how to research for college

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How to Research a College Effectively

One of the most important aspects of the college admissions process is identifying the schools that are good academic and social fits for you. To ensure that you are applying to a balanced list of reach, target, and likely schools where you will be happy and successful, extensively research each school before adding it to your list. In addition to helping you narrow down your choices now, down the road this research will also enable you to personalize your applications and communicate to an admissions committee why you want to attend that school. To aid you in your college search, the expert counselors at IvyWise have compiled the following tips on how to research a college effectively.

Focus on Academics First

Ultimately, the reason you are going to college is to get a good education, so first focus on what you will learn in the classroom. If you know what you want to study, make sure to visit that department’s web page and read about the courses offered and the professors who teach those classes. Look for answers to the following questions:

• What are the required courses for your intended major?
• Do the available classes sound interesting to you?
• Can you design your own major?
• How big is the department?
• What research or internship opportunities are students able to participate in?

Whether you have decided on a major or are still exploring options, there is lots of research to be done! Many students change majors at least once during college, so it’s important to get a sense of the overall academic environment and curriculum requirements at each school. Consider the following:

• Are there general education or core requirements?
• How are courses structured?
• Do courses emphasize hands-on experiences, lectures, or teamwork?
• What is the average class size and student-to-faculty ratio?

Consider the Social Factors

College is an academic but also a social experience. Next, create a list of questions about dining and housing, clubs and activities, social life and the surrounding community.

• Is a meal plan required? Where do students eat on and off campus?
• Which clubs would you join on campus and what type of events do they host?
• How do students give back to the college’s local community?
• Is there Greek life on campus? What percentage of students participate in fraternities and sororities?
• How is housing assigned? How many roommates might I have my first year?

Use Numbers, but Don’t Dwell on Them

There’s no shortage of statistics about colleges. Admissions rates can help you determine whether a school is a reach, target, or likely, but these numbers are often irrelevant in determining whether a college is a good fit for YOU. Here are some facts and figures that you might want to focus on instead:

• Retention Rates :  How many students return for their sophomore year? How many graduate in 4 years?
• Diversity:  What other nationalities and cultures are represented on campus? What percentage of the student body is international? What is the male to female ratio on campus? What initiatives has the school put in place to support such diversity?
• Housing:  How many students live on-campus versus those who live off-campus? Are students required to live on-campus for a specific number of years or are they allowed to move off-campus at any point? Is on-campus housing provided for all four years of study? Are special housing accommodations available (i.e. quiet, single-sex, learning communities etc.)?
• Career development:  What career services are available? How many students have internships during their time in college? How many students find a job within six months of graduation? How many students go onto business, law, medical, or graduate school?
• School size and location:  Will a smaller or larger school better suit your needs? Would you prefer to be in a bustling city, a small town, or somewhere in between? (Also consider the typical weather, transportation, both public and on-campus, and the distance to major cities or to/from home).

Also, take a look at the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), which reports on how undergraduates spend their time and what they gain from attending a particular college.

Use Multiple Sources

There is an abundance of college information out there, from school websites, brochures, and college newspapers, to current students and alumni, to college rankings, and independent college guides and books (for a list of some of our favorite resources, visit the IvyWise KnowledgeBase ). While researching, keep in mind that all sources or materials could be flawed in some way. You should not trust any single reference to guide you in your research. Instead, familiarize yourself with as many sources as possible to gain an objective and broad understanding of the data and choices facing you. Of course, one of the best ways to research a school is to experience it firsthand through a campus visit. Check out our article on tips for a successful college visit .

Put Your Hard Work to Use!

The research you conduct will be essential when creating your college list, preparing for interviews, visiting campus, and writing essays. As you do your research, purge any schools from your list that do not meet your needs. Ideally, you will end up with a list of 12-15 best-fit colleges , each of which you would be happy to attend. There are many resources available to aid you in your research efforts. At IvyWise, we work directly with students to fully understand their goals and interests and can use this information to create detailed research reports for each school on a student’s college list. Conducting thorough research will be crucial to your success during the exciting process of finding your home for the next four years. Put these tips to use and find the schools where you will learn, grow, and thrive.

At IvyWise, our team of expert counselors works with students to find the colleges and universities that are the best fit for them — whether it’s a hyper-competitive research university or a small, liberal arts college. Your IvyWise counselor will work with you to find the best college list for your interest and goals, and ensure that you’re presenting your best self in your applications.  Contact us today  for more information on our  college counseling services.

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How to Research a College Effectively

By Eric Eng

As you approach your sophomore and junior year of college, you begin to start seriously considering which colleges you want to apply to. You might have considered different options in the past but without much in-depth research.

With # colleges and universities throughout the US, the thought of finding even a few colleges to submit applications to can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Researching college options thoroughly is one of the best ways you can ensure you’re choosing the right schools.

When you have a better understanding of what colleges offer, how they differ, and how they fit into your overall academic and professional goals, you can more confidently choose excellent schools worthy of your time and energy.

Here, we’re going to look at practical tips for researching college options effectively so you can better

Why is researching college options important?

Researching college is a must for any high schooler before beginning the college admissions process. Here are just a few of the advantages that come with this additional preparation:

It saves you time and energy.

Applying to college is an involved process requiring a lot of time, energy, and financial commitments from students. Depending on what your college requires, the college admissions process can easily take a few months to complete.

Plus, you have to pay a non-refundable fee for each application you submit. With all of your other high school responsibilities still on your shoulders, researching college choices extensively can ensure you’re using your resources valuably. In other words, you’ll know you’re applying to schools you actually plan on attending if accepted.

It improves the quality of your college choices.

As a high schooler, you’re strapped for time already. The thought of having to set aside more time for something as crucial as applying to college can cause a great deal of stress and anxiety.

The last thing you want is to waste your time by applying to a college or university which isn’t a good match for you. When researching college choices, you’re essentially filtering out all of the bad options. What you’re left with is a list of well-researched, viable, and good-fit college options that you would be happy to attend.

It gives you valuable information to use.

Researching college is the best way to help narrow down your list of top college choices, but that’s not the only advantage. When you start completing your application, you can use the research uncovered during your research to improve the quality of your submissions.

Admissions officers love to see applicants who are knowledgeable about their university and what it offers. With quality research, you’ll know exactly how to personalize your application and explain why you’re a great fit for the school and vice versa.

When should you start researching college possibilities?

Some high schoolers start thinking about college before their freshman year begins while others tend to wait until the last minute. So, when is the right time to start researching college options in-depth. We generally advise students to start developing a list of potential colleges during their sophomore year.

Earlier is always an option although you’ll have a better idea of what kind of what major you want to pursue and what kind of college you would enjoy the closer you are to graduation. However, you don’t want to end up waiting too long as you want sufficient time to pick good-fit schools where you’d actually want to attend if accepted.

Questions to ask yourself when researching college choices.

The most important factor to consider when researching colleges is something you’re an expert in: you! Just because a school looks perfect on paper, that doesn’t mean it’ll be a good match for you.

That’s why it’s important to ask yourself some key questions at the beginning of your research so you know what to look for in a college to ensure it’s good for you. Here are just a few of the key questions you should be asking yourself regularly to further limit your options effectively.

What do you want to study in college?

We know, we know. These words are enough to induce an anxiety attack for any high schooler who doesn’t have a clear idea of what they want to study. Don’t worry! When you’re researching college possibilities, it’s not necessary to know exactly what major you’ll choose.

But it is helpful to have a general idea. For example, if you know you’d prefer to choose a subject in science, you can narrow down your search to schools that offer robust science programs.

Where do you want to go to school?

Location is another major factor to consider when researching college possibilities. If you can eliminate an entire region of the country where you don’t want to attend or single out a state where you dream of going to school, you’ll have a much easier time narrowing down your options.

Although geography is an important factor in the college experience, we advise students not to overemphasize location as it might possibly keep you from looking at some good-fit schools.

What size school do you want to attend?

Colleges vary greatly in size from a few thousand students to tens of thousands. The size of the student body can impact the feel of the campus, the intimacy of the classroom setting, the social life outside of the classroom, and nearly all other aspects of the college experience. Deciding the size of school you prefer can make it easier to fine-tune your research so you find exactly what you’re looking for quicker.

How much are you willing to spend on education?

Cost is another major factor to think about before researching universities. Most colleges have transparent tuition costs clearly outlined on their official websites, giving high schoolers an accurate idea of how much they would need to spend if accepted.

