College Chronicles Pt. 5: The Research Process

With less than one week until many early college application deadlines, millions of high school students around the nation are in overdrive, finalizing essays, extracurricular descriptions, and perhaps even their college lists. Although all applicants are (hopefully) after the precious “Congratulations!” admission letter, they differ in the avenues they’ll pursue for such a goal. Early decision, early action, regular decision, and rolling admission plans give high schoolers a variety of options while considering deadlines and decision dates. Those opting for early decision and/or early action are on the precipice of submission. On November 1st, many institutions will close their doors for their first round of applications and begin the lengthy evaluation process. And just like no two of these applicants will be the same, colleges themselves are far from identical. 

College attendance marks a significant turning point in teens’ lives, so deciding where to apply poses a challenge to many. ʻIolani Sanches, a senior with a few early applications already submitted, recognized the seemingly endless number of aspects to consider. However, Sanches has found value in thinking about what she wants first, rather than what a particular institution offers. Noting a few of her preferences, Sanches says, “Some things I want are a high median salary after graduation, my preferred program, a pretty campus, vibrant student life, and overall good vibes.” Although elastic preferences are a must when entering the application process, solidifying them as deadlines approach helps develop both confidence and excitement in this consequential decision.

But after settling on their priorities, students often find themselves at a loss when it comes to identifying the appropriate institutions. Takarrah Presley, a senior interested in playing collegiate volleyball, utilized many tools when perusing the boundless menu of American colleges. “There’s a website called FieldLevel, which is for recruitment-related things. I used that to get in contact with coaches,” Presley said. But volleyball isn’t the all-encompassing requirement for her college experience; just as equally, Presley is considering the possibility of not signing for the sport, so the quality of her education is still a guiding factor. “For educational aspects, I used Google and Aunty Bari [Parker School’s College Counseling Director] to look at strong schools for Zoology or Biology, which I want to major in,” Presley added. On the importance of a social life, she noted, “I want to go to a school with a big population. As a woman of color, I look forward to experiencing more diversity in college than I’ve experienced in the past.” The research process is deeply personal, but there is significant overlap between students. “I used my mom, my college counselor, Aunty Bari, and some general research on Google,” explained Sanches. Google and college counselors seem to be a trend among applicants, so not making the most of them would be a disservice.

With colleges identified, many students then choose to make visits and participate in campus tours. A completely optional component of the college research process, campus tours help visitors actualize their four years as undergraduates. Here, Sanches and Presley are outliers, both having visited more than 20 schools. “I visited a lot of schools, I think around 25. I think it was important for me to visit because it helped me imagine myself there. Putting a place to a name has made applying to the college feel more significant,” Sanches remarked. However, college visits can be expensive for those traveling long distances, especially if plane rides are in question. What’s more, these trips take lots of time, and for many, are highly inconvenient in the face of approaching deadlines. College students attend institutions in the absence of a prior visit and succeed all the time. In fact, that's the reality for most: more than 50% of college students report not having visited their institution. The bottom line is that college tours, if available, can be a highly productive agent for experiential decision-making, but if unfeasible, will probably have a negligible impact on your undergraduate experience.

After all is said and done, and applicants arrive at finalized college lists, for many, something still feels missing. There is a belief among college applicants that they should have “the one” on their list. That is, at least one school that is unequivocally perfect for them. Here is where students often send early applications, especially under a legally binding contract (if offered). Sanches and Presley both admit to feeling this pressure but adopt contrasting interpretations. While neither feels like they have found “the one,” Sanches has no intentions to: “I don’t think there is such a thing. Even though I definitely have one or two that are close to being ‘the one,’ there are so many elements to consider, I don’t believe any school could possibly fulfill every single preference anyone has.” On the other hand, Presley comments, “There are so many schools out there, so I think if you do the research and really want to find it, you can probably find ‘the one.’” 

Genevieve Savage, Class of ‘23, a current junior at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, reflected on her application cycle and subsequent college experience. In opposition to the concept of the perfect school, Savage emphasizes, “It is far more dependent on a student’s attitude than their compatibility with any place at all.” She adds, “Compatibility is often sold as an end-all, be-all, but it should hardly be a priority. Some places may be easier than others, but no place is perfect because the thing that has to change is the student.” Identifying colleges requires more than just checking boxes. Instead, it demands that students imagine their assets in conjunction with a school, not dependent on it.

In the end, what students fear as the deciding factors of their college experiences are usually superficial. Understanding that four years anywhere will orbit the mindset you bring to them is imperative, and while the ability to effectively curate a college list should not be overlooked, it will rarely be the reason you don’t succeed.

Be sure to follow @parkerseniordestinations to discover where the class of 2026 ends up as a result of their college lists and, more importantly, their hard work!