When high school students start looking at colleges, statistics and reputation often inform their choices the most.

When you haven’t been to or seen college settings yourself, it’s easy to believe alignment with your SAT score or academic transcript are all that matter.

Just because a school looks good on paper, doesn’t mean it is actually a good personal fit. Personalized college application lists consider not only your academic strengths, but also your preferred learning environment and long-term goals.

The following guide will help you understand why college applications aren’t just about academic alignment.

Non-Academic Factors in College Decisions

Classes and your choice of major/minor certainly play a key role in the college experience, but so do the people you meet, geographic location, size of the school, and other aspects.

Below is a guide breaking some of these down further:

Student Life

Unless you go to a private, charter, or magnet school, it is unlikely you “chose” your high school. You and all your classmates went to the school you did because of shared geographic proximity, not personality.

College is different. People pick schools based on their personal interests and preferences, where they can have more opportunities to meet like-minded individuals. This gives each college broadly similar student bodies and a richer sense of community.

Important student life distinctions that may influence your college choice include:

• Safety/reported student well-being
• Extracurriculars/college athletic opportunities
• Religious affiliation
• Prevalence of Greek Life
• Friends/family members also attending

Location

Just as college democratizes the kind of people you can affiliate with, it also gives you more flexibility over location.

Most four-year college students stay close to home and commute. Only a minority of undergrads nationwide live in on-campus housing. As seen by the increased enrollment of Northeastern Students in Southern schools, however, many students also find themselves thousands of miles from home.

If there is a city you have always dreamed of living in, attending college can be your first step to building a life there. The choice of a rural, urban, or suburban campus can also allow for a change of scenery and expose you to new, interesting experiences.

Benefits of Rural Campuses

Some benefits of more rural schools include:

• Access to nature/outdoor recreation
• More relaxed lifestyle
• Lower cost of living
• Less urban distractions (such as nightlife or noise)

Benefits of Urban/Suburban Campuses

While students may want to opt for urban/suburban settings if they want:

• More career/networking opportunities
• More nightlife/third spaces
• Walkability/public transportation access
• Cultural diversity

Distance from Home

Distance from home is particularly important to consider. If home is a plane ride or even a 3+-hour drive away:

• “Weekend trips” aren’t always convenient or possible
• You are unlikely to be near hometown family and friends
• Potential for culture shock and homesickness
• Move-in/packing logistics (potentially a big move and parents can’t just “drop off” items left at home)

When visiting schools and going on tours, take note of the journey there. If the prospect of being that far or close to home seems too intimidating or boring, it may not have a place on your personalized college application list.

School Size

Colleges and Universities are typically much larger than high schools. High schools rarely contain more than 2,000 students; a university could have 2-3x this figure and still be considered “small” by American standards. Large colleges, by contrast, can accommodate tens of thousands and feel more like a small city than a school.

The atmosphere and environment of small, large, and medium-sized schools can affect not only student and campus life, but also your academic situation.

Small vs. Large Campus Experience

Small colleges (<10k students) offer an experience more like that of high school. Class sizes are smaller, and you are more likely to run into the same people as you go about your daily routines. The campus itself is also usually smaller, meaning not only classes but friends’ dorms, dining halls, gyms, and other amenities are often within walking distance.

Medium to large-sized schools, however, is a bigger shift. The greater scale of such colleges changes academics, social life, and general experience. Some ways large schools differ from high school are:

• Lecture-hall style classes: Lecture halls pack dozens or even hundreds of students into a single classroom. Because of this, you are unlikely to interact with your professors personally. This makes exams and note-taking more self-reliant experiences.
• Travel: The larger size of campuses means not everything will be within easy walking distance. You may need to rely on buses or driving to get to your classes.
• More academic opportunities: Larger colleges typically offer a wider range of programs, majors, and extracurriculars to students. This can make them a good option for undecided students, as they have more options to pursue and explore.
• Distinguished names: Larger schools are more likely to attract faculty and guest speakers that are famous or renowned in their chosen fields.

Finding the Ideal Schools

The best way to figure out if a college seems like a good fit beyond simply prestige or test scores is to tour it yourself. Most colleges and universities offer guided tours in the months leading to application season. High schools also typically offer students several excused absences per year for college tours.

While touring campus, ask questions and observe everything you can. Take note of the campus size, student body, programs offered, and general atmosphere. Your focus shouldn’t be on your preconceived notions of the school, but rather if you could see yourself living there for four years.

Personal accounts from friends or family who attended the college at some point, especially current students or more recent graduates, can add personalization that numbers can’t. Recent scandals or positive initiatives involving the school are also worth considering.

Getting Ready for the College Application Season?

College can be an enriching and vibrant time in the lives of young people. Unfortunately, the college application process can be significantly less so.

At Test Prep Score, we aim to optimize your grades and standardized test prep, so you can focus on the fun aspects of choosing colleges. Looking for a local tutor in your area to improve your college prospects? Check out our find a tutor page to get started.