So you're visiting colleges over break... Part 3

For the past two posts, I've looked at important things to do before and during the college visit process. Now comes the most important part- evaluating the college you visited.

Spending time critically evaluating what worked and didn't work during a college visit will determine the success of that visit.

Compare the college with your “need, want, like” list

• Now is the time to compare your college(s) to the list you created at the beginning of this process. Start with the “need” column. If the college you visited met all of your “need,” that’s great! If not, take note. Remember: the items in your “need” column are more important than your “want” or “like” columns. If the college you visited does not match up with your “needs” column, do not adjust your ideal list to make that college fit.

Get feedback from others

• If you have areas that concern or excite you about a certain college, share those with a few people whose input you trust. They may help you to see a perspective that you may have missed on your visit.

Build your portfolio

• If a college doesn't quite fit your ideal list, don’t throw it out immediately. Your college counselor should have given you a list of “foundational,” “mid-range,” and “reach” colleges, and you’ll want to break it out at this point. Depending on your GPA and SAT/ACT scores, place the college you just visited in your college portfolio.
• As you visit more colleges and begin filling up your portfolio, then you can start thinking about which schools to drop and which to keep. Ideally, you would want foundational, mid-range, and reach colleges that meet all of your “needs,” some of your “wants,” and a few of your “likes.”

I hope you learned more about your selected college, your ideal college experience, and yourself. Now, go and enjoy the rest of your break!