College searching can be a pain in the butt. With thousands of colleges out there, when it comes to finding one, it’s going to be tough when it comes to research. Thankfully for the Internet, there are a lot of great resources out there that you can use in order to find the college that fits your needs.
Before you start your search, you’re going to want to know exactly what you want when it comes to college. Some of these things that will help out your search include:
- What kind of degree do you want? Bachelors, Associates, Certificate, Advanced?
- What kind of college do you want? 4-year, 2-year, Public, Private
- How far do you want to be away from home?
- Does the state matter?
By asking yourself these questions before you start, you’ll already be on the right path. Knowing just the basics will help out your search before you even start.
Head to NCES: The National Center for Education Statistics has a great database of all the colleges in the United States. Here, you’re going to be able to select from some questions, and it will give you a list of potential colleges that you’re interested in. You can build a list of your schools, using their favorites list, as well as see where the college is located on a map. Be sure to check out nces.ed.gov when it comes to college databases.
Use a book instead: If you don’t want to do all your research on the Internet, you may want to just spend $15, and pick up a college guide. Books like the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2009will guide you to hundreds of universities that give you an insider’s look on academic climates, social scenes, and more.
When it comes to a college search, don’t worry if you don’t know what college you want to go to. Just like car and home hunting, it’s going to take you a while to find what you like. You don’t want to sign up for the first place you see. Take time, research, and visit those colleges you like. As long as you do your homework, you should find a college you like.
