What’s Most Important in Choosing Ideal College

With close to 4,000 colleges and universities throughout the United States, students and parents may wonder how to come up with a realistic list of schools to consider.  The key is to think about a student’s priorities. If the plan is to attend a four-year college, the number of options reduces to about 2,300 schools.  If a student wants to attend college within 300 miles of Central Jersey, as most local students do, then the number of options diminishes to 561.  If campus housing must be available for all freshmen, there are some 343 possibilities, while the number whittles down to 171 if campus housing must be available to students for all four years.

How to Get a “Your Accepted” Letter (or Email)

The best way to get a “Your Accepted” letter (or email) is to present yourself as an ideal candidate for each college to which you apply.  If you’re a legacy, let them know.  Many colleges favor applicants whose parents are alumni – especially if they’ve been donating over the years.  If you are the first in your family to seek a college education, let them know.  Most colleges favor students whose parents are not college educated.  If your family can afford to pay the full sticker price and not seek financial aid, let them know.  Some colleges are “need blind,” and admit students regardless of whether or not they are applying for financial aid.  Other colleges are “need-aware” or “need-sensitive,” and may consider financial need when deciding whether or not to admit an applicant.  This category includes American and George Washington universities in Washington D.C., Tufts, Boston, and Northeastern universities and Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges in Massachusetts, and many others.

Colleges To Consider If Your Goal is a High Salary

Students in search of the ideal college often consider a host of criteria: geographic location, average class size, academic reputation, school spirit, cost of tuition.  What they often overlook is the data indicating the likelihood that they will earn a high salary soon after graduation and later on in their career.

“Payscale,” a salary comparison site, analyzed more than 2,000 institutions granting bachelor degrees and identified ten colleges that produced students with the highest salaries, both five and ten years into their careers.

The college that ranked number one is a small, liberal arts school in California with a total enrollment of 844 students, shattering the myth that liberal arts graduates can’t earn big money.  Graduates of Harvey Mudd College in Claremont report an early career salary of $85,600 and a mid-career salary of $157,400.

Start Planning Now for a Productive Spring Break

Spring break is highly anticipated by all students. It’s an escape from the academic pressures of the school year.  It’s also the ideal time to visit colleges and start to identify which schools may, or may not, be potential “good fit” colleges.

Typically, colleges schedule their spring break in early-to-mid March.  With most high schools holding their spring break in mid-to-late April this year, college-bound students have the perfect opportunity to tour college campuses while classes, activities, and college life are in full swing.  By doing so, they can get a good feel for a college and assess whether it meets their academic, social, and lifestyle preferences.