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What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
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UCLA
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Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

How to start looking for colleges?

Hey everyone, I'm a junior, and it's time to start the college search process. I'm not sure where to begin or what factors to consider when finding the right college for me. Any tips for getting started and what resources are helpful for looking into colleges?

a year ago

Hey there! It's great that you're starting the college search process. Here are some steps and resources to help you get started:

1. Self-assessment: Before delving into college research, take some time to evaluate your interests, strengths, and priorities. What are you passionate about, and what kind of academic or extracurricular opportunities do you want? Think about your ideal college environment, whether that's big or small, urban or rural, etc.

2. Create a list of criteria: Based on your self-assessment, create a list of criteria that matter to you in a college, like academic programs, extracurriculars, campus culture, location, size, financial aid, and diversity. This list will help you stay focused in your search and later compare schools.

3. College search engines: Use college search engines like College Board's Big Future or CollegeVine to find colleges that match your criteria. You can filter schools based on factors like size, location, majors, and more, which will give you a solid starting list of colleges to research.

4. Research colleges: Dive deeper into each college on your list by visiting their websites, reading online forums, and browsing college guidebooks like Fiske Guide to Colleges or Princeton Review's The Best 386 Colleges. Look for information on academic programs, campus life, and financial aid policies to see if they align with your priorities.

5. Visit campuses (if possible): Visiting colleges in person or virtually can give you a better sense of their campus culture and help you envision yourself there. Attend information sessions, take campus tours, and try to interact with current students to gain additional insights.

6. Consult with others: Talk to your school counselor, teachers, or people you know who have gone through the college admissions process for advice and recommendations. They might suggest colleges you haven't considered or provide you with helpful tips on what to look for in a college.

7. Stay organized: Keeping track of your research and the colleges you're interested in is essential. Create a spreadsheet or use an app to compare and contrast different aspects of your college choices.

As you research colleges, expect that your list may change as you learn more about each school or discover new factors that matter to you. The process is iterative, and by the end, you should have a balanced list of reach, target, and safety schools that meet your criteria and excite you as a potential home for the next four years. Good luck!

a year ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.