Is ten colleges too many to apply to?

prezbucky
Sun, 05 Mar 2017 21:57:15 +0000

OP, please just be a kid now – you’re only 13 or 14 once and you should be outside playing, playing sports, or doing other things you enjoy in your spare time.

Tell you what: on crummy weekend, holiday or summer days – when it’s raining or snowing and you’re sick of playing video games or watching YouTube videos – read about colleges then. Learn their names, locations, maybe some of the things that make them unique, perhaps some of the programs for which they’re known. Don’t limit your reading to just the top 20 and make sure you read about liberal arts colleges too.

For now, just read about all sorts of schools. And when you’re a junior, you can put more time into it. Until then, do well in school, play with your friends, and spend time with your family.

I want to put this important idea in your head and let it germinate in your mind to guide you as you read:

Fit is more important than rank or reputation. There’s no sense going after highly ranked schools that don’t fit your preferences. Now, your preferences will likely change over the next few years, but whatever they are or may become, use them to decide which schools you like; don’t just look at rankings.