What to do if I want to go to college?

So you’re looking into higher education - awesome! The good news is, there’s a ton of information out there for you to dive into. The not-so-good news is it can be a little intimidating. That’s why we’re here! We want to help break down any barriers between you and your decision to pursue higher education. So, let’s dive in, shall we? 

Why are you going? 

One thing you want to do when thinking about going to college is consider why you want to go. When interviewing current students about how they ended up at their current school, there was a wide variety of why they were here. Some students are pursuing a profession that requires a degree or want to improve a skill they have. Others reported they didn’t know what else to do after graduating high school, or they felt societal or familial pressure to go to college. There is no wrong answer to why you want to go to school, but we recommend making sure it’s something you truly want. At the end of the day, higher education of any kind is an investment. If you’re not ready to make the investment now, or simply don’t feel confident making it right now, that’s totally okay! Plenty of people are successful with and without a college education, and there’s no age limit to it. Just because you’re not ready at 18, doesn’t mean you won’t be ready in the future. Trust yourself! 

What do you want to do? 

When you look to the future, where do you want to be? If you see yourself being in the medical or teaching field, for example, college is a required form of entry. If you want to pursue an art form, like visual or performing arts, writing, or something that doesn’t require a degree, you can judge whether you want the added skills and training a degree will grant you, or if you want to dive into the workforce. If you’re having difficulty knowing what step to make next, look to where you want the finish line to be, and work your way back to where you are now.  

What program type works best for you? 

Gone are the days of attending college guaranteeing you spend four straight years of sitting in lecture halls with 300 other students. In the modern age, there are different program types to fit just about anyone looking to earn a degree. There are online options, both synchronously (you attend classes at the same time on a schedule as you do in high school, but just virtual) or asynchronously (it’s all online, with no set required meeting times) if you want or need that flexibility. If you only have time to take a class or two a semester while working, look into working towards a degree part-time! Maybe you want a smaller, more intimate class setting like the one you had during high school. Prioritize looking for schools with small average class sizes, whether that be through a private school or a smaller public one. Or maybe you want that 300-person experience! Look into larger public schools with large average class sizes. Think about what you want your time in college to look like; it’s almost certain there will be a list of schools that match that ideal for you. 

Gather your list of schools! 

Once you’ve decided the above: what you want to do (which will help inform your major) and the kind of experience you want (which will help inform the kind of school you want to go to) it’s time to start looking at colleges you may want to apply to. There are a million and one ways for you to find these schools; you can ask for help from friends, family, and guidance counselors who may know of some schools that fit into your list, or, you can use the endless resource that is the world wide web. Our only warning with that is, again, it can be overwhelming. Start with specific searches like “public university, small class size, North Carolina with art degree” rather than broad ones like “public universities with art degrees.” Write down the ones that stick out to you for one reason or another. Once you have a handful, then in-depth research can begin. 

What to Consider

This is where the rubber starts to meet the road; it’s time for all the big questions to begin. What’s the specific major called, and what kind of jobs do graduates of that program have? What’s their campus size and average class size? What’s the most important thing to me and do they have it? Most of the time, simply scrolling through their website will be enough to answer these questions, but if you’re short on time, find yourself overwhelmed or struggling to find the information you need, or just prefer a one-on-one experience, reach out to the school directly! Give their admissions office a phone call or email! Have your questions ready and see what they say! 

This is also when we recommend doing your campus visits. Don’t waste your time applying and considering the school if you hate the campus. You can always visit multiple times if need be. (What should you look for during a campus visit? Check out our printable worksheet found here!) 

Begin those applications! 

