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Now is the time to do some research and identify the constellation of 12-15 schools you’d like to look into further. The work of researching colleges should start with a mix of the approaches below: 

• Set up conversations with your counselor, parents and/or mentors – what qualities do they see in your best fit schools? 
• Attend local college fairs to get a feel for the variety of schools on offer.
• Consult some of the more frequently used college search tools, like , , and .  
• Explore the online and social media presence of potential schools.

If you’re thinking “How do I know what I’m looking for?” you’re not alone. Here are some good guiding questions to support you through the research phase of the college search process: 

• Does this school have the major I’m interested in (if you know – it’s perfectly OK not to!)? 
• Does this school’s approach to learning – small, discussion-based classes versus large lecture-style classes – resonate with me?  
• Is the campus geographically located somewhere I could see myself living for four years?
• How selective is this school, and are my academic qualifications aligned with the students they tend to admit? Tip: search “class profile” on each of the school’s websites to see the academic profile of last year’s incoming class. Ideally, your final list is comprised of 1/3 “reach” schools (schools whose admit rate means chances of admission are slim for anyone), 1/3 “target” schools – schools with a 45-70% admit rate where your stats put you solidly in the scope of their class profile – and 1/3 “safety” schools, which are less selective 
• Do I see myself reflected in representations of this school’s community, either in-person or online?  

Once you’ve got a college list you’re feeling good about, you’ll want to engage more deeply with those schools.

• – and then actually read the materials and emails they send. Is the message still resonating? What content in those emails further sparks your curiosity?
• You’ll also want to look for , or college fairs and panels near you where those schools will be represented. What questions do you want to pose to these schools that you didn’t find answers to on their website? 

Do not underestimate how time-intensive the writing components of applying to college will be. Best to get a jump on this before the school year begins – you’ll be glad you did come January!  

– the admission application platform supported by most institutions in the U.S. – opens on August 1. Add your schools of choice in the Common Application to see what supplemental essays or other materials you might need. This is a good time to start a spreadsheet if you haven’t already. Lay out each school’s application deadline, supporting materials required, and the essay prompts to which you’ll need to respond. Do some writing – or at the very least, some sound brainstorming – about what topics you’ll take up and how you’ll develop your ideas. 

This is also the best time to talk with your parents about college cost, which understandably drives many college decisions. A few things to know there: 

• Don’t keep potential fit colleges off your list because of the advertised price of attendance. A college’s “sticker price” is not the price most students pay. While financial aid packages vary widely based on a family’s socioeconomic picture, institutions like ���Ϲ� meet the full demonstrated financial need of all admitted students through a combination of some loan, grants, and merit awards, as applicable. The average first-year financial aid package at ���Ϲ� included $61,609 in support – a significant portion of our sticker price! 
• The – a college cost estimate tool – is your friend. It takes about an hour to complete and provides an estimate of what you and your family can expect to contribute to your college education at a given institution. 

The aim of this financial aid exploration and open conversation is to have a realistic picture of what you might pay and what your family can reasonably afford. This will curb disappointment down the line.