HOW DO I KNOW I'M MAKING THE "RIGHT" COLLEGE CHOICE?
Not completely sure how you’re supposed to narrow it down to one college? Have you spent hours scouring the internet for information, worrying that you’ll never find the “perfect” college?
I’m Alyssa Lambert, an NMU Admissions Counselor, NMU alumna, and self-described over-thinker, and I’m here to help you prioritize yourself in your college search.
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I’m Alyssa Lambert, an NMU Admissions Counselor, NMU alumna, and self-described over-thinker, and I’m here to help you prioritize yourself in your college search.
Not completely sure how you’re supposed to narrow it down to one college? Have you spent hours scouring the internet for information, worrying that you’ll never find the “perfect” college? That was me.
I visited nearly 30 colleges during my high school years in search of the “perfect” college. Unfortunately, that’s not an exaggeration. With a few years of college admissions experience under my belt, I don’t recommend that anyone (and I mean ANYONE) visit that many colleges. Sure, if you’re interested in one day working in admissions, it’s something to put on a cover letter to grab the attention of a search committee, but, in all honesty, I would’ve been just fine visiting only five or six. So many of the colleges eventually blended together, even with my mother’s diligent note-taking and excellent eye for detail.
If you’re anything like me, you might be wondering “There are just too many options! How can I feel confident in my college search, and ultimately, my decision?” You might also be saying to yourself “That sounds like torture. What can I do to avoid going on 30 college visits?” which is completely valid. The search process can be quite overwhelming, even to the most organized individuals. The good news? You can figure out what to prioritize in your search without stepping foot on a college campus.
No matter whether you’re in the early stages of your college search, or you’re deciding between two great schools to attend this fall, do yourself a favor and ask “What are things that my ideal college would have?”
The answer can be literally anything - two to three programs of interest, abundant research or internship opportunities, a student organization dedicated to tree climbing, decent food options, etc. It’s okay to have more than one or two things that are important to you - eventually, you’ll be able to identify three to five things that are super important to you - but for now, I challenge you to narrow it down to one, maybe two if you’re really indecisive. This is your “must-have.”
My "must-have" was that I had to feel comfortable wearing sweatpants to class. While it seems a bit silly, this actually reveals something that was key in my college search. I wanted a relaxed, easygoing campus. I wanted to feel like students would actually be lounging on a grassy area in the middle of campus or tossing around a frisbee, not just posing because someone with a camera told them to. Once I realized how important this was to me, I was amazed at how many colleges I could comfortably eliminate, several of which I had already visited (sorry Mom).
Your "must-have" takes priority - all of the colleges that you even entertain the idea of attending absolutely have to meet this single requirement. Those other three to five factors that I mentioned earlier can be considered "non-negotiables," too, but this is where your perfect college recipe calls for a handful of realism. What if there is not a single college that has all of your "non-negotiables" AND your "must-have?" Then, you’re discouraged and even more overwhelmed, and you may even come to the conclusion that the “perfect” college doesn’t exist. I’m not here to crush your dreams of finding the “perfect” college (after all, there is a reason that there are SO. MANY. COLLEGES. to choose from), but you do have control over your expectations of the college search process.
The best way to manage expectations is to separate “wish list” items from your “necessities.” All of these factors are definitely important, but do all of them have to be "non-negotiables?" Can you sacrifice distance from home if a college feels perfect for you in every other aspect? Or, say another college is the best fit from a program and research standpoint, but can you really pull off those school colors? (The answer to that question, should always be yes - you are a student first, but also, you can rock any color you want to wear). Your parents, friends or trusted school counselor/college representative can help you figure out what you would do in similar hypothetical scenarios.
An easy way to verify that your wants and needs will be satisfied at a certain college is to peruse the college’s website and social media accounts. Seeing students proudly tag their college on Instagram or scrolling through the college’s Tik Tok account will not only help you search for your must-have, but it will give you an idea of what student life is like at that college. Based on what you find, you may want to visit even more, or you could eliminate that college from your “must visit” list. This research, your "must-have," and your wish list should also be used to come up with great questions to ask during your campus visit.
Once you find a college that you could see yourself at for four (or more) years, double (or triple) check to make sure the college aligns with your "must-haves," and that it has most of your wants, if not all of them. If you are confident in your wish list and your "must-have," but you still have some hesitation about your decision, then maybe there is a college that is a better fit for you. As long as you’re going in with reasonable expectations, the college you attend should fit your needs, not the other way around. You should feel empowered to decide what is best for you. And, if you get a bit lost on your journey, just remember that the most educated choice begins and ends with a single question - “What are things that my ideal college would have?”
