How to compare colleges...?

CE527M
Fri, 05 Jul 2013 21:39:25 +0000

You can start looking at colleges anytime just to get an idea of what kind you’re interested in (LACs, Big State U’s, etc) but it’ll be hard to get a solid list of reaches, matches, and safeties until you’ve taken the SAT/ACT, have a solid list of EC’s, etc.

When looking at colleges, consider what you want to major in (though you may be undecided, which is fine), whether you’re interested in a big university, small, rural, urban, suburban, etc.

As far as how many, well, that generally just a personal preference. Some people have a reach heavy list, and some play it safe by only having one or two reaches and mostly safeties. You might end up finding that your “dream college” is more of a safety/match than reach; it all varies. :)

Also, as far as what you said as recording what you find, I use Cappex and College Board’s search to save colleges I like. I know some people keep a notebook of various notes about colleges they like and visit reports, etc.