But you also need to take into account any tuition assistance, scholarships, or grants you could receive. Subtracting this amount from the overall tuition cost can give you an accurate idea of how much it would cost to attend. Schools that fall outside of your projected range can be taken off your research list.

6 Steps for Researching College Options Effectively

Once you have a general idea of what kind of college you want to attend, you can begin your actual research. Again, you don’t need to have a perfectly clear idea of your ideal school. During your research, you’ll gain a better understanding of what you want to find in a university. Here are some steps you can follow to improve your research for colleges:

1. Consult official college and university websites.

The most accurate resource for researching college options is the official websites of the universities. Once you come across a potential university or when you simply want to research one in more depth, these websites are one of the best places to start. You’ll find a plethora of information on these sites including:

• Tuition costs
• Application requirements
• Submission deadlines
• Early Action/Early Decision information 
• Information for international students
• Major and minors
• Extracurricular activities
• Sports and intramurals
• Student body size and demographics
• And much, much more.

There’s no doubt you can find this information elsewhere, but you can’t always rely on its validity. When you visit the official website of a college, you can rest assured you’re getting updated and accurate information because it’s curated by the college itself. Many schools even offer some helpful tips for students when applying to the university which can give you some helpful pointers if you were to end up applying in the future.

2. Dive deep into academic offerings.

Academics aren’t the only consideration to make when researching colleges, but it is one of the most important. After all, the primary point of a college education is just that…to receive a world-class education. But it’s not only the quality of the education you’re looking for. The school’s academic offerings also need to line up with your interests, strengths, and goals.

Start off by gaining a better understanding of a school’s academic landscape overall by answering some of the following questions:

• How many majors and minors are offered?
• How many departments or schools is the college divided into?
• Is the school known for its rigorous courses?
• How big are the classes?
• What’s the faculty-to-student ratio?

Once you have a strong understanding of the general academic make-up of the school, you can start narrowing down your research pertaining to what you want to study. Here are some helpful questions to consider:

• What courses are required for your major?
• Do these courses pique your interest?
• How much funding does the department receive?
• What internship or research opportunities are there?
• Can you design your own major?

Wherever you end up applying, this information will come in handy. Admissions officers will want to know why you chose their university out of all the other viable options. You’ll need to mention specific courses, majors, research opportunities, and other academic (or non-academic) offerings that motivated you to apply.

When you can clearly explain to admissions officers why you’re a good match for the school, it’ll make it easier for them to see you as a viable candidate to attend.

3. Look for reviews from students.

What do you do before purchasing anything online or before going to any restaurant? Check reviews online! So, why should going to college be any different? Yes, researching college options is way more in-depth and important than choosing a tasty lunch place but the point about reviews rings true all the same.

No matter how impressive a school sounds on official websites, the experience of attending the school could be completely different than you’d expect. Fortunately, there are more than enough resources online to learn about the direct experiences of previous students. Reddit forums, Quora pages, and Facebook pages dedicated to certain universities are great places to start.

It’s important to take each student’s explanation with a grain of salt either positive or negative because everybody’s experience is different. However, this information can help you identify patterns that all students seem to mention.

Maybe you notice that most students mentioned the academic rigor or competitiveness of the university. Or perhaps you see most people talking about how enjoyable the extracurricular culture is at the school. Identifying these trends can give you a better idea of what it’s like to actually attend school.

4. Consult other resources.

We’ve already mentioned a few high-quality resources students can consult when researching college options, but there’s no way to include all of the possible resources here. There are just too many which is good news for you! In addition to official school websites, here are just a few other highly informative and helpful resources you can consider using when researching college options:

• School newspapers
• College-specific brochures
• College guides
• College books
• Personal blogs
• Newsletters

Consulting more than one source exposes you to more information, improving your research overall. Limiting your research to a single resource, no matter how high-quality or accurate limits the amount of information you

While researching, keep in mind that all sources or materials could be flawed in some way. You should not trust any single reference to guide you in your research.

Instead, familiarize yourself with as many sources as possible to gain an objective and broad understanding of the data and choices facing you. Of course, one of the best ways to research a school is to experience it firsthand through a campus visit. Check out our article on tips for a successful college visit.

5. Keep an ongoing list of potential colleges.

Researching colleges effectively isn’t just about how you look for information and where you look for information. It’s also about how you apply that knowledge to further narrow down your choices of potential colleges.

With thousands of colleges and universities across the US, it’s impossible to research all of them. The best way to narrow down your options is to pick some non-negotiable factors that a school must-have for you to want to attend.

This could be the location of the school, the size of the campus, its proximity to a city, its academic offerings, and any other strong preferences you have. These characteristics can help you create a filter through which you can funnel all of the potential schools that you come across during your research.

The ultimate goal is to end with a list of around 10 colleges and universities which she would be more than happy to attend. This doesn’t mean that you’ll apply to all of those universities. This list is just a strategy for organizing all of the knowledge you gain and putting it to use by actively narrowing down your college options.

6. Consult a college admissions professional.

College admissions experts are your secret weapon when researching college effectively. These professionals are an excellent resource for determining which colleges and universities are worth applying to. What’s a college entrance expert and how do they assist in your college research?

A college admissions professional specializes in helping students get into the college of their choice. They’re highly experienced experts with vast knowledge of colleges and universities across the country, making these professionals an excellent resource for high schoolers embarking on the college research journey.

Instead of simply providing you with general information that you can find online about schools, a college entrance expert will work with you individually to determine the best colleges and universities based on your specific circumstances.

They’ll take into account your unique academic strengths, preferences, and goals to provide meaningful and personalized suggestions. Most college students aren’t aware of these experts and miss out on the opportunity as a result. You won’t want to pass up this choice when researching college options.

Applying for college doesn’t have to be difficult!

Every year, millions of students start preparing for college applications. For many, this exciting process is marred by a sense of uncertainty, confusion, and stress. Without a clear sense of direction, high schoolers often feel stuck.

That’s where AdmissionSight can help! For the past 10 years, we’ve been helping students just like you gain a better understanding of the college admissions process and improve their chances of getting into the school of their dreams.

We offer a range of services specifically catered to the academic strengths, goals, and preferences of all students we work with. These services are designed to improve your application with the ultimate goal of increasing your chances of getting into your first-choice school.

Whether you need some guidance when choosing high school classes and extracurriculars, pointers when deciding on a college summer program, professional assistance when preparing standardized tests, or anything else related to the college admissions process, we’ve got you covered!

Contact us today to set up a free consultation. We will be happy to answer all of your questions.

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There is a lot to consider when conducting your college research. How does someone narrow down one college to attend? Make sure you have your application in line with transcripts, letters of recommendation, and essays. Look at the qualities of each college you are considering and see if they align with everything that you want to achieve during your college years. In this article, we break down a guide to researching colleges to help you determine which college is right for you.  

What to Look for When Researching Colleges?

You may be asking yourself “What is College research ?”. Well, it is something that is not only beneficial to you but colleges expect it from you as well. How will you know what college you want to go to without researching what they offer beforehand? Understand what each college that interests you offers and how that can benefit you and your goals. 

The reason colleges are expecting you to do this research is that it’ll help you understand what that particular college values. You will be able to confidently complete admission essays with the knowledge of what your desired college values are. 

Another thing to look at when you are researching colleges in the admissions process , what the campus life is like, and what extracurricular activities they offer are. Follow this guide to conduct a proper college search . 

How to Research Colleges and Universities: 6-Step Guide to Researching Schools

The best way to research different colleges is to know what you’re looking for in higher education . What are your goals for the next 4 years? During your research, it is important to take notes on everything that pertains to you. Keep in mind the program you are looking to enter, how hard the classes can be, what you are able to afford, and what extracurricular activities they have available for you.

Program Selection

This is one of the most important topics to cover while you are researching colleges . Now, right out of high school you may not know what career or field you want to study, but it is important to have a direction. What if there is a dream college you want to go to, but they don’t offer the field that you want to get into? You’ll have to find a college that offers the program you are interested in. 

When looking into the different programs that colleges provide, you should also consider the workload they require to achieve that education. All requirements vary, so choose what you will be able to handle.

Academic Rigor

Every college has a different expectation from its students. Looking at the school’s academic rigor will help you decide if you want to spend the money to be in a certain program. Based on how challenging the school is academically is how you will decide if it is the one for you. You can experience an easier transition from high school to college and choose a two-year community college , or you can choose a more competitive approach and apply to an ivy league that is generally known for its rigorous courses.

