Navigation Menu
  • Colleges
    • Get Matched To Colleges
    • Explore All Colleges
    • Colleges By State
    • Online Colleges
    • Review a College
  • Scholarships
    • Explore College Scholarships
    • Scholarship Match
    • Unigo Scholarships
    • $10K Scholarship
    • Unigo Scholarship Winners
  • Easy Scholarships
  • Unigo Scholarships
  • Student Loans
  • Articles
    • All Articles
    • Expert Admissions Advice
    • Get Ready for College
    • How to Pay for College
    • In College Tips
  • Log In
  • My Account
    • My Scholarship Match
    • My Saved Scholarships
    • My College Match
    • My Account
    • Log out
  • Sign Up!
  • Home
  • in college
  • college experience
  • narrowing your field of dreams for college

Narrowing Your Field of Dreams for College

Posted byUnigo Staff May 29, 2015

By unigo

Deciding where to attend college can be one of the hardest (and most important) decisions of your life. The choice should not be made lightly or at the last minute. There are several things to consider before settling on a specific campus. Plus, you may be making this decision with your parents. Yes, that’s right; mom and dad will likely want to have a say in this part of your life, too. And let’s face it: whether they pay for your college or not, they’ll want to know you’re making an informed decision.
It’s important to remember that students and parents might look at and evaluate prospective colleges differently. Parents may want to know the hard facts about a school and, of course, how much it costs. Students are more likely to be interested in location and the social scene. So, how do you find colleges that are right for you and ones that please your parents, too? Follow these tips for narrowing your field of dreams to ensure your college choice doesn’t become a nightmare.

Getting to Know You

Ask yourself, “Who am I?” This is where your college search should begin. You can’t find the perfect campus if you don’t know who you are and what you want. You’ll need to know things about yourself, such as:

  • What type of learner am I?
  • Would I perform better in a smaller or larger class setting?
  • Is prestige (brand name) important to me?
  • What type of lifestyle do I envision for myself?
  • Am I internally motivated, or will I need some external pushing and prodding to finish my degree?

When you have some of the answers, you’ll be better able to pinpoint just what you need in a college campus and can eliminate those that do not fit the bill.

Start Your Search

Do some college research by checking out school websites and informative college-guide websites, such as Unigo.com. Gather unbiased information about the colleges you are considering, including student body details, available financial aid, enrollment size, clubs and activities, and more. Read campus reviews at CampusDiscovery.com to learn what enrolled students have to say about their campuses. Once you have the bigger picture, you should be able to narrow the field even further. Keep in mind that your parents may also be checking these schools for graduation rates, tuition costs, and available majors — all areas that should be of interest to you, too.

Seeing Is Believing

Dream Colleges

Once you have factored in your needs and your parents’ opinions, it’s time to plan visits to the top school choices on your college list. This is very important as you cannot always get a real feel for a school through just a brochure or website. Sometimes, you actually need to be on campus to know if it feels right for you. Schedule college visits well in advance to give yourself additional time for follow-up questions or additional trips, if needed. Be sure to visit some local schools as well; you may find your dream school is closer than you think.

Plan for the Future

Before you make your final choices about where to apply, try to think ahead to determine if the school will truly fit all your needs. Right now, you may be more concerned with just getting through high school and making sure you get into college rather than determining what you may want two or three years from now. However, check to see if your college choices offer opportunities for research or study abroad, as well as what services are available to students for academic support and career placement. These may be important to you in the future, and it’s better to know what is or isn’t available now than to wait and find out after you have enrolled.

Apply Yourself

Finally, after looking at all the available options, start the application process. Don’t limit yourself and apply to just one or two schools though. A good rule of thumb is to apply to three to six schools with varying ranges of selectivity and odds of admission. You don’t want to put all of your proverbial eggs into just one basket, as you might end up disappointed. It’s best to apply to a few schools where your chances of getting in are better than good — be sure to cover your bases and keep your options open. In the end, you’ll start your college career knowing you made the best decision for YOU!

Post navigation

Previous Post Previous post:
How to Conquer Your College Freshman Fears
Next Post Next post:
When Quitting is a Good Thing

Scholarships

  • Athletic Scholarships
  • College-Specific Scholarships
  • Company-Sponsored Scholarships
  • Grants for College
  • Merit-Based Scholarships
  • Minority Scholarships
  • Our Scholarships
  • Scholarship Contests & Sweepstakes
  • Scholarships By Major
  • Scholarships By State
  • Scholarships By Type
  • Scholarships For Graduate Students
  • Scholarships For High School Students
  • Scholarships For Undergraduate Students
  • Weird Scholarships
Unigo Scholarship Database

© 2022 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Scholarship Providers
  • Add a Scholarship
  • Expedite My Scholarship
  • Promote My Scholarship
  • Start a Scholarship
Resources
  • Job Board
  • Student Deals
  • For Parents
  • For Counselors
TAKE ACTION
  • Review A College
  • College Match
  • Scholarship Match
  • Find a Loan
Social
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

Financial aid may be available to those who qualify. The information on this site is for informational and research purposes only and is not an assurance of financial aid.

Privacy Policy   |    Terms of Use   |    FAQs   |    About Us   |    Disclosure: “What Determines Top/Best?”    |    Do Not Sell My Personal Information (CA and NV residents)

Disclosure: EducationDynamics receive compensation for the featured schools on our websites (see “Sponsored Schools” or “Sponsored Listings” or “Sponsored Results”). So what does this mean for you? Compensation may impact where the Sponsored Schools appear on our websites, including whether they appear as a match through our education matching services tool, the order in which they appear in a listing, and/or their ranking. Our websites do not provide, nor are they intended to provide, a comprehensive list of all schools (a) in the United States (b) located in a specific geographic area or (c) that offer a particular program of study. By providing information or agreeing to be contacted by a Sponsored School, you are in no way obligated to apply to or enroll with the school.

The sources for school statistics and data is the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.

This is an offer for educational opportunities that may lead to employment and not an offer for nor a guarantee of employment. Students should consult with a representative from the school they select to learn more about career opportunities in that field. Program outcomes vary according to each institution’s specific program curriculum.

×

Sponsored Meaning Explained

EducationDynamics receives compensation for the featured schools on our websites (see “Sponsored Ad” or “Sponsored Listings” or “Sponsored Results”). So what does this mean for you? Compensation may impact where the Sponsored Schools appear on our websites, including whether they appear as a match through our education matching services tool, the order in which they appear in a listing, and/or their ranking. Our websites do not provide, nor are they intended to provide, a comprehensive list of all schools (a) in the United States (b) located in a specific geographic area or (c) that offer a particular program of study. By providing information or agreeing to be contacted by a Sponsored School, you are in no way obligated to apply to or enroll with the school. Your trust is our priority. We at EducationDynamics believe you should make decisions about your education with confidence. that’s why EducationDynamicsis also proud to offer free information on its websites, which has been used by millions of prospective students to explore their education goals and interests.

close