Any good college search must begin with a search of self. Think about who you are, what you value, the environment in which you learn best, and your ultimate goals. Make a list of college characteristics such as size, location, majors, public or private, and cost and rank these in order of their importance to you. Only then should you begin your internet search. Start with websites that allow you to locate colleges that have the characteristics you desire. You can find these by searching for "college search" at websites like www.google.com. Or log on to some of the websites listed below which offer free customized college searches. One caution, however, try several of these sites because some only include colleges that have paid a fee.
www.collegenet.com
www.collegeboard.com
www.collegeview.com
www.nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool
www.embark.com
www.petersons.com
www.usnews.com
www.nacac.com
Once you have an initial list of colleges, you'll need to spend time visiting each of the college's websites. Don't judge a college by the bells and whistles available at its website, however, but do try to use the site to get more information about how well that college fits you. You generally can link directly to college home pages through the search sites you used to create your list, or go to www.collegeapps.about.com/blus.htm to link to all American colleges and universities. At each college's site, search out basic information about college characteristics, look for a profile of accepted students, read through the information for prospective students (if you're really interested in a college, print out this section for your files), and check out parts of the site that tell you about student organizations, college majors, course of study, housing options. If you have specific questions, e-mail the appropriate department - admissions office, financial aid office, department heads, activities offices, or campus religious organizations. Many colleges also offer a virtual tour on their website - this is not a substitute for a campus visit, but it will let you get a general idea about campus facilities. You might also want to browse a number of editions of the campus newspaper to find out what issues are important to students at that school.
As you can see, the Internet is a great resource for college searches, but it's vital to remember that not all information found on the Internet is accurate. As you do with other Internet information, think about the source, the site sponsor, and whether you can confirm information elsewhere. If you're not sure, ask your college counselor.
College Counseling Information Links
College Counseling Main Page
Financial Preparation for College
Using the Internet to Find Money for College
College Counseling Contacts
Rebecca (Becky) Day
Director of College Counseling
Chaz Prosser
Registrar and Assistant Director of College Counseling
Robbie Angell
Assistant to the Director of College Counseling