Student Support System

Whether you need a quiet place to study or a session with someone to talk about your mental health, most colleges will be there for you. There are a variety of systems put in place to help a student succeed at any campus. It is the student’s responsibility to research and utilize those opportunities offered to them. There are even programs that students can enter to help with networking while in college and can set up an early career path before they graduate. Internships are one of the most common things that a student can do while studying for higher education .

The Campus Life

Along with finding the right program for you, you need to make sure the campus life will also be beneficial for your mental health. There are always colleges participating in college fairs so you can get a better grasp of the dynamic. Not only that, but you should make it a point to make a campus visit out of your top 3 colleges. 

Will you be living on campus in the dorms or commuting to your desired college every day? These are more of the questions that you need to keep in mind when picking the best college for you.

Affordability

Regardless of your financial standing, college can get expensive. Not only are you looking for the best program for your intended career, but you also have to ensure that it is in your price range. We suggest contacting the college admissions for your desired college to get all the right information. 

We also recommend looking into alternative financial aid when applying to colleges. During the enrollment process, you’ll be able to ask for assisted aid from the college. Along with signing up for financial aid , you can apply for scholarships and grants that are applicable to you. This is something that can also cover the cost of books and college tuition.

Important Information for You

Ideally, you want to find the best college for you. Keep in mind what college will help you connect in a cultural and academic way. No two colleges are the same, so you need to find one that suits you. It is okay to be deterred from a college because of cultural indifference. Even if they have the right program for you. Find a college that you will be comfortable with both culturally and academically.

What Should You Look for in a College? 3 Factors to Take Into Consideration

What do you want out of going to college? That is one of the biggest questions you have to ask yourself. Based on your answer, is how you will find the right college for you. How is your GPA looking? Create a list of colleges and make sure that you have all of the right qualifications to attend the school. College websites are the best place to find all the right information that you are looking for. Let’s take a closer look at some factors to watch out for while you are doing college research .  

Application Process

Every college is different, but something that you need to watch out for is college application deadlines. The application process can take a bit of time so you need to plan out how long it will take you to submit it. The admissions requirements generally involve your transcripts, assessments, essay (if applicable, what the topic is), and whether or not you need to include letters of recommendation. All of this information is something to consider when you are looking at the application process for each desired college. 

Accreditation

You should also consider the college’s accreditation when looking at the right school for you. There are certain colleges that haven’t been accredited yet. Most colleges are either in the process of being accredited or didn’t pass and are working on making changes to gain accreditation. The reason that you want to get into an accredited school is so that you can earn a real degree. Browse the different programs that the college offers to make sure that yours is properly accredited.

Admission Rate

The admission is another thing to consider. The rate gives you an idea of the percentage of students that apply verse those who get into the college. A college that has a lower acceptance rate is harder to get into, so the higher the acceptance rate the more potential there is that you will be accepted too. There are a ton of factors that colleges consider when deciding which students to accept. Grades, SAT, ACT, and a diverse student body that come from various backgrounds, volunteer experience, and abilities are just some of the factors considered.

College Research Template

Find the perfect college for you with our college research template. They are organized by importance for when you are researching colleges .

Key Takeaways

• March 30, 2022
• 10th Grade , 11th Grade

6-Step Guide to Researching Colleges Effectively (with Template)

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It’s 2 am, and you’re on your fifth cup of coffee (or was it your sixth?). You’re crouched at a table in some dark corner of the library surrounded by fifteen open books. Equally as many tabs are open on your laptop, and you still haven’t written a word of the paper that’s due in 7 hours.

Many things can explain how you got to this point, including procrastination , poor organization , and a messy schedule .

Very often, however, the problem is a lack of research skills .

And it’s not your fault. High school does a poor job of teaching you how to do research, and most college classes do little better. It feels like you’re expected to figure it out through trial and error.

I think we can do better than that, however. In this guide, I’m going to show you the 7-step process for researching everything from a 10-page term paper to a final presentation. Not only will you learn how to do better research; you’ll also learn how to research more efficiently.

What Is Research?

Before we go any further, what  is  research?

At its core, research is an attempt to answer a question. This could be anything from “How can we reduce infant mortality rates?” to “Why does salt make food taste good?”

To answer your question, you consult books, academic papers, newspaper articles, historical records, or anything else that could be helpful. The broad term for these things is “sources.”

And, usually, once you’ve done the research, you present or summarize it in some way. In many cases, this means writing an essay or another type of scholarly paper, but it could also mean giving a presentation or even creating a YouTube video.

Even if you have no interest in academia, research is an extremely useful skill to learn. When you know how to do research, it’s much easier to improve your life and work more effectively . Instead of having to ask someone every time you have a question, research will help you solve problems yourself (and help others in turn).

Note:  Research can also mean conducting surveys, performing experiments, or going on archaeological digs. While these activities are crucial for advancing human knowledge, I won’t be discussing them here. This article focuses on the research you can do with only a library and an internet connection.

The 7 Steps of the Research Process

Research can feel overwhelming, but it’s more manageable when you break it down into steps. In my experience, the research process has seven main steps:

• Find a topic
• Refine your topic
• Find key sources
• Take notes on your sources
• Create your paper or presentation
• Do additional research as necessary
• Cite your sources

Let’s look at each of these steps in more detail.

1. Find a Topic

If you don’t have a topic, your research will be undirected and inefficient. You’ll spend hours reading dozens of sources, all because you didn’t take a few minutes to develop a topic.

How do you come up with a topic? My number one suggestion is to create a mind map.

A mind map is a visual way to generate ideas. Here’s how it works:

• Get a piece of paper and a pen. Make sure the paper isn’t too small — you want lots of room for your ideas.
• Draw an oval in the center of the paper.
• Inside that oval, write a super vague topic. Start with whatever your professor has assigned you.
• Draw lines from the oval towards the edges of the paper.
• Draw smaller ovals connected to each of these lines.
• Inside the smaller ovals, write more specific ideas/topics related to the central one.
• Repeat until you’ve found 3-5 topic ideas.

When I write it out step by step, it sounds kind of strange. But trust me, it works . Anytime I’m stuck on a writing assignment, this method is my go-to. It’s basically magic.

To see what mind mapping looks like in practice, check out this clip:

Want to create a digital mind map like the one Thomas uses in the video? Check out Coggle .

2. Refine Your Topic

Okay, so now you have a list of 3-5 topics. They’re all still pretty general, and you need to narrow them down to one topic that you can research in depth.

To do this, spend 15 minutes doing some general research on each topic. Specifically, take each topic and plug it into your library’s catalog and database search tools.

The details of this process will vary from library to library. This is where consulting a librarian can be super helpful. They can show you how to use the tools I mentioned, as well as point you to some you probably don’t know about.

Furthermore, I suggest you ask your professor for recommendations. In some cases, they may even have created a resource page specifically for your assignment.

Once you’ve found out where to search, type in your topic. I like to use a mixture of the library catalog, a general academic database like EBSCO Host , and a search on Google Scholar .

What exactly are you trying to find? Basically, you’re trying to find a topic with a sufficient quantity and variety of sources.

Ideally, you want something with both journal articles and books, as this demonstrates that lots of scholars are seriously engaging with the topic.

Of course, in some cases (if the topic is very cutting edge, for example), you may be only able to find journal articles. That’s fine, so long as there are enough perspectives available.

Using this technique, you’ll be able to quickly eliminate some topics. Be ruthless. If you’re not finding anything after 15 minutes, move on. And don’t get attached to a topic.

Tip: If you find two topics with equal numbers of sources available, ask your professor to help you break the tie. They can give you insight into which topic is super common (and thus difficult to write about originally), as well as which they find more interesting.

Now that you have your topic, it’s time to narrow down your sources.

3. Find Key Sources

If you’ve picked a good topic, then you probably have lots of sources to work with. This is both a blessing and a curse. A variety of sources shows that there’s something worth saying about your topic, and it also gives you plenty of material to cite.

But this abundance can quickly turn into a nightmare in which you spend hours reading dense, mind-numbing material without getting any closer to actually producing a paper.

How do you keep this from happening? Choose 3–5  key sources and focus on them intently. Sure, you may end up needing more sources, especially if this is a long paper or if the professor requires it. But if you start out trying to read 15 sources, you’re likely to get overwhelmed and frustrated.

Focusing on a few key sources is powerful because it:

• Lets you engage deeply with each source.
• Gives you a variety of perspectives.
• Points you to further resources.
• Keeps you focused.

4. Read and Take Notes

But what do you do with these sources, exactly? You need to read them the right way . Follow these steps to effectively read academic books and articles:

Go through the article and look at the section headings. If any words or terms jump out at you, make note of them. Also, glance at the beginning sentences of each section and paragraph to get an overall idea of the author’s argument.

