How to Start Searching for Colleges

So, you want to go to college. But where do you even start? A lot of people probably think that the trials and tribulations of a first gen college student starts with the application, but it actually starts way before that. You have to find places to apply to first! And there are so many places to choose from. In-state or out-of-state, public or private, community or four-year? It can feel impossible to even begin searching for colleges and, unfortunately, that can be a major dealbreaker for first gens. But I am here to tell you that it doesn't have to be hard!

You'll want to start looking into prospective colleges the summer before your junior year. This will give you plenty of time to research schools, tour them, and make your decisions before the applications open up. Applications typically open around August or September the year before your start date. For example, I started college in August of 2017, so I applied for colleges around September of 2016. But you will want to already know where you're applying to by that time, which is why I recommend starting your search so far in advance.

Google is your best friend. I know, it seems too simple to be true, but seriously. That is exactly how I started my college search, by Googling "colleges near me" and seeing what popped up. This is a great starting point because, even if you don't end up applying to the schools that you find this way, it can still give you an idea of what you want to look for in colleges that you do apply to. As first gens, it's hard to know what you're even looking for in a potential college. By looking at some Google search results, you can gather important information about finances, meal plans, majors, and extracurriculars that can inform your future searches.

That brings me to my next point. You need to make a list as you search of what is important to you. Crunch the numbers if you can and find out what your budget would be for housing and meal plans. That will help you compare those prices across the board. Also make note of any potential majors you might be interested in. These can be majors that you think of on your own or ones that you come across during your search that you might not have thought of before. Then, you can look into those programs at each school and see which ones are better at which school. The last thing you'll want to think about are extracurriculars. How important are sporting events to you? If you really enjoy the energy of a college football game, then you might want to look into more schools with large athletic programs. Are you interested in Greek life? Check out the sororities and fraternities offered on campus! Do you enjoy writing or were you on the yearbook team in high school? Look into the campus newspapers! Researching student organizations on a campus can give you some insight into what student life is like at that school. The more orgs there are, the easier it will be to get involved!

Once you've searched until you can't search anymore, you should have a working list of about 5-8 schools. Could be more, could be less, but I think aiming for that number is good. That doesn't mean you are committing to applying to all of those schools, but from there you can start scheduling campus tours over the next year. Tours really can seal the deal. It sounds cheesy to say, "you'll know where you belong the moment you step on campus," but, I mean, it's true. Two out of the three colleges that I applied to gave me that "at home" feeling during my campus tour. That's how they wound up in my top three. Just trust your gut and you'll be fine.

Ultimately, my point is: Don't overthink it. The college search can be scary, I know, but you have to start somewhere. Don't feel pressured to apply to a certain school because your friends are applying there, or because it has the coolest mascot, or whatever. Look for what would make you the most comfortable and happy. After all, you will be practically living there for four years. Only you know what's best for you, so trust yourself. Good luck and happy searching!