Look Beyond the Big Name
At this point during my senior year, I was still figuring out the list of schools to which I would apply. This was stressful! There are so many schools with so many variables: big, small,public, private, in-state, out-of-state, strong athletic programs, emphasis on arts. I quickly became overwhelmed.
On top of that, I didn’t have a college guidance counselor to help me navigate the process. I also didn’t have the resources or the time to be able to visit all of these schools. I felt pretty alone and like I lacked the knowledge needed create a list of institutions. This was a major step in life, and I had no idea if I would even get in, let alone like the school once I arrived on campus.
I figured if I went to school out of Utah, I must attend a well-known prestigious school. I developed my list based on this. As you can imagine, that wasn’t the best. Just because a school is well-known doesn’t mean it will be a good fit. And the reverse is also true. I ended up adding Claremont McKenna College to my list, which happened to be lesser-known in my circles in Utah, but it ultimately ended up being a great fit for me. I had never even heard of Claremont McKenna before the fall of my senior year. I’m so grateful that I looked beyond these “big-name” schools because I found the school that I ended up attending. But how does one find out more about these lesser-known schools? It’ll require a bit of research, but you can do it!
Use the internet and pick up the phone. Browse the websites. Read about programs – both academic and extracurricular. Email the Admission Office. Call the school to chat with current students. Most schools have current students working in the Admission Office to serve as a resource for you during this exploration. Ask them what they like, and also ask them what they don’t like about the school. Browse the course-guide. Do the courses look interesting to you? Learn as much as you possibly can.
Just because you’ve never heard of a school, doesn’t mean it isn’t a great institution. Don’t limit yourself to well-known schools. And if you can’t visit a school, take the initiative to obtain as much information about the institution as possible. This will help you develop a solid list of schools!