The goal here isn’t to comprehend deeply, but to prime your mind for effective reading .

Write down any questions you have after skimming the article, as well as any general questions you hope the article can answer. Always keep your topic in mind.

Read Actively

Now, start reading. But don’t just passively go through the information like you’re scrolling through Tumblr. Read with a pen or pencil in hand , underlining any unfamiliar terms or interesting ideas.

Make notes in the margins about other sources or concepts that come to mind. If you’re reading a library book, you can make notes on a separate piece of paper.

Once you’ve finished reading, take a short break. Have a cup of tea or coffee. Go for a walk around the library. Stretch. Just get your mind away from the research for a moment without resorting to distracting, low-density fun .

Now come back to the article and look at the things you underlined or noted. Gather these notes and transfer them to a program like Evernote .

If you need to look up a term, do that, and then add that definition to your notes. Also, make note of any sources the author cites that look helpful.

But what if I’m reading a book?   Won’t this take forever?  No, because you’re not going to read the entire book.

For most research you’ll do in college, reading a whole academic book is overkill . Just skim the table of contents and the book itself to find chapters or sections that look relevant.

Then, read each of those in the same way you would read an article. Also, be sure to glance at the book’s bibliography, which is a goldmine for finding additional sources.

Note: The above method is a variation on the classic SQ3R method , adapted slightly since we’re not interested in taking notes from textbooks .

5. Create Your Paper or Presentation

“You can’t turn in raw research.”

Research is crucial to crafting a great paper or presentation, but it’s also a great way to procrastinate. I had classmates in college who would spend 8 hours researching a 5-page paper. That’s way too much!

At some point, you need to stop researching and start writing (or whatever method you’re using to present your research).

How do you decide when to stop researching? There’s no strict rule, but in general I wouldn’t spend more than 30 minutes per page of the final paper.

So if the final paper is supposed to be 10 pages, don’t spend more than 5 hours researching it.

6. Do Additional Research (As Necessary)

Once you’ve started writing the draft of your paper, you’ll probably find a few gaps. Maybe you realize that one scholar’s argument isn’t relevant to your paper, or that you need more information for a particular section. In this case, you are free to return to researching as necessary.

But again, beware the trap of procrastination masquerading as productivity! Only do as much additional research as you need to answer your question. Don’t get pulled into rabbit holes or dragged off on tangents. Get in there, do your research, and get back to writing .

To keep yourself focused, I suggest keeping a separate document or piece of paper nearby to note points that need additional research.

Every time you encounter such a point, make note of it in the document and then keep writing. Only stop when you can’t get any further without additional research.

It’s much better to get a full draft done first. Otherwise, you risk suffering a cognitive switching penalty , making it harder to regain your focus.

7. Cite Your Sources

Whether you’re creating an oral presentation, essay, or video, you’ll need to cite your sources. Plagiarism is a serious offense, so don’t take any chances.

How to cite your sources depends on the subject and the professor’s expectations. Chicago, MLA, and APA are the most common citation formats to use in college, but there are thousands more.

Luckily, you don’t need to painstakingly type each of your citations by hand or slog through a style manual. Instead, you can use a tool like Zotero to track and generate your citations. To make things even easier, install the Zotero Connector browser extension. It can automatically pull citation information from entries in an online library catalog.

Once you’ve collected all of your sources, Zotero can generate a properly formatted works cited page or bibliography at just the click of a button.

For help setting up and using Zotero, read this guide . If you need further assistance, ask a librarian.

Go Research With Confidence

I hope you now understand how to do research with more confidence. If you follow the procedures I’ve covered in this article, you’ll waste less time, perform more effective research, and ultimately have the material for a winning essay.

Curious about how to use your research to write a great research paper? Check out this guide .

Image Credits: picking book from shelf

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How To Research Colleges: 4 Steps To Finding the Perfect School

Researching colleges, while incredibly exciting, is no simple task. There are thousands of colleges and universities in the US and hundreds in the UK. While the vast array of options means you will be spoiled for choice — and that you can definitely build an application list that aligns with your goals and passions — it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to navigating the often complex college research landscape.

We’ve come up with 4 steps you can follow to kick start your college research journey, each of which will help you narrow down on the best fit colleges and universities for you! But before we dive into the 4 steps, let’s first consider why college research is such an important part of your application process!

Why should you do College Research?

Every high school student knows that you should research different schools before applying. But why is it so important to conduct thorough college research? Put simply, it is because every college applicant is different . It is important to consider multiple factors when researching schools and what may be important to you when you finally decide upon your future college.

Since college research is integral to deciding where to apply, you should start researching schools as early as possible . Ideally, you should try and start this process at least one year before application deadlines (the earlier the better) to give you ample time to refine your list of preferred colleges .

Additionally, your interests in high school should help guide you in figuring out what to look for when researching colleges. Before even beginning your college research, you should take time to think about the classes and extracurriculars you currently enjoy, and may want to continue in college and beyond.

Finally, you should also start thinking about a way to structure your college research. After looking at some statistics, such as acceptance rates , and taking stock of your own academic profile, consider categorizing potential schools as either “safety”, “target”, “reach” or even “extreme reach”. Our college admissions calculator can help you classify your favorite schools into the above groups.

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Step-by-Step Guide to Performing College Research

Now that we have actually established the importance of college research, next we must tackle exactly how to research colleges. This step-by-step guide will set you on the right path to discovering which college is the right fit for you !

1. Figure out your Preferences and/or Priorities

Before even beginning your college research, you should try to identify what exactly you are looking for in your ideal college . This will help you filter out the colleges that don’t interest you and to narrow down your research list.

Our college admissions calculator can help with this and may help you initially get an idea of what universities might be best suited for you. After checking out our admissions calculator, start considering a list of different factors that may help you determine what you are looking for in your ideal college and what you consider to be important while researching schools.

Some important factors include:

• Location: would you rather study somewhere rural, urban, or suburban? Would you prefer to live somewhere similar to where you grew up, or are you looking for an entirely new environment?
• Size: would you prefer a smaller or larger school? Are you looking to be a part of a large campus crowd or a close-knit community?
• Academics: are you looking for a university that is more focused on undergraduate teaching or research opportunities? What do you want to study? It is common for high school students to not be entirely sure what they want to study in college, but if you do happen to have a major in mind, make sure to research the best schools within your chosen field of study.
• Cost: is cost an issue for you? If so, are you eligible for any scholarships or for financial aid? While cost can be an important factor, do not necessarily let high tuition costs prevent you from applying to a school you really like.

Once considering these key factors, it may also help to start thinking about other minor considerations, such as:

• Social aspects
• Food and dining options
• Extracurricular interests
• Athletic opportunities

In regards to the athletic factor, if you are interested in pursuing sport at a varsity level in college, make sure to familiarize yourself with the recruiting process. Maybe even book a consultation with our team, who can help you leverage both your athletics and your academics to gain acceptance into your dream school.

Of course, the above lists and suggestions are far from exhaustive, but it is important to start considering your preferences in regards to these major factors before beginning your college research. Having an idea of what is important to you in your ideal college will help you narrow down your search before you even start.

 2. Prepare a List and Begin your College Research

After figuring out your priorities and preferences, the next step is to actually start researching colleges. Keep track of each college you research and make notes of what you liked and disliked about that school.

If you know a current student at a college you are researching, consider reaching out to them to ask about their experience so far. As you complete your research, keep in mind your preferences and consider giving each school a rating out of five or ten for each factor.

Make a note of any special features you come across while researching each school, as this may help you remember what set that college apart from others as you review your list later down the road.

Don’t forget that there are many online resources at your disposal that can help you with your college research. Make sure to check out our website for university profiles, which cover a number of top US and UK universities.

You can also peruse our blog , which regularly publishes in-depth guides to help you apply to different schools. We also offer a number of eBooks that offer insights into some of the most prestigious schools in the US and the UK.

You could also venture over to our YouTube channel and take a look at our videos covering different universities and following a day in the life of current students.

Finally you can attend one of our webinars , during which our admissions experts and Former Admissions Officers offer tips and inside knowledge as to what top schools are looking for.

3. Refine your List and Consider Acceptance Rates

After performing your college research, it is time to narrow down your list. Once again, categorize your favorite schools into either “safety”, “target”, “reach” or “extreme reach”. Make sure to check out the US News or QS World Rankings to find out more about the reputation of each school.

