Where Should You Go to College? 🎓

Hey y’all,

Did you know the U.S. has nearly 4,000 colleges?

As the admissions season ramps up, you’re probably worrying about which ones to apply to. Thankfully, the process is more straightforward than you think. Let’s break it down.

Overview

Every season, I’ll hear stories about students applying to 20, 30, or even 40+ colleges. (I still don’t know how 40+ is physically possible.)

You don’t need to follow suit. I recommend that most students apply to 8–12 schools, divided into three buckets:

• Safeties: Schools where your academic credentials fall above the 75th percentile.

• Matches: Schools where your academic credentials fall within the middle 50 percent.

• Reaches: Schools where your academic credentials fall below the 25th percentile.

Before you call T20 schools safeties because you have a 1600 on your SAT, I have some harsh news: these schools are reaches for everyone, even those with “perfect” applications.

At these schools, meeting the academic threshold is the bare minimum. The students who stand out have stellar activities, recommendation letters, and essays.

Factors to Consider

As you build your list, weigh the following factors.

Majors and Academic Programs

Obviously, make sure the school has majors you’re interested in. But go one layer deeper: look for specialized programs, such as a dedicated school, lab, or facility built around the subject you want to study. At the same time, look at curriculum flexibility. Some schools require a core set of courses, while others let you customize your academic journey.

Size and Location

Do you want to go to school in-state or out-of-state? Do you want to be close to home? Do you prefer warm or cold weather?

Winters in the Northeast are brutal. But I wouldn’t have traded going to school near Boston for anything in the world.

Campus Culture

What kind of environment are you looking for? Small and rural? Large and urban? Back in high school, I’d watch vlogs on YouTube to get a “vibe check” of different colleges. I highly recommend you do the same.

Cost

Use the net price calculator on each college’s website to estimate what you’d actually pay. (Note that these calculators don’t include merit-based aid, so account for that if applicable.)

Build Your List

I recommend using a spreadsheet to tack every school you’re considering, with columns for the factors that matter most to you. Be sure to label each school as a safety, match, or reach.

Don’t be picky at first since you can always narrow your list. Compile a large list using online college search tools, plus suggestions from your guidance counselor, family, and teachers.

Once you have a massive sheet, narrow it down to the 8–12 best fits. Attend info sessions, visit campuses, and talk to current students and alums whenever you can.

One School to Consider

(This section is sponsored by RIT.)

As you’re compiling your list, one school I want you to consider is the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) because it checks off nearly every box we just covered.

Specialized programs? RIT is full of them. Its game design program is one of the top-ranked in the country, with a massive facility where students build and publish their own games. (I actually had the chance to tour this facility, and it was one of the coolest experiences ever!)

The faculty are just as impressive. Take Karin Wuertz-Kozak, who leads the Tissue Regeneration and Mechanobiology Lab, where she researches how gene editing and stem cells can be used to regenerate spinal discs.

And if you like building things, you’ll feel right at home. There are maker spaces all across campus, stocked with 3D printers, laser cutters, and a full woodshop.

But my favorite part is a factor I didn’t even cover above: co-ops. RIT runs one of the largest co-op programs in the country, meaning students complete full-time, paid work experience with real companies before they graduate.

Oh, and the food in the dining halls is pretty fire.

If that sounds like your kind of campus, be sure to consider adding it to your list. Click the button to below to explore their programs!

Good luck building your college list. You got this!

See you next week!

Best,
Gohar