs and goals is the College Navigator Web site. College Navigator helps you search for a school based on lots of factors such as location, size, and degrees offered. Just enter your choices, and the search tool will show you schools that might be a good fit for you. This site allows you to see and compare the profiles of nearly 7,000 colleges and universities across the nation.
You should continue shopping by taking a trip to your local library. Many libraries have copies of college catalogs for you to browse through. Call ahead to find out which branch has the best selection and ask if they have a college counseling staff on hand to help you with your selection.
Here’s another good idea - get information about the current freshman class at the colleges you might want to attend. You can get this information from the college's Web site, catalog and admissions office. You can get information such as the average high school grade-point average and average entrance test score for it's current freshmen class. Many schools require you to take an entrance test like the SAT or ACT, have a good high school record, and complete certain courses in high school.
The inclusion of these links does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. Department of Education. The U.S. Department of Education's Student Aid Web site may contain information that is copyrighted by others. Proper written permission must be obtained from copyright holder prior to reproduction of such information in any form. The U.S. Department of Education's Student Aid Web site may also contain hyperlinks and URLs created and maintained by outside organizations. The U.S. Department of Education is not responsible for the accuracy of this information and inclusion does not constitute an endorsement of any products or services offered.
You hear it from colleges. Come visit! You hear it from your high school counselor. Have you visited any campuses yet? So, what's the big deal about seeing a college?
You can't judge a college by its brochure. A campus visit is your opportunity to get a firsthand view of a college. A college catalog, viewbook, or website can only show you so much. To really get a feel for the school, you need to walk around the campus, sit in on a class, and visit the dorms.
Get answers to your questions. A visit also gives you the chance to talk to students, faculty, and financial aid and admissions folks. You can get answers to questions, like:
- What is the average class size? The ratio of students to faculty?
- How is the food?
- What kinds of activities does the school provide?
- What are the dorm rooms like and will there be ample space for my stuff?
Get valuable information. Pick up any official school material you see, such as brochures and financial aid forms. Don't forget to get business cards, too, so you'll have a real, live contact if you have a question about admission or financial aid. Student-produced material will give you a sense of what campus life is really like. Check out bulletin boards to see what's going on around campus, what parties are advertised, and what the day-to-day energy of the place is.
Be realistic. Look at your interests, SAT scores and high-school grades. What schools will you most likely be accepted into? Apply to more than one school.
Ultimately, it's your decision. Do you feel comfortable walking around campus? Do you click with the students and faculty? Spending time on a campus allows you to determine if a school is a good match.
Can’t visit in-person? These websites can help you as you plan your college tours:
- eCampusTours.com offers virtual college tours of different schools
- theU.com/ offers DVDs with tours of many campuses
- Collegiate Choice offers videos of student-guided college walking tours
You’ve heard it before --- a college education is one of the greatest investments you can make in your future. A college degree almost guarantees that you will earn more than someone without a degree. But it will enrich your life in many other ways. The people you meet. The classes you take. Experiences of a lifetime.
A vital aspect of preparing for college involves preparing to pay for college. And it can be affordable. While some colleges have higher tuition than others, don't cross any colleges off your list because of price.
Make sure the school gives you a clear statement of its tuition and fees. Remember that any financial aid you get will be applied first to paying the school’s tuition and fees. If there is any money left over, the school will give it to you to help you pay for things such as books, food and housing.
For the cost of attendance at schools in North Dakota or South Dakota, as well as some in Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming, visit NDCAN Future Education Costs.
Make sure you apply for financial aid. Do not assume that you are not eligible. See the Paying for College section.
Applying to college means more than just filling out forms. You need to:
- understand each school's requirements,
- gather information,
- meet deadlines, and
- pay any necessary fees for each application submitted.
A college's application process may seem a little overwhelming, but once you have a clear picture of everything that's involved, you can determine what needs to be done.
Narrow down your college choices to several that fit your location, size, degree offerings, and other preferences. Apply for admission to each by completing the admission application form and paying the application fee.
Almost every school has different admissions requirements. Contact each school and be sure to note all requisites, deadlines, and other important information.
If you are asked to write an essay about yourself...be yourself! Check your spelling!
You may be asked for letters of recommendations...mom, dad, and closely related relatives do not count! Ask people who really know you: a favorite teacher, high school counselor, clergyman, coach, employer and give them enough time to do a really good letter! Do not forget to write them a thank-you not afterwards!