Also ensure that you research acceptance rates in order to get an idea of how difficult it will be to gain admission. Remove any schools from your list that do not fit your needs as you conclude the college research process. At the end of this stage, you should ideally have a list of anywhere between ten and fifteen schools that fit your criteria.

4. Speak to a College Admissions Consultant

Now that you have your ideal colleges in mind, this would be the perfect time to book a free consultation with one of our expert Academic Advisors ! Not only can they look over your list to make sure that you haven’t missed any universities that might be a good fit for you, they can also provide a clearer picture of what you may need to do to increase your chances of admission to each of the schools on your list.

Researching universities is no easy task. However, if you start with these steps you will be on your way to figuring out your ideal colleges in no time!

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Final Thoughts

In the journey of researching colleges, we have delved into a world of possibilities, choices, and self-discovery. Navigating through the myriad of options, from campus cultures to academic programs, has been both exhilarating and daunting. As we conclude our exploration, it's evident that this process is not just about finding the right institution; it's about finding the right fit for our aspirations, values, and ambitions.

So, whether you're finalizing your application list or narrowing down your options, approach this journey with confidence in the research you've conducted, faith in your abilities, and a genuine eagerness to embark on a transformative educational endeavor. Your college years will undoubtedly become a chapter of rich experiences, lasting friendships, and unparalleled growth — all stemming from the foundation you've built through diligent research.

Key Resources & Further Reading

• Join our free webinars on US university applications
• Free eBooks and guides to help with the college application process
• How to apply to college?
• College application process explained
• When Should You Start Working On Your College Applications?
• How Many Colleges Should I Apply To? How to Make the Ultimate College List

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How To Do College Research

Reviewed by:

Former Admissions Committee Member, Columbia University

Reviewed: 4/26/24

How do you find your best-fit college? And when should you start researching and applying to colleges? Read on to have all your college research questions answered! 

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are nearly 6,000 U.S. colleges and universities . Needless to say, picking the perfect college isn’t as easy as choosing what you’re having for dinner! 

Every university has something unique to offer, but there is much to consider when choosing the right college for you. Without further adieu, let’s talk about how to do college research!

How to Research Colleges: A Step-by-Step Process

So, how do you start researching colleges? Here’s our step-by-step guide on how to do college research. 

Step 1: Identify Your Priorities

Before beginning your research, you’ll narrow your list by identifying your priorities and determining factors. These are the factors you should consider first: 

• Programs offered 
• Your budget

Knowing what you’re looking for helps eliminate what you don’t want. For example, if you’ve decided you want to go to college far away from your hometown, you can rule out colleges in your home state. 

Focusing on what’s most important to you is the first step in beginning your college research. 

Step 2: Begin Looking Up Colleges and Preparing a List

A great way to begin researching colleges is by attending college fairs: many high schools offer them annually.

Once you’ve identified your preferences, your search will become much more manageable. Talking to people who work for different colleges will provide the relevant insights you need to determine possible options. 

Go into your college fairs with your preliminary list and a pad of paper. Take notes as you learn more about each school, such as: 

• What did you like?
• What didn’t you like?
• What did you find interesting? 
• Did the school meet your preferences? 

If your high school doesn’t hold college fairs, you can do research from home. If you want more help than searching on your own, consider contacting an admissions consultant to help navigate your search. 

Step 3: Narrow Down Your List

You’re now ready to narrow your list to the colleges you’re sure you want to apply to.

The colleges you’ll apply to should be places where you can see yourself thrive and should meet your preferences. Remember, this is where you’ll spend the next four years of your life! 

What to Look For When Researching Colleges

You’re not alone if you’re unsure what to look for when researching colleges. Before starting your college research, consider these factors: 

• Career goals 
• Financial limitations
• Geographical preferences

Before beginning your search, do some self-reflection. Here are some questions to ask when researching colleges.

What Do You Want to Study?

It’s challenging to determine what you want to do with the rest of your life so early. And it’s okay if you don’t know yet! But if you have some general ideas, they can help direct your search. 

Consider what classes, hobbies, and extracurriculars you enjoy most. Then, you can try to align a major with your interest areas. Remember, you generally don’t have to choose a major until your second year of college, but identifying your interests can help you find programs you’d love to attend. 

Do You Want to Stay Close to Home or Move Far Away?

Some people are reluctant to move away from home, and some can’t wait to explore and live independently in a brand-new place. Going to a college in a new place can be intimidating, whether you’re a three-hour drive or a plane ride away from home. 

Think about how often you want to visit home and potential travel time and expenses. For example, if you live in New York and want to stay close to home, you can search for in-state schools like Columbia or NYU. 

What Extracurriculars Are Important to You?

Colleges offer many extracurricular opportunities that could help you make your decision. Some extracurricular programs can even help you pay for college or stand out in your application . 

For example, are you interested in sports? Many colleges have excellent athletic opportunities, from simply participating on a team to earning athletic scholarships. 

From theater clubs to hockey teams, you should play into your interests and strengths.

Extracurriculars are a great way to make new friends and fit into your new community!

Do You Want to Attend a Small or Large College?

This is an important question for many reasons. If you want to attend a large school like the University of Florida, your introductory classes may be in a spacious hall with a few hundred students, and your teacher most likely won’t recognize you or your name throughout the semester.

On the other hand, a small campus is easier to navigate, and class sizes will be significantly smaller. But smaller campuses may feel like a high school setting, where everyone knows everyone. 

There’s no right or wrong choice here. Once again, it’s based on your preferences. Consider the relationships you want with students and teachers: do you value a close-knit community, or do you prefer some anonymity?

If you’re struggling to decide on the size of your preferred college , give our quiz down below a try to provide some clarity! 

What is Your Budget?

Having a general idea of your financial limitations for college is a huge help. Sit down with your parents or a school counselor to discuss your budget. If you’re financially limited, it isn’t the end of the world.

FAFSA and other financial aid programs can significantly cut your costs. However, remember that you’ll have to repay these loans after graduation. Your GPA, ACT, and SAT scores may also qualify you for scholarships that you don’t have to repay,

You may also be able to make college more affordable by studying in-state: some schools offer reduced rates for in-state students. 

Do You Want to Attend College in a Rural or Urban Setting?

Since you’ll spend four years or more in college, it’s essential to consider the city or town you’ll be living in. Do you prefer the hustle and bustle of a busy city? Or do you prefer the quiet, peaceful aura of a rural town? 

Big cities tend to be more expensive compared to rural settings. These additional costs add up in many big-city college towns in terms of: 

• Transportation 

It’s also essential to think about opportunities to explore your interests and hobbies. Obtaining a college degree is hard work, but you should still be able to have fun where you live!

What Social Factors Are Important to You? 

It’s important to consider how you want to spend your time outside of the classroom. College is largely a social experience, so think about how your chosen college might fulfill your social expectations. 

Consider housing, for instance. How are the dorms set up on campus? How many roommates might you have? Would you need to share a bedroom? 

Meals and dining are also important. Are you required to participate in a meal plan? Will you cook meals in your dorm? Where do students typically eat their meals? 

You may also want to think about things like Greek life, on-campus clubs, regular school events, and the local community of the city. 

What Do Your High School Stats Look Like?

Honestly evaluating your stats can help you choose colleges. While many colleges don’t have SAT/ACT or GPA cutoffs, comparing your stats to past admitted students can help gauge your competitiveness. 

Here are a few examples of class profiles from the University of Notre Dame and Emory University:

Source: Notre Dame

Source : Emory University

When Should You Start Your College Research?

You should start your college research as early as possible . Your junior year of high school is a good time to begin your college research. Your junior/senior years of high school are when you’ll take the ACT or SAT , which is important for college applications. Your scores and GPA can help you determine safety, target, and reach schools. 

Junior year is your time to explore, ask questions, and learn about colleges. Senior year is the time to finalize your college list and apply: it takes time to find the right college!

Which Schools Should You Apply To? How To Decide

Finalizing your college list is no simple feat. It takes reflection, preparation, and research. If you’re struggling to make decisions, planning college visits can help. Sometimes, a physical visit can help you determine if the school is a good fit for you. 

When you go on these college visits, take notes and ask lots of questions. As a bonus, talking to the person leading a college tour is an excellent opportunity for you to see the college through a current student’s eyes. 

Looking for some quick ideas on which schools you should apply to? Our College Selection Quiz can help you find your ideal school! 

College Research FAQs

Do you still have questions about school research and how to find your best-fit college? Here are some answers to frequently asked questions. 

1. How Many Colleges Should I Be Applying To?

There’s no specific number that you need to be shooting for. However, most students typically apply to 7-12 schools . 

