Support for Seniors Making Their College Decision

Hey, Seniors, it’s decision time. Are you having trouble making your college choice? That’s a good thing! It means you have multiple great options where you can thrive. Below are some tips to consider, but remember, your success in college and beyond is much more about you than where you go. 

Here is a quick checklist to guide your thoughtful decision-making and encourage you to make your decision based on what is best for YOU vs. what your peers might choose.

Checklist for Choosing the Right College:

• Financial Considerations:
  • Calculate Total Cost Over Four Years, factoring in annual increases.
  • Explore Financial Aid Packages and Scholarships.
• Academic Fit:
  • Evaluate Major Offerings and Strengths.
  • Research Support for Undecided Students.
• Social Factors:
  • Assess Campus Culture and Diversity.
  • Investigate Extracurricular Opportunities.
• Campus Features:
  • Visit Campus Virtually or In-Person.
  • Consider Facilities (e.g., libraries, labs, recreational areas).
• Location Comfort Level:
  • Determine Preferred Distance from Home.
  • Reflect on Excitement for a New Environment.
• Career Services:
  • • Review Internship and Job Placement Opportunities.
    • Investigate Alumni Network and Success Stories.
• Support Services:
  • • • Look into Counseling, Health, and Academic Support Services.
      • Explore Disability Services if Applicable.
• Housing and Dining:
• • • • • Examine On-Campus Housing Options and Amenities.
        • Check Dietary Options and Meal Plans.

This checklist covers the essential aspects for you to consider when making your ultimate college decision, facilitating a thoughtful and personal evaluation process. Continue reading below for more tips. 

While visiting (or re-visiting) a campus in person, specifically during Admitted Student Day events, is the best way to help you determine which campus best supports your needs and goals, visiting multiple colleges one month before decision time isn’t always possible. Below are additional tips and resources to use to help you get a sense of your best-fit college without visiting in person.

Virtual Tours: Many colleges offer virtual tours and admission sessions on their websites. Start with the college’s undergraduate admission page for the latest offerings. Then, try online college tour resources like Campus Reel (virtual tours of more than 300 colleges) and YouVisit (over 600 college tours).

Social Media: Most colleges have Facebook groups for admitted students. Join them to connect with other admitted students and read the discussion. Search for YouTube videos on your colleges of interest to find students sharing information and experiences about their colleges.

Congratulations to the Class of ’22!

Congratulations on your college acceptances! This was a very challenging admissions cycle, with applications significantly up at many institutions. Give yourself credit for all the hard work you have put in throughout high school, and start getting excited about the schools that really want you to join their community. 

If you applied to reach or ultra-selective schools, you likely have received some disappointing news in addition to offers of admission. Colleges select applicants not based solely on students’ achievements but also based on the colleges’ institutional objectives and subjective criteria that we cannot predict. Remember that there is not just one great school for you where you can be successful. There are many, and the path to success is paved in many directions, not just a few.  

As you are deciding between your options, don’t let emotions take over your decision-making. Instead, try to objectively judge how well each college meets the needs and goals you initially established when making your college list. If you put together a good-fit college list, the cost (over four years) might be a driving factor in your decision-making at this point. Make sure to ask your colleges for the average tuition increase per year, as most colleges increase tuition. Here is a free cost comparison worksheet from Edmit.

May 1st has traditionally been Decision Day, the final day to submit an enrollment deposit, letting a college know your decision to accept their offers (of admission, scholarships, and special programs), but some colleges may give you a later deadline. It is critical to know your colleges’ enrollment deadlines and deposit policies. Some colleges require an enrollment deposit before you can apply for housing; housing deposits may or may not be refundable. Read each of your colleges’ “admitted student checklist” with your parent(s) and contact colleges if you have any questions.

Take advantage of Admitted Student Day events, especially if you are mourning a denial from another school. Seeing firsthand where you can learn and grow is the best way to move on from disappointment. If you can’t visit in person, the next best thing is to attend the Virtual Admitted Student Day events hosted by your colleges. Both versions help you talk to current students and engage with professors and department staff so you can learn more about your academic interests as well as social life on campus. Here is a great article about one student’s realization that their safety school was actually their dream school.

Suppose you know where you want to enroll. In that case, it can often be beneficial to commit and submit your deposit before the deadline, as many colleges have a priority housing process that starts earlier. Every school has different housing deadlines, admission deposit steps, and class registration procedures. Again, you need to read all of the communication you receive from your colleges and follow their suggested steps. 

While you might be able to submit multiple housing deposits to different colleges to hold your place in the housing line (i.e. if a college does not require you to submit an enrollment deposit prior to submitting a non-refundable housing deposit), it is not ethical to submit more than one enrollment deposit. In fact, students who submitted their applications via the Common App signed that they agreed that the only exception to this is if they are offered a spot off of a waitlist. Additionally, your high school counselor is encouraged to only submit your final transcript to one college. Please read more on why you should not double deposit here. 

Read on for how to accept an offer of admission and why it’s important to notify the colleges you won’t be attending of your decision. And, remember, you are now in the driver’s seat. All of the colleges that admitted you really want you to come to campus. Take time to compare your offers, then buy all your college swag and celebrate!

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