Before you can get into a top college or any university, for that matter, you have to decide where you want to apply. The College Application Process is not easy, neither is deciding where to go to college. Doing a college search can be the biggest decision that you and your parents make together during the college application process.
There are some important factors for you and your parents to consider when doing a college search as you start the college application process. Where you apply influences where you get in, and where you go to college can have a big impact on your career and future in general. One of the most important things to consider as you start the college application process with your college search is: What is the Degree of Competitive Reputation or Prestige?
I know that it may sound very elitist, but reputation can be something to consider too. I already discussed how a college’s over all reputation can influence how you select a major and how much freedom you have to explore your academic options while on campus.
A college’s reputation can also influence where you go to grad school and where you get a job. I’ll be honest, if you graduate from a prestigious college, people take you more seriously when you apply to graduate school and for jobs in general.
If you go to a less renown college or university, then you have to worry more about your GPA because the assumption most people make, whether it is fair or not, is that graduating from a top college says more than a high GPA from a state school. Also, if you go to a competitive college, you become part of a network of competitive, driven folks, and you never know when that will come in handy.
As you may know, conducting a college search is only the first step in the college admissions process. To help those who are serious about getting into an Ivy League college or other top college, I outline insider information based on my experience as a recruiter and alumni interviewer for Yale University. My recommendations, tips, and insight are available at part of the Keys to the CASTLE program.