2. How Do I Know If a College Is a Good “Fit” for Me?

Keep your preferences as a “checklist” while researching colleges. If you’re researching a college that meets your criteria, it’s a great fit! If you’re still unsure, try to visit the school so you can see it and learn more in person.’’

3. How Do You Do College Research? 

College research can take many forms: for example, you can research school websites, attend college fairs, and visit schools. 

4. Why Is College Research Important?

College research ensures that the colleges you apply to are schools you’d actually like to attend. You’ll spend at least four years at the college you choose: you want to ensure you’ll enjoy yourself!

5. What Is the Best Source for Researching Colleges?

Some of the best online college search resources include the College Navigator and application portals like the Common and Coalition Apps. 

6. What Do You Look for When Researching Colleges?

When you research colleges, you should consider: 

• Interest areas/potential majors 
• Location preferences 
• Campus/class size preferences 

You should also consider the college’s extracurricular activities or other opportunities and the school’s culture. 

7. How Do I Start a College Search?

Starting your research can feel daunting, but once you determine your preferences, you can start wherever you like. Look at school websites, compare schools, and use your stats to build a varied school list. 

8. What Is the Biggest Mistake Students Make When Choosing a College?

The biggest mistake you could make when choosing a college is picking a college for the wrong reasons. When conducting college research, ensure you keep your wants and needs in mind.

How to Do College Research: Start Now and Don’t Give Up

Finding the right school isn’t easy, and it’s not something you decide overnight! Doing the necessary research is essential to making the right choice. 

Identifying what’s most important to you in a school is crucial. If you’ve identified your preferences and make the time to perform the necessary research, you’re sure to find the right school for you.

Identifying what’s most important to you in a school is crucial. If you’ve identified your preferences and made the time to perform the necessary research, you’re sure to find the right school for you.

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Not sure where to begin your college research? There are tons of online resources to help students match up with the right schools. In this article, I'll outline ten of the best sites to conduct your college search and then explain how to get started researching colleges  using three of the best sites. Within each section, the sites are ordered from the absolute best to those that are still good but not #1.

Starting Out: The Best Data-Driven Sites to Begin Your College Search

If you've just begun researching colleges and need some help finding schools you might be interested in, check out these sites to help get you started.

College Board’s Big Future

This is a good place to find out about colleges if you’re just starting out in your search. It caters to students who might not know where to begin and guides you through the research process. There's a guide called  "College Search Step-by-Step" for students who are unsure of how to go about the search process.  It will ask specific questions about what you are looking for in a school and give you a "snapshot" of your preferences to help you decide where to apply.

On the main college search page,  you can find college matches based on different criteria that you’re interested in, or you can search for schools directly.  You can also compare schools, but the amount of data is less staggering than some other sites, so it may be easier to digest.

College InSight

If you’re a more scientifically minded person, this site will probably appeal to you. You have the option to start your search with  a specific college, a topic that interests you, or with building your own table of different variables   to compare schools  across any metric you choose. 

This site has a huge amount of data for each school that includes variables such as economic and racial diversity of the student body and extensive statistics on debt and financial aid.  This is a helpful resource for comparing colleges side by side based on hard data.  You can choose a “focus” school and a “comparison” school, and the site will list the data for each school in table format. It's a good way to get an objective viewpoint on what each school is like.

If you’re not as interested in looking at a bunch of data you may find this site to be overwhelming, but if you’re trying to find  an easy way to compare school stats without having to create a profile  this is the place to go.

This is just a screenshot of the top of the comparison charts - there are many more statistics that show up below this.

College Navigator

This site (put out by the National Center for Educational Statistics) doesn’t have the prettiest interface, but it’s useful for finding reliable data about any college in the country.  If you already know what school you want, you can search for it directly. You can also search by state or even area code. There are filters for degree level and type of college as well, so you can search for just public or private colleges or just 4-year colleges. 

Each college has a page that lists relevant data including information about cost and financial aid, admissions, programs offered, graduation rates, athletics, and other general statistics. 

The downside of this site is that the information can be overwhelming and difficult to digest because there is so much data. If you prefer something less dry and scientific you might want to look elsewhere, but if you’re just looking for the facts with no frills this is a good resource.

The Inside Scoop: Sites With the Best Student Feedback and College Matchmaking

This next section highlights sites that are best for when you already have an idea of which schools you're thinking about and are interested in comparing them and learning more about whether they're really a good fit.

This is a great site for comparing schools, calculating admissions chances, calculating financial aid, and just figuring out if a school is a good match for you in general.  You will be asked to create a profile, which then allows the site to figure out which schools might work best based on what matters most to you. There are also student reviews, so in addition to comparing hard data you will also be able to compare how people feel about the school. There’s even a feature that helps you plan campus visits!

This site has one of the best balances between comprehensive data and a user-friendly experience that tells you what you really want to know about colleges. It will even take you as far as your application! Each school that you put on your list of favorites has a link that takes you directly to the school's website where you can begin the application process.

On Chegg's college matchmaking site, you can create a profile and see which schools might be right for you. This site can be very helpful in your college search because it lets you keep a running list of schools that you’re interested in once you create a profile. 

Design-wise, it’s nice to look at, and  the statistics are presented in a very user-friendly, simple way that’s easy to understand.  You’ll also find grades based on student reviews for everything from campus dining to academics to the party scene, so you can get an inside look at what people really think about the school.

Based on these grades, the site has lists of schools that have the “best quality of life”, “best merit aid”, and many other categories that may help you narrow down your search.  There’s also a tool on each college page for you to enter your GPA and SAT/ACT scores and see your chances of admission.  One issue with student ratings is that they are very subjective and may not always reflect the truth about the school. Before you take these as fact, make sure you also check out the school’s main website and see what they have to say about themselves.

This site contains less hard data, but is relatively easy to use and makes the college search a little more fun (they even give grades for the attractiveness of the student body...very important in choosing your dream school).

This site gives you access to  tons of statistics as well as student reviews and letter grades for different aspects of student life  (this is actually where the college grades on Chegg, a site I recommend later, come from). You’ll also see lists of the best schools in different categories based on reviews.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive overview of what’s offered by colleges, this is a great resource. There are a lot of statistics to wade through, but you can also create a free profile and get matched up with colleges. This site is nice because  it can get really technical and specific,  but it also gives you the tools to search for schools without feeling too overwhelmed. You can keep a running list of schools that you’re interested in, and the site will help you notify representatives for these schools of your interest if you think any of them are especially good matches.

One aspect of Niche that I'm not so crazy about is the amount of  distracting promotions and ads for other related sites  that are involved. It makes things a bit more cluttered and confusing to navigate and kind of turned me off from using this site despite the fact that it presents a lot of great information. 

College Confidential

You might be familiar with College Confidential for its (sometimes less than trustworthy) discussion forums, but it also has a great college search feature.  You can fill out your preferences in over 20 different categories including location, majors, Greek life, party scene, and special services. Based on your answers and how important these factors are to you, you’ll get matched with schools that fit you best (out of a database of over 4,500 schools that includes schools outside of the US). 

You can also create a list of schools that you like by “pinning” your favorites.  To narrow down your search even further, you can compare your top choices in different areas to see how they measure up against each other. You can save and share your lists if you want as well!

I’d recommend this as a starting point if you're not sure which schools you’re interested in - it will help you figure out what’s most important to you and give you some initial ideas. It's super easy to pin and compare schools, although the information pages are a little confusing and not as nice to look at as the school matching interface. If you click on a school, you are linked out to another site called "College View" for the statistics, which makes things a bit harder to navigate compared to other sites where all information is internal.

Get it? Go to Uni? It sounds like the Brits are responsible for this one, which made me suspicious, but this site is pretty cool. It has a modern design and includes tons of reviews in written and video format from students at the colleges. Based on student feedback, schools are rated on a scale of 1-10 for a bunch of different factors including campus safety, political activity, arts culture, Greek life, intellectual life, and more. 

Each college page has financial aid and admissions statistics, a built in map of the surrounding area, and statistics on student life such as the number of campus organizations and Greek houses. You can also make a list of schools and compare them across different metrics like tuition and selectivity.  

It does seem like they’re still working on adding more statistics about academics, so this site is a bit light on data in some areas.  Still, it’s fun to use and will give you a different perspective than other sites with its multimedia format; there are lots of pictures of schools from students in addition to the video reviews. 

Taking Action: The Best Sites to Learn About Paying for and Applying to College

Once you have a pretty solid list of which colleges you want to apply to, you can use these sites to help you navigate college applications and paying for school.

