Where and what should you look for on a college website? To effectively research and shop for colleges you need to have a strategy. Selecting a college based on hearsay or how the dorms look is probably not a good idea. You need to be very intentional about your search.
- First of all, you need to determine if they have your major. Click on the undergrad academic programs link to find out if the school has your major. Yes, students have applied to colleges without having this vital piece of information which can result in you majoring in something that may not be right for you.
- Look for the tuition link to find out the cost of attendance. I’m amazed at the number of students who have no idea of the total costs involved in attending the institution. Colleges are now required to have a net price calculator link which will help you determine the true cost of attending the institution. Remember, you are looking for the best academic and financial fit.
- Find the scholarship link. Every college has a scholarship page. If it is not on the main page look for it on the financial aid page. If that doesn’t work, type scholarships in the search box. In researching scholarships for the past 10 years I noticed that colleges that have the best scholarship opportunities make it easy for the student to navigate the website to find the scholarship information. I feel you should only apply to a college that is going to give you a monetary award. You can research the institutional scholarships to determine if you meet the criteria for merit based scholarships which can provide half or full tuition. You no longer need to be in the dark about what the college will give you for your academics. This process should begin in your freshman year of high school. Good luck on your search.