It will start soon, if it has not happened already. Seniors will be getting acceptance letters from the schools they applied to, and they will have to decide where they will go in September. For all students, this is a big decision, for many, it is the biggest decision they have ever made. Deciding which college to go to does entail deciding upon some major factors like: How far from home do you want to go? Can you afford the tuition? Do they have majors in the things you are interested in? Do you think you can handle the rigor of the course load? Okay, it is possible to keep coming up with questions, but is it necessary? We often hear about finding a college that is a good ” fit” for you. The  authors of the following advice warn that for many teenagers finding the perfect “fit” may be elusive and not really necessary.

Moody and Ahlgren say students and parents should stop treating college like marriage by searching for “soulmates.” Instead, these counselors say, students should shop for colleges the way they do for, say, jackets, which will only last a few years. Lots of jackets “fit,” after all. And kids often grow into clothes that initially seem too big or ill-fitting.

The counselors warn against limiting applications to just a few “dream” colleges, but also against going overboard and applying to dozens of colleges. They believe students and parents will be happier if they broaden their notion of “fit” to basic criteria such as affordability, whether the student feels comfortable on campus, and whether the student can be academically challenged, but still succeed.

“I tell kids that if they are expecting a particular institution to just hand them a great life and an amazing experience, they’re going to be disappointed. They’ll find good and bad teachers anywhere they go, and the random accidents of relationships, experiences, and influence at any given college can’t be predicted,” Moody says.

Instead, students can develop valuable life skills by making the best of whatever college they end up attending. “‘Fit’ happens,” Moody says. “Students grow into it wherever they land, if they’re open-minded and engaged. They need to remember that they’ll be changing and growing in unexpected ways, and maybe the ‘un-fit’ of a college is the most important part of the experience—the unfamiliar people, ideas, and experiences that will push students to new revelations and knowledge about themselves and the world.”

By KIM CLARK– From U.S. News and World Report

Posted: January 19, 2011

Some more of the factors  students questioned:

1. College has very good academic reputation (63.6 percent)
2 .This college’s graduates get good jobs (56.5 percent)
3. I was offered financial assistance (44.7 percent)
4. The cost of attending this college (41.6 percent)
5. A visit to the campus (41.4 percent)
6. Wanted to go to a college about this size (39.8 percent)
7. College has a good reputation for social activities (39.3 percent)
8. Grads get into good grad/professional schools (34.6 percent)
9. Wanted to live near home (20.1 percent)
10. Information from a website (19.2 percent)
11. Parents wanted me to go to this school (18.8 percent)
12. Rankings in national magazines (18.5 percent)
13. Admitted early decision and/or early action (12.9 percent)
14. Could not afford first choice (12.2 percent)
15. High school counselor advised me (10.3 percent)
16. Not offered aid by first choice (8.9 percent)
16. Athletic department recruited me (8.9 percent)
18. Attracted by religious affiliation/orientation of college (7.8 percent)
18. My teacher advised me (7.8 percent)
20. My relatives wanted me to come here (7.3 percent)
21. Private college counselor advised me (3.6 percent)
22. Ability to take online courses (2.7 percent)