College Fit

During junior meetings there were quite a few students who expressed that they weren't sure where to start with finding a college that would "fit" them.  And fit is essential for the college search process.  The reality is that the college search process isn't a prize to be won by being accepted to the most schools or even to the most prestigious colleges.  It is a match to be made.  You will have your own goals and desires for what you want in a college environment.  The college will have their own goals and objectives of what they are searching for when building their classes.  When those goals are shared that is when the best fit is present.

So how do you know if a college is a good fit for you?  There are a lot of different aspects you can consider when determining a fit.  Most specifically, you will typically be looking for colleges that are a fit across the domains of academics, social, and financial.

Academically, you are trying to find schools that offer your major, have good internship/ job placement opportunities, are at a rigor that you will feel comfortable, have class sizes that match what you're looking for, offer learning experiences that are engaging to you (such as honors programs or research opportunities), and that are a match for what you're wanting in your interactions with professors.

Financially, you are taking into consideration the cost of attending the college, how much debt you will have to take on, the distance you'll have to travel to and from the college to home, the cost of living on campus or in the community of the campus, and the opportunities available to work while you are at school.

Socially is actually the most broad category for looking for a fit.  College is more than just the classrooms and book instruction that you will be learning and so finding a school where you will be able to make friends, enjoy the food, and have clubs, sports or other activities that you enjoy, is really important to finding the college that will be a good fit for you socially.  Does the college have a greek life, volunteer opportunities, or engagement with social justice issues that matter to you?  Is school spirit, religious affiliation, or arts and other cultural experiences important to you?  Do you feel safe on campus and can you imagine spending the next 4 years living, learning, and interacting with the people around you?  If you think "ugh, I don't want to talk to these people" then it is a pretty good indication that this is not a good social fit for you.

There are so many additional questions that can help you determine if a school is going to be a good fit such as, do you want a large, fast paced environment or a smaller, laid-back space for learning?  But trust yourself.  Enjoy the process of exploring different campuses.  See what feels most comfortable to you.  And recognize that when you figure out the things that you don't care for as much in a college, you are actually that much closer to identifying what you do want in a college for your future!