How to Choose a College: A Step-by-Step Guide [+ Free Template]

Are you on the brink of graduating high school, feeling overwhelmed by the daunting task of choosing the right college?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Choosing the right college can be a breeze for some, and for others, it’s a journey filled with twists and turns. While some students have a clear direction, others may find themselves navigating a more uncertain path.

We understand the journey ahead can be intimidating, so we’ve created a practical, step-by-step guide to support you through this important decision. And to make things even smoother, we’ve made an editable template. This tool is crafted to help you compare your top college choices. Oh, and did we mention it’s all yours for free?

Free Download: College Scorecard Template [Access Now]

Step 1: Self-Reflection

Take a moment to figure out what you want from your college experience. You may hear all kinds of opinions around you and take them in, thinking they are true. But remember, everyone’s journey is different, so other people’s experiences might not apply to you. While it’s still great to get advice from others, remember to listen to yourself first.

During your first brainstorming session, some things to consider when choosing a college are:

◉ What is most important to me?
◉ What are my hobbies and interests?
◉ What do I want from my college experience?
◉ What kind of community do I want to join?
◉ What type of environment do I thrive in?
◉ What are my academic strengths?

Step 2: Research Career Paths

After asking yourself these questions, it’s time to connect the dots between your interests and potential career paths. Let’s say you’re a big fan of video games and have always done well in math. In this case, research different roles within the gaming industry and explore how your unique blend of talents aligns with various positions. In this specific scenario, Game Programming may be a choice worth exploring.

Choosing the right college is going to be crucial. Once you’ve identified careers that interest you, research the skills and educational requirements needed to succeed in each role. Some industries may require a traditional diploma or bachelor’s degree, while others may value hands-on experience. Remember to take notes; they’ll become important later!

Step 3: Set Your Criteria
Now, consider the different factors that will influence your college experience.

Here are some factors to consider when choosing the right college for you:

◉ Proximity to home
◉ Housing, crime rate, public transit, and entertainment (if you move away)
◉ Dorm availability
◉ Financial aid
◉ School and class size
◉ Extracurricular activities
◉ Program curriculum
◉ Instructor qualifications
◉ Industry connections and partnerships
◉ Campus facilities

Rank each factor from 1 to 10 based on its significance to you. For example, if an aesthetic campus is super important to you, this factor’s score should be 9 or 10.

Step 4: Create a Scorecard (Or Use Our Template)

Organize the information by setting up a scorecard in Excel or using the downloadable template below. First, list your college choices in the top row. Then, use the first two columns for factors to consider and how important each one is to you.

Our free template already has some factors listed, but you can customize it as needed.

Use This Template to Make Sure You’re Choosing the Right College

Step 5: Search for Colleges
Select two factors that are the most important to you and use them as a starting point for researching colleges. For example, if you want to study Game Programming within our home province, start by exploring colleges in New Brunswick that offer this program. Add the names of these colleges to the top row of your spreadsheet.

Step 6: Rate Each College
Research each college on your list, assigning scores out of 10 for each factor.

For example, if College X offers many scholarships that are easy to get, you can give it a 10 for the “Financial Aid” factor.

Add any relevant details, like admission deadlines and scholarship information, to the “Important Info” section on the scorecard.

Step 7: Calculate Final College Scores
After you’ve looked into all the schools, multiply the scores you assigned each factor by the scores you gave each college. Then, add up those numbers to get the final score. Our template makes this easy by including built-in formulas.

In our example below:

(10 x 10) + (10 x 8) + (8 x 5) + (1 x 1) + (8 x 6) + (7 x 9) + (8 x 8) + (7 x 9) + (5 x 8) + (3×4) = 511

Download the College Scorecard Template Here for Free

Step 8: Evaluate Top Choices
Look at the final scores to narrow down your top choices. Consider visiting campuses or attending virtual open houses to get a better feel for the schools. Even though websites and social media help, personal visits give you a real sense of the place.

At this stage, you should be ready to confidently send out your applications! Applying to multiple schools is a smart strategy, especially for competitive programs.

What Comes Next?
Choosing the right college is an adventure, so we hope this guide will help make it a bit less overwhelming. Best of luck on your big journey ahead. Remember to stay true to your passions, approach things with an open mind, and, most importantly, have fun along the way!

In the rapidly evolving city of Saint John, New Brunswick, CAM Institute of Design offers a range of diploma programs to help you explore your creative side. Whether you’re interested in Animation, Game Programming, Transportation Design, or other fields, our institute welcomes aspiring artists and innovators to discover and develop their talents.