What should I do?

The first step is to find out what you want to do. The best way is to look what is out there and find some really fun, exciting, and sometimes, completely new careers to help you figure it out. Take this online survey designed by the U.S. Department of Labor to help you figure it out. Remember to save your results as a PDF to your google drive!

Campus Visits

The best way to know what you are looking for in a college is to visit one! Check out this list of Massachusetts colleges and universities that are accessible and affordable to visit. Most schools offer campus visits, open houses, and even virtual tours to get a feel for what programs would be best for you. Some schools even offer pre-college summer opportunities - check them out here!

How To Start A Search

What Type of School am I Looking For?

(Adapted from Lynn English High School)

The following list describes different categories of post-high school educational institutions. Please keep in mind that many schools fall under more than one category.

College (4-year): An institution that offers educational instruction beyond the high school level in a four- year program. Examples: Merrimack College, Bowdoin College, Hampshire College, and Davidson College. Colleges that emphasize a broad educational foundation in thinking and writing are often referred to as liberal arts colleges.

University: An academic institution that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in a variety of fields. Universities are generally made up of a number of “schools” or “colleges” that each encompass a general field of study. Examples: Harvard University, Lesley University, Boston University, Tufts University, University of Massachusetts, and University of Vermont. Universities tend to be larger than colleges and offer a wider range of courses, majors, and degrees.

Community College: A two-year institution that provides career and vocational training programs, as well as academic programs of study. Academic programs at community colleges prepare students to continue their studies at the college or university level. Examples: North Shore Community College, Bunker Hill Community College. Unlike colleges and universities that offer bachelor degrees, these institutions typically offer associate degrees and transfer pathways with 4-year institutions.

Engineering or Technical College: Independent professional schools that provide four-year training programs in the fields of engineering and the physical sciences. Examples: Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Technical School: A two-year institution that offers programs of study intended to prepare students for immediate employment in fields related to engineering and the physical sciences. These schools may also offer one-year certificate programs or four-year degrees in certain craft and clerical specialties. Examples: Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, New England Institute of Technology, Lincoln Technical Institute.

Nursing School: There are three kinds of nursing schools. At schools affiliated with hospitals, students receive a Registered Nurse (RN) diploma upon successful completion of training and a state examination. At schools affiliated with four-year colleges, students receive both a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree and an RN diploma. Many community colleges offer a two-year programs that award a variety of degrees, certificates, and specializations in the medical field.

Military School: Federal military academies prepare officers for the Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marines. These institutions require recommendation and nomination by United States senators or congressmen and are extremely selective. Examples: United States Military Academy at West Point, United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, United States Air Force Academy at Colorado Springs. Following graduation, every graduate of a federal military academy must serve in the military for a number of years. Private and state-supported military institutions operate on a college application basis and are sometimes not as selective as the federal military academies. Military schools offer degree programs in engineering and technology with concentration in various aspects of military science. 

Business School: Business schools fall into two categories. At many colleges and universities, it is possible to specialize in business administration. Examples: Salem State University, Boston University, and University of Pennsylvania. At other institutions, the entire curriculum is heavily focused on business courses. Examples: Babson College, Bentley University, and Bryant University.

Trade School: Trade schools offer specialized training in specific fields such as cosmetology, computer technology, medical or dental technology, culinary arts, etc. Examples: The North Bennett Street School (traditional trades and fine craftsmanship), Johnson & Wales (culinary arts among other majors), Empire Beauty Schools, and New England Institute of Technology.

Professional School: Professional schools offer specialized training in areas such as art, music, drama, dance, photography, etc. Examples: The Julliard School, Berklee College of Music, Boston Architectural College, and Boston Conservatory.

Keep the Following Admissions Factors in Mind While Applying to Colleges

1. Grades: See your guidance counselor for your GPA (grade point average) before starting your college search. Most colleges and universities provide information on the “average” GPA range for incoming freshmen. You want to make sure that your GPA falls within this range. GPA and the rigor of courses taken (Honors, Advanced Placement, etc.) have been the most important factors in college admissions since the College Board began tracking this information in the 1980s.

2. Class Rank: See your guidance counselor to determine where you rank in your class. It is another variable to help you narrow down your search. Most students accepted to a particular school will fall within the school’s class rank range.

3. SAT, SAT Subject, ACT, and TOEFL Scores: There are very few schools that DO NOT consider one of these scores as important admissions criteria.

