Researching Colleges
There are a lot of resources you can use to research colleges. The easiest one to use is the Big Future College Search, which you can access through your College Board account. You don't have to be logged in to use this resource, but if you're logged in, you can save colleges you're interested in to look at later! This tool has a TON of filters that you can use to narrow down your options. For example, you can adjust the filters to only show you public colleges in Michigan that have an engineering program, are medium-sized, and have a men's archery team. You can apply as many or as few of these filters as you'd like! Cool, right?
You can also check out College Scorecard, which is run through the Federal Government. College Scorecard will have the most accurate information about financial aid!
Colleges' websites are also great places to look and will have everything you need to know about that particular school!
You can also check out College Scorecard, which is run through the Federal Government. College Scorecard will have the most accurate information about financial aid!
Colleges' websites are also great places to look and will have everything you need to know about that particular school!
What Should I be Considering while Researching Colleges?
You should be thinking about two things: Match and Fit
Match
Match refers to how well you match a college's average student body academically. Basically, you're asking yourself "do my GPA and test scores match those of other students attending this college?" In other words, if choosing a college is like buying a pair of pants, Match is like the size of the pants. Will the pants be too big or too small? Or will the college be too easy or too hard? Match is meant to give you a place to start. If there's a school you're interested in attending that doesn't match up with your GPA and test scores, don't write it off! It could still be a good option for you!
Want to figure out where you match up with colleges in Michigan? Click here!
There are three categories you can use to classify colleges based on match: Safety, Target, and Reach.
Match
Match refers to how well you match a college's average student body academically. Basically, you're asking yourself "do my GPA and test scores match those of other students attending this college?" In other words, if choosing a college is like buying a pair of pants, Match is like the size of the pants. Will the pants be too big or too small? Or will the college be too easy or too hard? Match is meant to give you a place to start. If there's a school you're interested in attending that doesn't match up with your GPA and test scores, don't write it off! It could still be a good option for you!
Want to figure out where you match up with colleges in Michigan? Click here!
There are three categories you can use to classify colleges based on match: Safety, Target, and Reach.
Safety
|
Target
|
Reach
|
Fit
Fit refers to how well you might fit in at a college and includes everything about the college that isn't average GPA and test scores. Do they have the program you're looking for? Do you like the campus? How much does it cost? How much do they typically offer in scholarships? What sports or clubs do they offer? Fit includes everything else about the college that is important to you. In other words, if choosing a college is like buying a pair of pants, Fit is the style of the pants. Do you like the way the pants look on you? Are they in your price range? Just like with a pair of pants, what works for other people may not work for you. Fit is something that is very personal, so don't only consider the schools your friends are looking at! The best way to determine Fit is to visit the college. It's hard to know what a place is really like before you're there yourself. If you're unable to visit a school you're interested in, try contacting a representative from the college or someone you know who goes there!
Fit refers to how well you might fit in at a college and includes everything about the college that isn't average GPA and test scores. Do they have the program you're looking for? Do you like the campus? How much does it cost? How much do they typically offer in scholarships? What sports or clubs do they offer? Fit includes everything else about the college that is important to you. In other words, if choosing a college is like buying a pair of pants, Fit is the style of the pants. Do you like the way the pants look on you? Are they in your price range? Just like with a pair of pants, what works for other people may not work for you. Fit is something that is very personal, so don't only consider the schools your friends are looking at! The best way to determine Fit is to visit the college. It's hard to know what a place is really like before you're there yourself. If you're unable to visit a school you're interested in, try contacting a representative from the college or someone you know who goes there!
What if I have a low GPA and SAT Score?
That's okay! You can still go to college! Community Colleges accept all high school graduates, so as long as you graduate, you're good to go! You can complete a degree at a Community College or you can transfer to a four-year school. If you decide to transfer, as long as you have been at community college for at least a year, the college you are transferring to will only look at your community college grades. They won't look at your high school information at all!
You also have the option of attending a Trade School, which typically won't look too much at your GPA and SAT score.
You also have the option of attending a Trade School, which typically won't look too much at your GPA and SAT score.