How to Organize My College Search
The college search is a daunting process for nearly every future college student. There are so many colleges and universities out there, each with its own academic and extracurricular benefits and drawbacks. Staying organized is the best way to stay on top of the college search and ensure that you attend the best choice possible.
- Start your organization of the college search early by purchasing a calendar to be used for nothing but the search. In the calendar you can list important dates and deadlines, such as those pertaining to the application process, tours, financial aid information and even your first classes.
- Develop a filing system or similar method of organization for the wide array of documents that you will use in the college search and application process. You are likely to have more brochures, college applications, applications for financial aid and various other documents and letters than you can handle. Creating an organized filing system with a specific file labeled for each school will help you to stay on top of the entire process.
- Create a list of all of the schools that you are interested in. A spreadsheet is the best form to use when creating your list, with columns for each school's name and related information, such as location, cost, reputation, interesting programs and admission standards. This list will help you to determine the differences between each college and university.
- Keep a running list of important contacts for each institution. Important contacts may include advisors, employees in admissions and the school officials that oversee the financial aid processes.
- Purchase miscellaneous supplies that will help you with each of the previous steps, such as pens, pencils, sticky notes and highlighters.