This site is oriented towards helping students search for scholarships , but it will also help you find colleges that may interest you. You can set up an account for free that will allow you to locate colleges and scholarships that fit your specific needs. There are helpful blog articles on the site as well that have advice on scholarships and colleges.

You can also search for student loans on Fastweb - you just have to answer a few questions and you’ll get a list of all your loan choices.  This site is a nice user-friendly means of finding scholarships and loans that will help you to avoid getting too overwhelmed with your options. 

It’s also a good site to keep in mind going forward, since it has resources for career planning and finding internship opportunities as well. If you're practically-minded and are serious about finding scholarships, you should definitely try this site out. You may want to use another platform for the college search process because Fastweb doesn't have as much information or tools for finding colleges as it does for finding scholarships and loans. 

This site is good for learning about application timelines and getting yourself organized for college as well as searching for schools that meet your criteria. There are articles with helpful tips about choosing colleges, applying to college, and getting financial aid and scholarships. You'll get fast stats about colleges and suggestions about other schools that you may like based on your searches.

This isn’t my favorite site in terms of its presentation of college statistics.  However, it does provide advice in other areas that is more specific than other sites and may help answer questions you have about the application process and how to actually follow through on your college decision.

How to Start Your College Search

Your mind is probably reeling from all of these options, so to make it easier, below is how we recommend you get started. The three sites described in this section are the best ones for beginning your college search, and I'll explain exactly how to use them.

Step 1: Develop a Preliminarly List of Schools With Cappex

As we mentioned above, Cappex is an excellent site for helping you figure out which types of schools you're interested in and which fit you well. Below are the steps to get the most out of Cappex.

1. Create a profile - you'll answer a lot of questions about your college preferences including location, size, selectivity, and religious affiliation as well as questions about your GPA and scores. This gives the site an idea of what colleges may fit with your needs. You also have the opportunity to enter in schools that interest you if you already have options in mind. 

2. Play around with your Dashboard: this is where you'll see all the colleges that might fit your preferences. You'll be asked to select a region and a major so that the results are more tailored to you (don't worry - you can choose undecided if you aren't sure what you want to major in yet). You'll see a slider of different schools that looks like this:

If you hover over any of the schools, you'll get an at-a-glance stats panel that shows you whether the school is public or private, its tuition rates, and the number of students. The first row of schools is for colleges that you may be interested in, and the second row is for colleges that are interested in you based on your level of high school achievement. 

3. Click on the link inside the stats panel for any school that catches your interest. Once you get to the next page, you'll have a ton of information at your fingertips. One helpful feature that you probably want to check first is "Your Fit", which is the fourth button down on the left side panel. This gives you an easy way to tell if the college matches up well with the preferences you indicated in your profile.

4. Explore the college a little more. Think about other things that are important to you and whether they fit well with what the college offers. You'll notice that in each college profile you can comb through a huge database of information by clicking on the options on the left. Categories include everything from campus life to student reviews to application deadlines. Before you get too confused from all the information, try making a list of what you think will make you happy at college and target your browsing to the areas that matter most to you. 

5. If you're feeling really good about a school, you can add it to the running list of colleges that is a part of your Cappex profile. Just click the "yes" button at the top of the screen where it asks if you're interested in the school. This will also notify the school that you are interested. If you fill out your profile completely, Cappex will also give you your chances of admission to a college if you click on "yes & calculate my chances". Here's what your college list will look like:

Notice that you can rank colleges by how much you like them, and if you update your profile you'll see your chances of admission as well. The list also makes it easy to compare colleges. If you click on the "compare" tab you can compare colleges side by side in admissions, tuition, diversity, and campus life (this could be a good way to give your parents the hard facts about why you prefer one school over another that they think is better). 

6. After you're satisfied with your list, you can apply to schools by clicking on the "apply to college" link beneath every list entry. This will send you directly to the admissions site for the school and make it easy for you to get your application started. 

Step 2: Refine Your College List Using Chegg

Once you've made a preliminary list of colleges with Cappex, we recommend next using Chegg to refine your list and see if there are any schools you missed. Below are the steps for getting the most out of Chegg.

1. Login through Facebook or sign up manually for a profile. Make sure you fill out as much information as you can in your profile so that your college matches will be as accurate as possible. 

2. Click on the "Colleges" tab at the top of the screen, and you'll get to a page where you can search for schools by name or sort schools by your preferences. You can also look at lists of schools that are provided for you on the site based on student ratings for different things like "best food" or "most beautiful campus".

You should also look at your "Matches", which are colleges selected for you based on the preferences you indicated in your profile. Just switch to the matches tab by clicking on it at the top of the screen:

3. Once you see a college that looks promising, go to the page for the school and start exploring the statistics and ratings. You can even look at your chances of admission based on your GPA and scores. Again, I would recommend writing down some factors that are important to you for a college before you dive into the stats so that you have a more focused approach. I think a good thing about this site is that it doesn't go too heavy on the nitty gritty statistics. It boils it down to the basic things you probably want to know and also gives you perspective from real students. 

4. Add any college you think sounds good to your list of schools. Once you add a college to your list, you will have the option to fill out information that will allow colleges you are interested in to contact you.

You can then compare up to five schools side by side based on scores, admission requirements, tuition, and other basic facts. This should help you narrow your search down significantly. 

5. Take a look at other features of the site - you can also use Chegg to find scholarships and internships! 

Step 3: Search for Scholarships Using Fastweb

Fastweb is  the best way to find scholarships, which is a super important part of the college application process. You can also find colleges on Fastweb, but it's not as streamlined as the other options. We recommend using Fastweb after you've used Cappex and Chegg to get a list of colleges you're interested in applying to.

1. Fill out a free profile, providing as many details as possible about your interests and strengths as possible. This will help you get matched to scholarships that are appropriate for your specific talents. 

2. Click on "see my matches" in your profile to take a look at all the scholarships that are available to you:

You can sort scholarships by deadline, amount, and provider. This is an awesome resource - instead of traversing the internet, you can see all of your potential scholarships right here. 

3. If you click on the link for a scholarship and think you're interested, you can use the dropdown menu on the right to mark it as one that you "might apply" or "will apply" to;  this will add it to your list under one of those tabs. This will make it easy for you to keep track of which scholarships interest you and which ones you promised yourself you would apply for (because we all know how easy it is to say you're going to apply and how hard it is to actually follow through). 

4. You can also use this site to search for colleges (switch to the "colleges" tab at the top of the screen) and create a list of schools you're interested in. The list will look similar to the scholarship matches page:

As I mentioned, the college search features on this site aren't quite as comprehensive as the others because there's no way to compare schools and there aren't as many student reviews or user-friendly statistics. You CAN use it to make a list, but I'd say Fastweb is mostly for scholarships. 

5. If you want, start looking into your student loan options! This is a really daunting process that is made easier by the Student Lending Center feature under the Student Loans section of Fastweb.

You can also get help with navigating the financial aid process under the Financial Aid tab and finding internships under the Career Planning tab. Basically, for anything involving the practical concerns associated with college, Fastweb is the best place to go.  

The college search is a challenging, sometimes confusing process, especially when you're not sure where to start. I've given you the top ten sites I would recommend for finding colleges that fit your needs and a more detailed guide to the three sites that I think will be the most useful. Here are my overall rankings for the best sites to use in your college search:

1. Cappex 2. Chegg 3. Fastweb 4. Niche 5. College Confidential 6. Peterson's  7. College Board's Big Future 8. College InSight 9. Unigo 10. College Navigator

All of these sites will help you out in one way or another to narrow down your search, but I believe the top three have the best combination of user friendly format, solid information, and fun interactive features that are also very helpful to students. Remember to focus solely on what is most important to you in your search. You may have never heard of a school, but that doesn't mean it won't be a perfect fit. Be honest with yourself and you'll end up making a great choice!

What's Next?

Aiming high in your college search? Read this article on how to get into the top schools in the nation.  

If you're worried about your chances of getting into college period, check out this list of the easiest schools to get into.

Building a killer college application is hard work. Find out the how to create a versatile application and what not to do in your college essay.

The Common Application makes it easy to apply to a bunch of different schools but only fill out one application! Find out which schools accept the Common App.

Samantha is a blog content writer for PrepScholar. Her goal is to help students adopt a less stressful view of standardized testing and other academic challenges through her articles. Samantha is also passionate about art and graduated with honors from Dartmouth College as a Studio Art major in 2014. In high school, she earned a 2400 on the SAT, 5's on all seven of her AP tests, and was named a National Merit Scholar.