And it’s time! Start filling out applications. How many applications should you fill out? Well, here’s the answer nobody likes: it depends. If there has only been one college that caught your eye, and if you don’t get in there you want to take a step back and reevaluate? There’s nothing wrong with sending in just one! If you want to apply to every single school you’ve looked into to keep your options open? Go ahead! Just keep in mind those application fees can certainly add up if you don’t have fee waivers, and the more schools you get into, the more overwhelming the final decision can be. I ended up applying to about five schools, a healthy mix of “I know I can’t afford it but I want to see if I can get in” schools, “I would be happy to go here” schools, and the good old fashion “This is the worst possible outcome, but I’d rather get a degree from here than not get a degree at all.” I’m happy with the number of schools I applied to, but can certainly see it not being the best for everyone. 

We also recommend filling out one of our application worksheets for each and every school you apply for, just to keep the required materials, deadlines, and people of contact straight to make sure they all get filled out correctly and on time. 

And now, we wait! 

You did it! You applied to college! Way to go! Now - what to do when you get accepted? Now that’s a great choice… Read more here.

What do I do once I’ve been accepted?

So you’ve been accepted into college! First of all, congratulations! Deciding to pursue higher education can be daunting, and getting accepted into college is an accomplishment all on its own. Your hard work has paid off! But now what?.

If you’ve gotten multiple acceptance letters, now is the time to sit down and evaluate each school individually and compare it to the others. There are multiple ways of doing this: some people instantly know based on gut feeling. For some students, however, there are important factors, such as financial aid to influence their decision. Make sure you have all the information you need before evaluating. Comparing hard facts, such as scholarships offered or location is fairly easy. If you need help we have a college comparison sheet on our Printables page to easily outline some of these facts. 

The non-factual factors, such as feeling, or desire to go to the school, are much harder to compare and contrast. But here are some things to consider: 

Have you visited the school? An in-person visit can do wonders for seeing if it’s a good fit. As you look around, see if you can picture yourself there. Do you see students that look like you or look like you would get along with? Where do you see yourself studying? What about eating or hanging out? If you cannot picture yourself at a school, it may not be the best fit for you. 

How do you feel about the school? Was it a first choice for you? Or was it just somewhere you applied to due to peer pressure or because it was easy to apply to? While your first impression is not the most important factor, you don’t want to spend four to five years somewhere you don’t like. Try evaluating why you applied to the school and if you could see yourself happy there. 

Ask for an outside opinion! Sometimes we need a fresh pair of eyes on the situation - ask trusted individuals what they think. Maybe they have a perspective you don’t and can provide some insight. Or they could completely agree with you, which can help you be more confident in your decision.

Talk to your admissions counselor

Your admissions counselor doesn’t stop once you’ve submitted your application. They’re a great resource for you when you’re going through the admissions process. Not only will they know that specific school’s process and procedures, but they will also be able to point you in the direction of who to direct specific questions. 

Visit! Or revisit! 

Whether you already toured or not, once you’ve been admitted is a great time to visit! If you’ve visited it before, it can be helpful to revisit it with a fresh perspective and get the chance to ask any questions you missed. You can also see if the school offers special visits or tours of program-specific areas (such as a tour of the art studio for art students, or a business center for business students). Lots of schools even host admitted-specific events specifically for students in your position. They’ll likely dive more in-depth about what you can expect to happen next or answer a lot of the questions you may already be having. If you can’t make it to the school, find some contact information! Don’t be afraid to call or email with questions you have! Remember: they chose you! And you want to go to a school with a good communication system!

Now you know where you’re going - it’s time to accept your offer! 

An acceptance letter to a college is like an invitation - they’re inviting you to join their school. Which means you have to accept it! Some schools have binding or non-binding acceptances (otherwise known as “intent to enroll”.) “Binding” means it’s official - you’re committing to going to that school in the semester you’ve been offered. It’s often tied to a financial obligation of some kind - like a deposit or agreement to pay the tuition and fees. Non-binding comes with no official agreement or deposit. It’s there to show you’re serious about the school and considering or accepting their offer, but you have no obligation yet to attend the school. That obligation comes later, like when you register for classes or attend orientation. 

Each school is different! 

Each and every school has its own set of processes and procedures. It’s always best to ask too many questions (if there even is such a thing) than not ask enough and get something wrong. Check-in with the school you’re looking to accept the offer from and see if they offer a specific checklist for what to do post-admission. And remember: you got this!

