Make the Final Selection

student with mentor

Students and Families

Volunteer to mentor high school students in your community.

College Visits

It is recommended that you visit the colleges that you are applying to. You want to know if each campus provides an environment and personality that you would like to live in for four years of your life. Begin by exploring the college web sites for dates and times of preview days, open houses, and campus tours. If none of these times work for you, call the admissions office and set up a time to meet a representative and take a tour. When talking with the representative, there are several questions to ask during your campus visit.

College Comparison and Evaluation

Still having troubles deciding which college is a good match for you? Because you may be looking at schools of different sizes, locations, and types, it can be difficult to find the best one to suit your needs. Be sure that these common myths about college selection don’t start to influence you. Try these tools to help you compare each of the schools that you are interested in.

College Evaluation Chart - aspire_s_cllgeeval.pdf

  • After your college visits, track your comments and ratings on this college evaluation chart

Side-by-Side College Comparison - apps.collegeboard.com/search/sidebyside.jsp

  • Compares three different colleges and universities
  • Looks at location, type of school, campus and student life, admissions, and financial aid information

Financial Aid Comparison

Financial aid awards very from school to school, and comparing them can be difficult. Many times the college with the lowest tuition is not necessarily the least expensive option. The sites listed below can help you to compare the costs of various colleges and the financial aid offered by each institution. By finding your out-of-pocket cost to each college, you can determine which schools are the best economic choices for you.

Compare your Aid Awards - http://apps.collegeboard.com/fincalc/ep/step6-1.jsp

  • Click on the links in the left column for advice about what to enter in each field
  • Enter your cost and aid information in the blank fields and click the calculate button