Have you been following our College search 101 series? So far we’ve looked at what you want to do with the rest of your life, how education affects earnings, the best types of programs, different types of colleges, and resources to help you find the right college.

Now that you’ve found a college you’d like to attend, we’ll explore whether or not you’re a good fit for it.

Why wouldn’t they want me?

Let’s see, how can I put this delicately . . .?

Certain colleges would only accept someone like you me if a $1-million donation was sent along with your my application.

Seriously. Not every school is for every student.

I, for example, graduated from high school in the top 2% of my class, had great test scores, and could write a mean essay.

All of those things, however, didn’t mean that my first-choice college should have been Harvard (with Princeton and Yale as fallbacks).

Instead, I applied to three non-profit schools, was accepted to all of them, and ultimately chose the one that was furthest away from my parents.

If you’re going to go to the effort of finding a school you think is perfect for you, you ought to take a minute to consider whether you’re right for it.

What do colleges care about?

Some colleges only care about whether or not you’ll be able to pay your tuition. Others look at things like test scores, previous grades, class rank, or work experience.

According to the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s State of College Admission Report 2006, grades and test scores are the top factor considered by colleges during the admissions decision making process.

The report breaks everything down into the following order of importance:

Factors in the Admission Decision:

• Grades
• Standard admission test scores
• High school class rank
• Application essay or writing sample
• Teacher or counselor recommendations
• A students “demonstrated interest” in attending the school

Public schools are five times more likely to use class rank than private schools.

While there are some similarities in what colleges want, each one places varying importance on the items above.

You need to understand what the college of your choice is looking for.

How can I find out what a college wants?

Look in the admissions section of the college’s Web site for any posted guidelines. Often, the site will detail the admissions office’s idea of an ideal student.

If you match up with their description of the ideal student, you can apply with confidence that you have a high probability of acceptance.

If you are sub-standard, it wouldn’t hurt to call or write to the admissions team. Introduce yourself and let them know that you’re interested in attending the college but that you’re concerned about an item or two.

Mention your concerns and ask for their recommendation about whether you should apply or not.

Most admissions officers are interested in finding a win-win situation where the student and the college are happy to be together. Talk to them – they’re around to help.

If you’re not a good match for the college, move on to your next choice. With a little work, you’ll be able to find a good fit.

The next post in this series will help you evaluate whether or not you’ll be able to afford this new relationship with the college of your dreams.

Need help finding the right college? Click to get started now!

We’re halfway through our series: College search 101.

1. What do you want to do with the rest of your life?
2. Education and earnings
3. Choosing the right type of educational program

What type of college will help you achieve your educational goals?

Once you’ve settled on the type of program that will help you get a better job and make more money, it’s time to figure out what kind of school will best meet your needs.

Public colleges and universities

These traditional schools are run with the help of government funding and supervision. They are what most people think of when they hear the term “college” or “university.”

While they’re not for everyone, public colleges and universities offer a variety of program types – including many traditional academic programs, along with occasional career, trade, and licensure programs. They also offer professional programs like law and medical degrees.

These schools usually have strong continuing education programs.

Non-profit colleges

These colleges aren’t funded or directed by government officials. They usually report to a board of directors that assume responsibility for the ultimate success of the institution.

Non-profit colleges usually have similar program offerings as public schools, but claim to offer a higher quality of education than their state-run counterparts.

You’re probably familiar with the following examples of non-profit colleges:

• University of Southern California
• University of Notre Dame
• Stanford University

Career, trade and specialty colleges

Education means business for these private colleges. They’re in it to turn a profit – and that’s not a bad thing.

Many career, trade, licensure, and specialty programs can only be found at private colleges.

These schools place high value on practical knowledge and hands-on training. You won’t find most traditional academic programs here.

Interested in studying comparative literature or joining a sorority? Look somewhere else.

Want to get down to business with a specialized program focused on a specific skill set? You’ve found the right place.

Online Colleges

Many schools offer programs that can be taken over the Internet or through other forms of distance learning.

Private colleges have been a major force behind the development of online learning; but, the public schools, along with the non-profits, are following close behind.

Online colleges are a great fit for working professionals, stay-at-home parents, and many others.

The next post in this series will look at resources that exist to help you find the right program at the right college.

Need help finding the right college? Click to get started now!