Finding the perfect college is no easy task. I felt like I had been struggling for weeks on end to find the school that best fit my personality. I went on about 15 college tours with my mom. Each college was completely different, and I thought as soon as I toured and got onto the campus I would know if I wanted to go there. That didn’t happen. No one told me where I should go, what I should study, or how to pick the perfect college. Overtime, I began to realize what was important for me in college, and I broke it down into different categories. The formula helped me realize which college I wanted to attend. Everyone has their own unique situation, but this “perfect formula” can be applied to any school being researched!

My formula has 4 different areas you should think about when researching colleges.

One

First, you need to consider your finances. Looking at schools you cannot afford may lead to disappointment around decision time. I only looked at or applied to schools I knew would not bring me a massive amount of student loans by graduation. If your dream school is out of your price range, consider looking for as many scholarships as possible! There are so many to apply for, it just may take some time, so be ready to put in the effort! Make sure to look for scholarships that can apply to all 4 years or learn if you have to reapply for them every year. Students often forget that their scholarship could run out, so it is important to see how long or how much of the cost of attendance will be covered.

Two

Second, you need to ask yourself what you want to get out of your college experience. Do you care about rigorous academics or wish to attend graduate school? Do you want to learn to be independent? Do you want to move farther away from home? For me, I wanted to go to a school that had a great academic reputation, but also had lots for me to do in my free time such as sporting events and clubs. It is easy to go online to a school’s website to research academics and location.

Three

Next, consider the job you wish to have in the future. Maybe it is possible to complete your degree at a community college or trade school. Oftentimes, these are much cheaper options and will give you a great job in the future. There are also 4-year and 2-year schools that have many majors to explore. Many schools have graduate programs you can explore if you know you want to attend graduate school. There are hundreds of majors at many different schools that can set you on a path to getting a great job. If you have no idea what you want to major in, no worries! Many students will go in undecided, or create an all new major! Look into if the school can accommodate an undecided major or create a new one.

Four

Finally, look at all the ways to get involved on campus. College can be a scary transition because you may not know anyone. There are so many ways to meet people on campus and join a club that matches your interests. Take some time and go on the school’s website to research all the clubs, greek life, campus ministries, sports, and anything else the school may have to offer.

Taking the time to slow down and look through each step of the “perfect formula” can help take the stress out of the college search. College is a time to not only learn about a major, but also a time to grow as a person and get ready for the future ahead. There will be many lessons to be learned throughout your time at college that can benefit you for a lifetime.