How do I find out about a college or university?
How do I find out about admissions requirements?
How do I decide which school(s) to apply to?
How do I apply?
How do I find out about a college or university?
Begin with the college or university's website. While you should not base your decision solely on what you see online (it's always a good idea to visit a campus in person or talk to family or friends who have gone there), websites can give you a good place to learn about their degree programs, campus life, and costs.
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How do I find out about admissions requirements?
Almost all colleges and universities require a high school diploma and SAT or ACT scores. They differ widely, however, in their selectivity -- in other words, how high your grades and scores must be. In addition, many may have additional requirements such as essays or letters of recommendation.
It is important to find out the admissions requirements for each university you plan to apply to well in advance. You don't want to find you're missing some requirements at the last moment. Admissions offices for most schools can be found on their websites.
A list of UT admissions offices is available online.
Helpful tips on college admissions can be found on the College for Texans website.
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How do I decide which school(s) to apply to?
Selecting a college is ultimately a personal decision. Ask yourself which school is right for you. Consider location, cost, academic programs, selectiveness, and reputation. Look at the degree programs offered. Consider the availability of extracurricular activities -- Greek societies, athletics, music, fine arts, etc. Would you prefer a large or small school? Urban, suburban, or rural? Do you want to live on or off campus?
You can help yourself make this decision by breaking the process into several steps:
- Identify what's important to you in a school. (For some ideas about points to consider visit www.mheso.state.mn.us/mPg.cfm?pageID=930.)
- Search for schools that have programs you are interested in.
- Plan a visit to as many schools as possible. If you are interested in a school, but cannot visit, then make sure to visit them online. Ask friends or family who may have gone there. Check with the admissions office and see if they have a video or other promotional material. There are some commercial videos of campus tours that you can purchase. Just remember that this is not the same as seeing it for yourself.
- Evaluate and compare schools that you like. Perhaps you can rank the schools in each of the areas that are important to you.
- Apply to schools you want to attend. Remember to apply to a number of different universities. You don't want to be stuck if you don't get into your first (or only) choice.
- Decide which school to attend. This is a big decision, consider all the facts...but don't forget to trust your instincts.
For tips on selecting the school that is right for you, try these useful sites:
- College PowerPrep.
- How Stuff Works -- How College Admission Works.
- Mapping Your Future -- A guided tour of Selecting A School. On the tour, you'll find out what characteristics to look for when choosing a college or training program and how to find the best school for you.
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How do I apply?
Once you have narrowed your search, it is time to submit applications to those institutions. Some people recommend applying to as many as eight different schools -- three "reach" schools; three "likely" schools; and two "safety" schools -- that way you can be assured you'll have a choice.
Each school will have a different application process, as well as different admissions requirements and deadlines for submission. Check with the admissions office of the school(s) you are interested in to make sure you have submitted everything required. Many schools now offer online applications--and most prefer this method.
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