Select Your Best College
Before you can start researching colleges, you have to know what is important to you. Examine your own values. Some factors which you may want to consider are listed here. A more complete list of factors for comparing colleges is shown on the next page, along with a suggested worksheet for discovering your values and a college comparison worksheet. Some factors to consider are:

1. Your major or academic program of study.
2. Size of college
3. In-state or out-of-state
4. Admission standards-highly competitive, competitive, or not competitive
5. Expenses-State university, private, financial aid
6. Job Placement, after graduation
7. Activities-athletics, music, arts, etc.
a. Discuss your needs with your counselor.
b. Use local available references.
c. Talk to college representatives in the school counseling office and at college fairs. College representatives visit Duanesburg every fall and spring.
d. Discuss college and costs with your parents.
e. Talk to teachers, friends, and college students.
f. Visit colleges-both an interview and a tour are desirable.

You can start your search in the school counseling office. There is a computer program available to you, Choices, in which you can input your values as they become known to you. The computer program has a list of over 7,000 colleges. As you decide that a factor is or is not important, the computer will narrow down the list. Your initial research of steps 1,2, and 3 should give you between 5 and 25 colleges that seem to meet your needs, unless you have a restrictive need such as a commuter school, an unusual curriculum choice, or services for the disabled. You should start your search in the 11th grade.

Steps 4 through 6 are usually completed during the summer before and fall of your senior year to reduce the number to three to six colleges. Applications should be submitted to the school counseling office by December 1st of your senior year.

Continue your research during the fall and winter of grade 12. Be sure to include one college where your chances for admission are better than average. Applicants are notified of acceptance or rejection from December to April. By May 1st , a non-refundable deposit is generally required by the college that you have chosen to attend.

Factors to consider when comparing colleges:
Academic pressure Scholarships, loans, and work-study
Accreditation School calendar-semester, trimester,
Admissions 4-1-4
Advanced placement School-community relationship
Average freshman scores on standardized tests Special services- counseling, health,
Campus activities religion
Campus atmosphere Student employment
Class size Student population
Courses available in major Student body diversity
Courses required Study abroad
Curriculum
Degrees programs offered
Eating arrangements
Expenses other than tuition, room, and board
Faculty
Financial aid
Financial costs
Geographical distribution
Grading system, pass/ fail
Honors program
Independent study
Living accommodations
Off-campus housing
Opportunities for electives
Percent of students employed after graduation
Percent of students going on to graduate school
Percent of students living on campus
Physical facilities-laboratories, library, athletic facilities
Proportion of men and women
Ratio of teachers to students
Required high school subjects
Required tests
Rules: conduct, curfews, cars