There are so many choices because colleges are not one-size-fits-all - that’s why there are more than 5,000 colleges in the United States alone. My advice is to start with your college wish list, identify your necessities, and then rank that list from most important to least important. Then you can begin searching for places that align with your list. And remember – it is okay not to know, or to take small steps at first so you can figure things out along the way. You are in charge, and your task is to make the best decision for you!
I visited nearly 30 colleges during my high school years in search of the “perfect” college. Unfortunately, that’s not an exaggeration. With a few years of college admissions experience under my belt, I don’t recommend that anyone (and I mean ANYONE) visit that many colleges. Sure, if you’re interested in one day working in admissions, it’s something to put on a cover letter to grab the attention of a search committee, but, in all honesty, I would’ve been just fine visiting only five or six. So many of the colleges eventually blended together, even with my mother’s diligent note-taking and excellent eye for detail.
If you’re anything like me, you might be wondering “There are just too many options! How can I feel confident in my college search, and ultimately, my decision?” You might also be saying to yourself “That sounds like torture. What can I do to avoid going on 30 college visits?” which is completely valid. The search process can be quite overwhelming, even to the most organized individuals. The good news? You can figure out what to prioritize in your search without stepping foot on a college campus.
No matter whether you’re in the early stages of your college search, or you’re deciding between two great schools to attend this fall, do yourself a favor and ask “What are things that my ideal college would have?”
The answer can be literally anything - two to three programs of interest, abundant research or internship opportunities, a student organization dedicated to tree climbing, decent food options, etc. It’s okay to have more than one or two things that are important to you - eventually, you’ll be able to identify three to five things that are super important to you - but for now, I challenge you to narrow it down to one, maybe two if you’re really indecisive. This is your “must-have.”
My "must-have" was that I had to feel comfortable wearing sweatpants to class. While it seems a bit silly, this actually reveals something that was key in my college search. I wanted a relaxed, easygoing campus. I wanted to feel like students would actually be lounging on a grassy area in the middle of campus or tossing around a frisbee, not just posing because someone with a camera told them to. Once I realized how important this was to me, I was amazed at how many colleges I could comfortably eliminate, several of which I had already visited (sorry Mom).
Your "must-have" takes priority - all of the colleges that you even entertain the idea of attending
absolutely have to meet this single requirement. Those other three to five factors that I mentioned earlier can be considered "non-negotiables," too, but this is where your perfect college recipe calls for a handful of realism. What if there is not a single college that has all of your "non-negotiables" AND your "must-have?" Then, you’re discouraged and even more overwhelmed, and you may even come to the conclusion that the “perfect” college doesn’t exist. I’m not here to crush your dreams of finding the “perfect” college (after all, there is a reason that there are SO. MANY. COLLEGES. to choose from), but you do have control over your expectations of the college search process.
The best way to manage expectations is to separate “wish list” items from your “necessities.” All of these factors are definitely important, but do all of them have to be "non-negotiables?" Can you sacrifice distance from home if a college feels perfect for you in every other aspect? Or, say another college is the best fit from a program and research standpoint, but can you really pull off those school colors? (The answer to that question, should always be yes - you are a student first, but also, you can rock any color you want to wear). Your parents, friends or trusted school counselor/college representative can help you figure out what you would do in similar hypothetical scenarios.
An easy way to verify that your wants and needs will be satisfied at a certain college is to peruse the college’s website and social media accounts. Seeing students proudly tag their college on Instagram or scrolling through the college’s Tik Tok account will not only help you search for your must-have, but it will give you an idea of what student life is like at that college. Based on what you find, you may want to visit even more, or you could eliminate that college from your “must visit” list. This research, your "must-have," and your wish list should also be used to come up with great questions to ask during your campus visit.
Once you find a college that you could see yourself at for four (or more) years, double (or triple) check to make sure the college aligns with your "must-haves," and that it has most of your wants, if not all of them. If you are confident in your wish list and your "must-have," but you still have some hesitation about your decision, then maybe there is a college that is a better fit for you. As long as you’re going in with reasonable expectations, the college you attend should fit your needs, not the other way around. You should feel empowered to decide what is best for you. And, if you get a bit lost on your journey, just remember that the most educated choice begins and ends with a single question - “What are things that my ideal college would have?”
→ Takeaway
There are so many choices because colleges are not one-size-fits-all - that’s why there are more than 5,000 colleges in the United States. Start with your college wish list, identify your necessities, and then rank that list from most important to least important. Then you can begin searching for places that align with your list. And remember – it is okay not to know, or to take small steps at first so you can figure things out along the way. You are in charge, and your task is to make the best decision for you!