4. Extracurricular Activities: The majority of schools are looking for students who are “well- rounded.” They seek students who have been involved in their school community (i.e., sports, clubs, activities, student government, community service, etc.) throughout all four years of high school.

5. Diversity

6. Geographic Location

7. Alumnus Relationship (if any)

8. Major/College within the university applied to

9. Honors and Awards

10. Recommendations and Essays

11. Interviews: Not all schools require admissions interviews. If an interview is required, be sure to prepare well and practice. 

12. Behavior and Discipline Record

13. Admissions requirements? What does the college look for? Do you meet their requirements? If you don’t meet the requirements, have you checked to see if they have alternative admissions, bridge or summer programs? 

Criteria to Consider When Choosing a College

This list is not exhaustive. There may be factors not on this list that will be important criteria for you as you consider colleges. Remember that the college search is individual and personal. 

One size does not fit all!

1. Type of school (refer to previous descriptions)

2. School size (small, medium, or large)

3. Distance from home

4. School setting (i.e., rural or urban, hot or cold climate, region)

5. School culture (i.e., liberal, conservative, Greek system, athletic, alternative, religious)

6. Graduation rates 

7. Programs (What majors are offered? Is the college accredited? How many/what courses are required for your planned major? Are there study abroad opportunities?)

8. Cost of the education

9. Availability of financial aid

10. Extracurricular programs and activities

11. Class sizes; the student-to-faculty ratio

12. Amenities: dining halls, sports & fitness facilities, library, campus centers

13. Student body (i.e., all-male, all-female, co-ed, diverse)

14. Off-campus life (i.e., entertainment, museums, professional sports, employment opportunities, clubs, natural environment, arts & cultural opportunities)

15. School’s reputation; campus appearance; friendliness of student body; campus safety

College Admission Policies

Explained below are the most common application policies students may encounter during the college admissions process. Given the variety of plans and the subtle differences between them, students should review college application materials closely to determine application requirements for specific schools.

Regular Application Deadline: Many colleges establish an application deadline by which all applications must be received. All students are then notified of the college’s decision at a specified response date (typically on or before April 1st). At most colleges, May 1st is the date by which accepted applicants must indicate their intention to enroll. This is known national as Decision Day or College Signing Day. By use of a common reply date, students may evaluate all admissions notices and financial aid awards before deciding on any one college.

Rolling Admission: Schools review applications as they’re submitted and make decisions throughout the admission cycle (usually within 4-6 weeks of submission of the application.) Colleges that follow this practice may make their admissions decisions continuously over several months, in contrast to the practices of other colleges that accumulate their applications until a deadline date and then announce all decisions at the same time. It is usually wise to your application as soon as possible since some colleges will fill their class by early winter.

Early Decision: This is for those early-bird students who already have a clear first choice college. Many colleges offer this plan to applicants who are positive that they want to attend the college. This college should clearly be the applicant’s first choice. If you are still comparing colleges and don’t want to limit your choices yet, Early Decision is NOT for you. Why? Early Decision is a binding contract between you and the college. You are agreeing that if the college accepts you, you’ll withdraw all other college applications and attend the early decision college. Some colleges also have a second round of early decision in January or February. These later plans have the advantage of giving students more time to think through their decision. If accepted under the Early Decision plan, the student is under ethical obligation to attend the college and to withdraw applications to all other schools. Some colleges exchange lists of students accepted under this program. 

Early Action or Early Admission: This application process is similar to early decision, with the exception that if admitted, the applicant is not ethically obligated to withdraw other applications and usually has until May 1st to make a decision. The student sends their application by the early deadline and the college sends them their decision earlier. This can be an advantageous approach if you are highly interested in the college, as more scholarships are available early on in the academic year. Usually, Massachusetts state universities provide priority scholarships to those who apply before December 1st.

Deferred or Delayed Admission: Many colleges allow an accepted candidate to postpone enrollment in a college for one semester or one year.

Open Admissions: An open admission policy grants acceptance to all high school graduates without regard to additional qualifications. 

What Are My Chances of getting in?

Safety: You should be able to get into this school with ease and it is often a backup plan to your first-choice colleges.
Safety: 70-100% chance at admission

Target: Ideal fit for someone of your academic level. You may match the profile of the average accepted student.
Match: 30-70% chance at admission

Reach: Not necessarily a very high chance of getting in, but it is worth a strategic shot anyway.
Reach: 10-30% chance at admission
Far Reach: 0-10% chance at admission