Narrow the college search
Questions to consider:
- Would you like to stay in state or go to college someplace farther away? What do you plan to study? Would you be getting a 2-year (associate) or 4-year (bachelor’s) degree?
- Would you like to go to a large or small school?
- Would you live on or off campus? What kind of student life are you looking for in a college?
Review planning resources
- Various College planning websites explain all aspects of the application process and provide tailored searches based on your individual preferences. These websites also have resources to help plan and pay for college. Visit:
The Delaware Higher Education Office Scholarship Compendium provides comprehensive resources on college planning, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities. Studentaid.gov is another great resource for paying for college.
Visit prospective colleges
- Tour college campuses on weekends, breaks, or over the summer if possible. Sitting in on a college class, taking a guided tour, attending the information sessions, and asking questions of real college students can be very informative.
- See if colleges offer overnight visits for potential students. These can be very informative and help students decide if a college would be a good match for them.
Keep applications organized
- Students who apply to 4 or more colleges have a 90% rate of actually enrolling in a college. Applying to multiple schools will provide options for students, allowing for the best choice to be made among financial aid packages and programs of study.
- Prepare for college applications by keeping a list of the schools to which you are applying.
- Keep a checklist for each school with the deadlines and components of the application (application, essays, transcripts, supplemental documents, test scores, application fee, recommendation letters) and check off when each is sent to colleges.
- Verify that your counselor has sent high school transcripts, test scores, and requested recommendation letters.
- Make sure that application fees are paid or fee waivers submitted if necessary.
- Keep folders for each application with copies of all materials.
- Review the BigFuture College Application Checklist. This can make the application process less overwhelming.