How to Choose a College

Visit our College Process Website for even more information and links!

SCOIR will help you choose colleges that fit your preferences. Is a 4-year college even necessary? Find out by taking the YouScience assessment in SCOIR and match to careers that fit YOU

When starting to search for a college or university, the first place to start is with YOU!

  • What are your interests? 
  • What are your goals? 
  • What classes and activities have you enjoyed the most?

See your school counselor for resources and help finding a good fit college, 2-year program or job/career that meets your individual needs.


College Characteristics to Consider

  • Type of Institution (two or four year; coed or single sex; public or private, liberal arts, technical, business, etc.)
    • Liberal arts colleges stress a broad undergraduate education rather than professional training, such as an engineering degree.
    • Universities offer mainly four year programs in both liberal arts and professional training. They grant both graduate and undergraduate degrees and are made up of a number of schools or colleges.
    • Technical and junior colleges offer one and two year vocational and academic programs.
    • Military academies prepare officers for a particular branch of the military. Most require reccommendations for admission by a member of Congress.
  • Geographic location – New England, the South, the West or Mid-coast. How far of a driving distance from home are you willing to be?
  • Setting – urban, rural or suburban. How would you feel attending school in a big city? What about way out in the country?
  • Size of institution – small, medium, large, very large.
  • Selectivity – very difficult to open admissions – and in between.
  • Cost of attendance – tuition + fees, room + board, travel minus financial aid.
  • Diversity of student body – race, religion, international, age, etc.
  • Extracurricular activities – sports, clubs, cultural, religious, educational, etc.
  • Housing – on or off campus, coed, single sex, special interest, size of room food and meal plans, roommates, house rules, car on campus, etc.
  • Facilities – sports and recreation, libraries, classrooms and labs, lecture halls, handicapped access, laundry facilities, computer availability, student unions, Greek housing, etc.
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