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College Search

Finding your fit!

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My perfect college...

Take 2 minutes to write down everything you hope for in a college or draw a picture of your perfect college.

What do you hope to gain? Friends, knowledge, a specific career?
What do classes look like? Discussions around a small table? A big lecture? Hands on labs?
What extracurriculars are needed? Great football team? Tailgating? Greek Life? Community service? Shark tagging?

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3700 colleges and universities...in the US alone!

So which one is right for you?

About 200 of them...that’s right there is no perfect fit!
At CatalyzED we focus on

Fit
Affordability
Admissibility

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BigFuture Search Engine

Test scores & Selectivity
Type of School
Location
Campus & Housing
Majors & Learning Environment
Sports & Activities
Academic Credit
Paying
Support Services
Diversity

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search

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Big Small

Wide variety of majors and courses
Variety of housing opportunities
Well-funded sports programs
Wide range of academic choices and student activities
Distinguished or famous faculty
State-of-the-art research facilities

Small class sizes
Hands-on learning opportunities
Individually designed majors
Strong advising system; advisers know students well
Strong sense of community
Professors, not teaching assistants, teach most courses
Opportunity to get to know professors well

BIG: To succeed at a big college, it's best to go in knowing what subjects or general areas you're interested in pursuing. Students who do best at large colleges tend to be go-getters who are not afraid to speak up and take advantage of the many opportunities available. Introductory classes at a large college may contain hundreds of students. Some students find this environment exciting. Others feel overwhelmed. Find out how many classes are actually taught by the professors, and not by their teaching assistants. Administrative red tape is also something to think about — large colleges tend to have a lot of it. For example, enrolling in a course that's not part of your major may require multiple signatures and approvals...or UCF it takes 30 minutes to get anyone on the phone.

Small:

Small colleges don't offer as many majors as big colleges; however, some of them let you design your own.

Courses at small colleges are usually taught by professors, not teaching assistants. The professors may even know your name and areas of interest.

Be aware that small colleges do not have the research facilities of large universities. If you're hoping to be a research assistant, find out what kind of work and facilities are available before you apply.

Although you'll find a robust social life at most small colleges, you'll find less in terms of big sporting events and variety. However, there is often a stronger sense of community and connection.

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Okay but really...what’s the difference?

FSU (Large Public School)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck4HYOMdQjM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0Fcy-HAsRs&t=139s

Claremont McKenna College (Small, Private School)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Whm8GmZzO5Y

Wake Forest University (Medium, Private School)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxgPyyMLeaA&feature=youtu.be

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What’s Right For You Questions

Which is Better?

Being part of something big and meeting new people all the time
Being part of a close-knit community and seeing familiar faces wherever I go
Being part of the crowd, but not getting lost in it

When I think of college, I see myself

At a big university that offers everything from televised sporting events to countless degree programs
Receiving personalized attention from professors and getting to know all of the students on campus
I want a mix of the two!

I learn best when the classroom is...

Discussion based and engaging
A place where I can sit back and absorb the information
A mixture of both discussion based learning and large lectures

If I am struggling in class, I usually...

Wait until my teacher recognizes that I need help and provides tutoring
Find resources on my own (like tutoring, teacher help, etc.)

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Rural=farm land. Some smaller, liberal arts colleges are in rural areas. They again may be looking to attract students like CatalyzED fellows...so don’t write them off too quickly. Bates, Middlebury and Bowdin are all in small towns in New England and offer FULL RIDE scholarships to students and care about diversity. Plus you get to know your fellow students really well…

Don’t do just urban unless you have a specific reason, suburbs have 24 hour restaurants too.

Living on campus gives you that “tv college feel” while most students commute is more like high school. This is a good one to narrow things down if you are thinking about going out of state, you want most students to live on campus.

Housing availability This is a good one to narrow things down if you are thinking about going out of state, and need to narrow down your list, you would like guaranteed housing for first-year students.

Don’t click on the rest unless you are feeling overwhelmed (too many results) and really have an opinion.

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Okay but really...what’s the difference?

Kenyon College (Ohio, Small, Rural)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtIaCvze9KI&feature=youtu.be

Reed College (Oregon, Small, Private, Suburban)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-rd69yZw_w&t=100s

Macalester College (Small, Private, Urban)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=korWMPhmtUk

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Paying Resources

Collegescorecard.gov.edu

General college cost for approximate income
Does not include Brightfutures

Net price calculator for private schools

Generally works for private schools but you need specific information from your parents
More accurate estimate of what your family will pay

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FSU

Cost of Attendance: $21,724
Cost for family making under $30,000? (does not include Brightfutures)
Cost for your family? Net Price calculator is inaccurate :(

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Clark Atlanta

Cost of Attendance: $33,342
Cost for family making under $30,000?
Cost for your family? https://cau.studentaidcalculator.com/survey.aspx

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Amherst College

Cost of Attendance: $79,000
Cost for family making under $30,000?
Cost for your family? https://www.amherst.edu/offices/financialaid/calculator

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Results

Print results will give you a small, simple list and help you remember the criteria.
Try to narrow down your options in the beginning, if you have more than 80 results give more parameters to make it manageable or send Ms. L the list to review.
Go to the college site on CollegeBoard or the college websites!

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A Good College List

Colleges that fit you & you know about
Mainly colleges you can get in
College that your family can afford
REQUIRED: Do you have at least two Likely, More Affordable Florida Public Universities (or MDC) on your list? FIU, UNF, UCF or MDC
REQUIRED OUT OF STATE: Do you have 2-3 full-need schools on your list?
Under 18 colleges (Recommended 3-5 colleges for in-state; 5-12 colleges out of state)