What’s financial aid? How do I apply?

What’s financial aid? How do I apply? 

At the end of the day, college is an investment. It's an investment of your time and talents and often comes with a substantial financial investment. However, don’t let this stand in the way between you and pursuing a degree. There is money out there - now let’s talk about how to get it!

Federal Aid

When one thinks of the cost of higher education, one often thinks of student loans: primarily given out by the government. To qualify for these loans, and a prerequisite for most scholarships (which we’ll get into shortly) is to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA. 

FAFSA

The FAFSA is an online form prospective and current students fill out each year detailing their education and financial background to see what federal aid they qualify for. The most important things you need to know about the FAFSA are these -

• It opens every year on October 1

• It is first come, first serve

• Priority filing ends on January 15

• It must be filled out every single year you want to receive aid

The FAFSA can be daunting, especially if you’re completing it for the first time with no one who has done it before. But ultimately, all it is are questions! Questions about you and your background. If you’re a dependent of your parents or legal guardian. Both your and their financial history, and so on. Before October 1, sit down with your parents/guardian and make sure you have all the information you need. (Your Social Security number or Alien Registration number if not a U.S. citizen, records of any money earned, such as tax returns or W-2s, bank statements, and records of investments or untaxed income, if applicable.) If you are a dependent (most incoming first-years are) you’ll need both your and your parent/guardians' information to file. 

You’ll also need to list any schools you are applying to or considering. This tells the government to pass on your FAFSA report to that school so they can know if you receive any aid. 

Federal Aid Types

There are a few different aids that the federal government offers based on eligibility. The most common are student loans - money the federal government will loan you for your education. It’s important to note that these are LOANS, meaning you must pay them back with interest. There are two different types of loans offered - subsidized and unsubsidized loans. In short, subsidized loans are much preferable because you will not be responsible for any of the interest they accumulated during your time at school and six months after. Unsubsidized loans, on the other hand, start gathering interest the moment they are taken out, whether you are in school or not. 

It’s important to note that you are not required to take out loans if you don’t need them. Similarly, you do not have to take out the entire amount offered to you. If you can pay for college without taking out loans, we highly recommend you choose that option. 

Another type of aid sometimes offered is called grants. A grant is a money given to you by the federal government that does NOT need to be paid back. Grants are awarded to students exhibiting extreme financial need. 

Non-Federal Aid

Federal aid is a great stepping stone, but many students need more than what the federal government can offer. This is where non-federal aid comes in, typically in the form of scholarships. 

Scholarships

Scholarships are money awarded to students that do not need to be paid back. Students can qualify for scholarships in every way imaginable, from merit-based (meaning you did something awesome and people want to award that), need-based (you show significant financial need), or even things such as where you grew up, what your last name is, what you're studying, etc. 

Internal Scholarships

Scholarships given out by the school, often referred to as internal scholarships, are typically handled by their financial aid office. These can come from individual departments, funds that alumni or others in the community have contributed to, or more. Every school has a different process for how students apply for and receive scholarships. Your best bet is to contact their financial aid department directly and talk to them about it. 

External Scholarships

External scholarships are given out by people or places other than the school. These may come from your place of employment, the city or state you live in, a religious organization, etc. There are plenty of websites out there that will walk you through external scholarships and help you curate some that you may qualify for!

In Conclusion…

College comes with a higher ticket cost - but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible to achieve. It just means you may need to dive into some resources to find ways to help cover the bill! We recommend 1) Filing the FAFSA early! 2) Do your research - look into schools' sticker prices (the amount students are paying on average) as well as the average amount of aid they give out. And 3) contact each school's financial aid office! Make sure you understand their individual process so you can qualify for and receive as much aid as you can. Best of luck! 

What resources do colleges offer? How do I find out?

Resources to look for 

While academics are a vital factor in choosing a school, every single person that we talked with about this project mentioned the importance of a school’s resources. But what exactly are those? And what should I be looking for? 

