Flickr user denisbin
If you’re considering a prestigious school, there are some important college questions you should be asking yourself before applying or taking the school up on an acceptance letter. Here are three you’ll want to think about.
College Question #1: Why Do I Want to Go Here?
The first question you should be asking yourself is why you want to attend that specific college. Is it just because of the name or is it a good actually a good fit for you? Is it because your parents went there? Or does it have a program you’re a fan of?
You’ll want to be sure that this college is a good fit for you overall and not just going for the prestige of it. You want to consider your goals when it comes to your education and your future career. Take a close look at the city, campus, major, career options, and more before making your decision. A visit to the campus and proper research should tell you if it’s a good choice for you or not.
College Question #2: Can I Afford It?
One thing about prestigious colleges students and parents notice quickly is the cost and many wonder if they can even afford to go. However, this may be something you don’t need to worry about. Many top schools actually offer substantial financial aid packages that include grants based on your family’s income.
You’ll want to do your research into what your potential school offers as far as grants and financial aid options. You can usually get a pretty good idea of what you’ll be offered by using their calculators and find out if you can afford to go to the school or not. Better yet, use College Raptor’s free net price calculator to get accurate price estimates on every 4-year college in the US! (You’ll also be able to see potential scholarships, aid, and debt estimate upon graduation. All for FREE!)
College Question #3: How Can I Best Approach My Application?
Prestigious colleges usually have very competitive admission processes, so every part of your application matters. Even the slightest advantage could be the tipping point to receiving an acceptance letter if you’re tied with another student for admission.
You should already be taking your college applications seriously, but it’s always good to know that your app will be heavily scrutinized at a prestigious college. You’ll want to check out their accepted ACT and SAT ranges, look at average GPA’s, and even participate in optional portions of the application, including interviews. Taking the extra steps during this stage can help your chances of receiving an acceptance letter.
However, you may also learn during this stage that the college doesn’t fit you academically. If you would like to attend though, you might want to apply anyway just in case!
Ask The Right College Questions
A prestigious college isn’t for everyone, but if it’s for you, great! That’s definitely the first thing you’ll want to consider: Why you want to apply. Asking this can help ensure it’s the right school for you. Once you know that, you can approach the other college questions and get the ball rolling on your application. Make sure to visit the college, do your research into the school and location, and talk to alumni and current students to get an accurate picture of where you plan to attend.
Use College Raptor to discover personalized college matches, cost estimates, acceptance odds, and potential financial aid for schools around the US—for FREE!
