Are you going in circles trying to decide which colleges to apply to?

With 4,000 colleges in the United States, it's probably a little overwhelming trying to narrow down your list.

If you don't approach this the right way, you could end up spending thousands of dollars and hours on application fees and personal essays...only to realize you're not really into those schools when the time comes to commit.

You might be narrowing down by the obvious metrics: size, public vs. private, region, rankings...but I want to encourage you to go deeper.

What does it mean to go deeper?

Look for programs and extracurriculars that reflect your values and interests.

Consider whether you want to be in an urban environment or a college town.

Do you want small class sizes where your professors know you personally, or do you prefer larger lectures?

How does the administration interact with their students? How do the students feel about the administration?

Are the values they promote on the brochure (diversity, innovation, etc.) represented in day-to-day operations?

Look for the clubs and programs you're interested in now; but think about what you could be interested in in the future. What may just feel like an inkling of an interest now may turn into your life's purpose in three years.

If you’re thinking “how am I supposed to learn all of this from a website?”— I have a trick for you.

Find the school’s “student organizations” page and look up clubs and activities you’re interested in. Each club should have a contact email (often the club president). Email them and say “Hi, I’m interested in attending XYZ University and I saw that you are President of the Debate Club. I was wondering if you would be willing to answer some questions about XYZ and the campus culture.” Most students (especially those that are involved in club leadership) love talking about their college and would love to answer your questions!

For each college on your list, find your why. Why does this school interest you? What about it excites you? Are these your true feelings, or are you influenced by others?

Because I'd love to see you at your perfect-fit school next fall!