Tutoring

College is hard academically for a multitude of reasons; there are challenging classes, and you may have to relearn (or learn for the first time) how to take effective notes and study. Whatever it may be, it is always helpful to have someone in your corner. Turuoing may seem daunting or an admission of failure, but it’s anything but! It’s just working with someone who has a different perspective and wants to help you succeed! Find out if your school offers in-house tutoring and if it’s covered in your tuition and fees or paid out of pocket. 

Writing Center

One thing that every single major has in common - you will have to write at least one paper. Whether that’s a main source of your grades, or simply required in your general education credits, papers are in your future! No one can fully proofread their own paper because you’re unconsciously reading it in your own words. A writing center can help get another pair of eyes on your paper to make sure it’s the best it can be! 

Math Center 

There are few people in the world (at least that we know of!) that identify math as their strong suit - especially learning new math. A math help center is there to help walk you through the problems, learn equations, and do anything else you may need to ace your next math test. The important thing to look out for is making sure they’re teaching you how to go about solving them, rather than solving them for you. Having someone solve that hard equation may seem great until it appears on your next exam! 

Speaking Center

Another rarity when it comes to people loving - public speaking. Giving speeches and presentations can be daunting, especially if you’ve never done it before. Chances are, however, similar to papers, you’ll need to give them no matter the major. Speaking centers can help with tips and tricks to calm those nerves, point out some things you do that you may not notice (like fidgeting or using filler words), and help you practice your presentation or speech until you feel more comfortable with it.  

Gym/Wellness Center 

Sometimes the best way to get out of a funk of not being able to write that paper that’s due, or make headway on your project is to get up and move a little. You certainly don’t have to be training to become a world athlete to benefit from a school that has some treadmills or weights to lift. Exercise can be a great way to handle the stress that may come your way over your time at college. 

Student Health Center 

Probably the last thing you should do if you’re feeling under the weather is walking a few miles to get to the nearest hospital. See if there’s a health center located on your campus for check-ups, vaccinations, or medication refills (and go ahead and see the closest pharmacy too!)  

Mental Health Center 

Mental health should be taken just as seriously as physical health. Going to college comes with a lot of change which can be difficult to manage at some times. See if your school has any connections to mental health services on campus or in the surrounding areas. Don’t ever suffer alone. 

Career Services

A diploma doesn’t help us much if we don’t have a job! And nothing can overshadow graduation more than not having an answer for everyone asking where you’re working after you graduate. A career service office can help you with your resume and CV, as well as help you draft a cover letter. Some offices offer mock interviews or headshots to help you stand out amongst other applicants. They may also host an internship or career fair where companies in the surrounding areas come and talk to people looking to apply. It’s never a bad time to go to one of those; even if you may not be looking for a job right away, practice makes perfect! 

Library 

Libraries on campus often serve a multitude of resources. They may have textbooks or other required materials that you can check out, some more modern libraries are starting to have the technology you can check out, as well as some research liaisons who can help point you in the direction of where to start your research project. It also often serves as the perfect place to hunker down and study right before a big test, or where to go if you have a mountain of work to get done and need to limit distractions. 

IT/Technical Help

 With a major shift in online learning in response to the pandemic, lots of classes still have an online component, like project submission, even if the class is held entirely online. This means an error screen on your computer can be fatal. With no time to take it to a Geek Squad counter, some schools have residential IT departments that can help with any technical issues you may be experiencing. 

Child Care

In an effort to help return adult students or young parents, lots of schools are starting to offer child care services on campus for parents to utilize while on campus or in classes. Check to see what kind of help your school offers to parent students! 

Disability/Accommodations

There is a range of things that can make the college experience difficult, and it can be more difficult for some individuals than others. Offices of accessibility are here to help break down some barriers one may face with getting an education. If you feel you may qualify for this assistance, it’s always best to check in with those offices sooner rather than later to see what the process is like to get the necessary accommodations.