Here are 6 steps to help you determine whether a college could be your dream…or your nightmare.

1. First, create a list of your must-haves in college. For example, what is your family's budget for your college? Is it essential to be in a city? To have access to the outdoors or a specific activity? To have a pet in your dorm? To be able to work on research as a freshman? A Zoology major? Make sure you know what exactly what you want in a college so you know what to look for. If a college doesn't check most of your boxes, you may decide it shouldn’t remain on your list. 

2. Dig Deep on the college website by reviewing 3 primary tabs: Academics, Campus Life (or sometimes it's called Student Life), and Admissions. 

Academics: Explore the majors offered and make sure you see what you're interested in. If you are undecided about your major, see what resources are available to help you decide and which majors would be extremely hard to transfer into. When in doubt, feel free to reach out to the admissions representative for your high school and ask.

Campus Life: Look up the student organizations or recreational opportunities available to students to ensure you see enough that interest you.

Admissions: If you like what you see in the other two sections, head to the admissions section (navigate to Undergraduate if it's a university with graduate programs) to learn more general information about the school and the admissions process.

Pro tip: Many colleges include a Prospective Students section on their website. That's always a good place to go for more helpful information.

3. Read the college's mission statement and values. Make sure these align with yours! To find these, just Google "[College Name] Mission and Values."

4. Utilize Social Media Platforms to Explore. Hashtags are one of the most convenient tools for students researching potential colleges and universities. From #Accepted2024 to #TechLife, you can use many hashtags to search for precisely what you're looking for. Whether it's housing options, scholarship opportunities, or simply finding out about student life at a specific school, hashtags will quickly provide access to current students' perspectives and reviews and compare to your own. 

5. Read student reviews on sites such as Niche.com. Take reviews with a grain of salt and use the information as just one data point.

6. If possible, plan an in-person visit. It's best to go while students are on campus and spend time there beyond the official tour. As you wander, talk to current students (not just tour guides) to see what they like about the school. Don’t forget to check out the surrounding area beyond the campus. If you can't visit a school you think you'd like, take advantage of virtual opportunities to connect with current students. Our Guide to Campus Tours is a great resource to prepare for your visit.