ADVICE
F INDING FIT:
A COLLEGE SEARCH CHECKLIST JUNIORS: BUILDING YOUR LIST
SENIORS: CHOOSING FROM YOUR LIST
Building your college list is as much about you—your priorities, passions, and needs—as the colleges and universities you’ll be applying to. “Fit” is when the two come together—here are our tips for finding it.
By now, the list you built has become a set of real options—colleges and universities that have admitted you—and it’s time to choose. But that word “fit” is still floating around, carrying more weight than ever now. Here’s how you should think of it.
1. Apply Your Filters No, not of the Instagram variety. We’re speaking here about type, size, and location. When you first begin building your college list, you can narrow your search by applying these filters. Are you interested in private colleges and universities, state schools, or both? Do you feel excited by the idea of a campus of 3,000 people, or does a university with a student body of 25,000 sound better? When it comes to location, begin by thinking geographically (are you set on the East Coast? Prefer to be close to or far from home?). Once you’ve determined which regions you’re comfortable with, focus your search further by asking whether a rural, urban, or suburban college is a better fit for you.
1. Campus Culture You likely considered type, size, and location when applying to the colleges you’re choosing from. Now it’s time to take a closer look at campus life. You might have the opportunity to attend an admitted students day and experience campus firsthand, perhaps even staying overnight in a dorm room. If you do, take advantage of the opportunity to strike up conversations with current students. Ask what they do on the weekends. Find out which events—lectures, games, dorm outings—from the past semester were meaningful to them. Can you picture yourself partaking? If you don’t have the opportunity to attend an admitted students day, don’t fear! You can find the answer to these questions by exploring the college’s Instagram, reading student blogs, or reaching out to the admissions office for the email address of a current student.
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3. Consider Aid Your ability to afford the college you attend is a huge aspect of fit—and a decision that you’ll likely make together with your family. Researching the cost of attendance (COA) for each college and university that piques your interest is a starting point, but if you plan on applying for financial aid, the COA is rarely representative of what you’ll end up paying. The school’s financial aid policy will tell you more. Tufts is one of about 80 colleges and universities in the country that meet 100% of demonstrated need for every admitted student. (For more information on financial aid at Tufts, see page 39.)
2. Departmental Dive Peer more deeply into specific majors and depar tments—not literally (unless you happen to be walking by an academic building during an admitted students day. Stop in!), but figuratively. By visiting department websites, you can find bios of specific
faculty members. You might have done this while writing your college essays, but turn a closer eye to these bios now. Is there a potential academic advisor in their midst? Most department websites will list current courses; click onto that page or PDF. Would you be excited to sign up for one of these classes? 3. Compare Packages Choosing a college that suits your interests is important, but choosing a college you can afford to attend is crucial. If you’ve applied for financial aid, you should receive notice of your financial aid award along with, or shortly after receiving, your acceptance letter. If you’ve received awards from multiple colleges and universities, it’s time to compare packages. Consider what each college includes in their award. Some colleges will offer awards covering just full tuition (the cost of your classes), while others will provide aid towards your full cost of attendance (tuition + room and board + books + personal expenses). Once you’ve determined how much you would be contributing towards your cost of attending each college you’re considering, make a decision—together with your family—that feels affordable and right for you.
ILLUSTRATION BY VARI TELLERIA
2. Academic Opportunities After applying your broad filters, think about the academic programs you might be interested in. Colleges and universities with liberal arts philosophies, like Tufts, give students the opportunity to matriculate undecided, meaning they don’t have to be committed to a major or area of study when they arrive on campus. If this is the type of college you choose, you can prepare to explore through your
coursework, discover new interests, and have your mind changed (sometimes multiple times!). Even if you’re applying to a college where you’ll matriculate undecided, it’s still important to look at the majors and departments available. Are your passions reflected there?