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Research Basics: an open academic research skills course

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Undergraduate Research Experience: A Roadmap to Guide Your Journey

• Conducting Research

Students usually get pretty good guidance on which courses they need to complete to fulfill their major and graduation requirements. Course catalogues detail the general curricular path and advisors are typically available to help students build their semester schedules. 

But coursework is only one piece of the career preparation puzzle. Both employers and graduate programs highly value the real-world training students get when they take advantage of experiential learning opportunities like internships and research assistantships. Unfortunately, the path into these experiences can be challenging to navigate. The goal of this article is to provide you with a roadmap to help you get started on this journey. 

Why is research experience valuable?   

Research experience can help you: 

• hone the skills that all employers seek in college graduates such as the ability to work effectively in teams, engage in critical thinking, and analyze and interpret data (Finley, 2021)
• delve more deeply into the areas within psychology that interest you the most
• cultivate a closer relationship with your professors and gain mentorship
• prepare for a job after graduation as a social science research assistant
• bolster your competitiveness as an applicant for graduate school in psychology or other STEM fields  

Psychology alumni who gain research experience during college rate themselves higher on the skills needed to succeed in the job market, perceive their psychology training to be more useful to them in their current job, and report more satisfaction with their undergraduate education than those without research experience, regardless of the career path they follow (Budesheim et al., 2021).

What is research experience? 

What students actually do when they gain “research experience” can vary widely depending on the nature and setting of the experience. 

From start to finish, the psychology research projects you learn about in your classes involve a lot of complex steps, completed by a team of researchers, over a period of time that can last several years.  

Some of those steps can include:

• conducting a literature review to identify what we already know about a particular psychological phenomenon
• identifying a knowledge gap that a new research project can fill
• designing a study – choosing the participants, methods, and measures
• considering ethical issues related to designing, conducting, and reporting on research
• applying for approval from the Institutional Review Board
• conducting the study, collecting data, etc.
• coding, managing, and analyzing data
• preparing posters and/or manuscripts to share the results with others
• presenting at local, regional, or national conferences

Contributing to ongoing research as a team member.

Most students gain research experience by joining a team that is already in the process of conducting a research study and helping out with one or more of these steps. For example, you might spend a semester helping to run participants through a research study. Or devote part of your summer to coding data that has already been collected. If you join a team at the start of a project, you might be asked to find, read, and summarize research articles that could stimulate the design of a new study. And if your research team is busy juggling multiple projects at one time, you might get the chance to do a little bit of all of the above on different projects.

Designing and conducting your own research project.

Working on specific tasks as one member of a research team is a valuable way to learn more about the field, hone your skills, and gain mentorship. But it is not always what students envision when they imagine gaining research experience. Some students hope to design and conduct their own independent research project. Although that is certainly possible, it can be extremely time intensive, and it requires finding a faculty member or researcher who is willing to provide intensive supervision. Students who’ve developed research skills earlier in their academic journey by working with teams will be better prepared to take on this challenge.  At many institutions, these opportunities are only available to students who are approved to complete an undergraduate thesis and there may be GPA or other requirements. 

Deepening your research experience.

Although it can be rewarding to design and conduct one’s own research project, there are definitely other paths one can follow to deepen their research experience. For example, many students who work on research teams get the opportunity to present a piece of their work at a local, regional, or national conference. Some get the opportunity to contribute to a paper that is published in an academic journal. Authorship on presentations and papers can definitely bolster the application of those looking to pursue a graduate degree in psychology. 

How do I find a research experience and get started on this journey?    

• Take coursework early . Ideally, you should consider completing coursework in research methods and statistics as early as you can in your program of study. Taking these classes early will prepare you to take advantage of opportunities to gain research experience within your college or university. 
• Find out about opportunities within your institution. You can always volunteer to work on a faculty members’ research team, but many departments also offer research experience for academic credit. Check your program manual and ask your academic advisor about research opportunities within your program. Use these resources to figure out if your program offers students the opportunity to conduct a thesis (and if so, if there are any GPA or other eligibility criteria). 
• Use your research skills to find a potential research mentor. Faculty members often have webpages where they describe their research interests and current projects. Once you identify a few faculty members doing research in an area that interests you, reach out and ask if you can set up a meeting or drop in to their office hours to learn more about their research. 
• Don’t start the meeting by asking, “Tell me about your research.”
• Do start the meeting by saying something like “I was fascinated by the paper you recently published on XX, especially the finding that XXXX, and I was wondering if you were working on a follow-up to that study.” 
• Look for research opportunities outside of your institution. Researchers work in a variety of settings including academic institutions, medical centers, research institutes, community-based organizations, and in private industry. Look for opportunities to volunteer, complete an internship, or find a part or full-time paid position in these settings. Some of these opportunities are advertised on the APA webpage , but it can also be helpful to go directly to an organization’s website to search for employment listings. For example, research positions with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can be found at the USA Jobs Website. Exploring the employment websites of large research-oriented medical centers such as Massachusetts General Hospital , the Mayo Clinic or John’s Hopkins can yield research opportunities. Keep in mind that you will be more competitive for these external experiences if you first gain research experience at your institution.   

Although I recommend this path into research for psychology majors who are just starting their journey, there are many roads that lead to research experience. So, if you are a senior or recent graduate who is just now looking for research experience, don’t be discouraged. It is definitely possible to enter the research experience pathways at different points in the journey, although you may need to put in some extra work to secure a position. For example, if you are struggling to secure   a paid research position, you might consider looking for volunteer opportunities. Reach out to faculty members from your undergraduate institution, as well as researchers in your local community to express your interest and ask for help. 

Finley, A. (2021). How College Contributes" to" Workforce Success: Employer Views on What Matters Most.  Association of American Colleges and Universities .

Budesheim, T. L., Khanna, M. M., Klanecky Earl, A. K., & Guenther, C. L. (2021). The Long-Term Impact of Undergraduate Internships and Research Experiences in Psychology: An Alumni Survey Study.  Teaching of Psychology .  https://doi.org/10.1177/009862832110410

About the author:

Sue is also a licensed clinical psychologist, whose clinical research focuses how acceptance-based behavioral therapy–informed strategies can help buffer against contextual stressors, build resilience, improve psychosocial functioning, and enhance quality of life among students and individuals struggling with anxiety and related disorders.

How to Decide What College to Attend

Find the right college for you., how to decide which college is best for you.

Some students want to find the perfect college. The truth is, there's no such thing. However, you can find many colleges where you'll be happy and get an excellent education. The college search is about exploring who you are and what you want and then finding colleges where you can meet your goals. If you want to know how to choose a college, we’re here to help.

Although there may be many colleges where you’d be happy, it’s important to narrow the possibilities into a manageable list. Here are steps you can take to find colleges where you can thrive.

What College Should You Go to?

Reflect on what's important, where you want to be, and who you want to become. With those answers, you can figure out what types of colleges will allow you to reach your goals.

Here are some aspects to consider:

• Distance from home
• Available majors and classes
• Housing options
• Makeup of the student body
• Available extracurricular activities
• Campus atmosphere

Which of these are things you must have to be comfortable at a college? Which can you be more flexible about?

Also, think about what you want to accomplish in college. Do you want to train for a specific job or get a wide-ranging education? Ask yourself, "What do I want to go to college for?" If you have a major in mind, are the colleges you’re considering strong in that area?

Keep an Open Mind When Choosing Schools.

What else should you look for in a college? Although it's good to have some idea about what college could be right for you, stay open to all the possibilities as you begin your search. Here are some ways to keep an open mind when deciding where to go to college:

Challenge your assumptions about what will work for you. Luis Martínez-Fernández, a history professor at the University of Central Florida, notes, "You may not think you're able to thrive in a large institution because you come from a small high school, but you may actually do better in that type of setting."

Talk to people who know you well. Tell parents, teachers, relatives, family friends, and your school counselor about your goals. Ask them if they can suggest schools that may be a great fit for you.

Don't limit your search. At the start of this process, you might rule out some colleges because you think they're too expensive or hard to get into, but this may not be true. Remember that financial aid can make college more affordable, and keep in mind that colleges look at more than grades and test scores.

Do Your Homework to Discover the Right College.

Once you have a list of schools, it's time to research them in depth. To find the information you’re looking for, check out college guide websites, specific colleges' websites, and other available online tools.

Jot down your questions, and get answers by:

• Talking to your school counselor or teachers.
• Checking out colleges’ student blogs, if available.
• Contacting college admissions officials directly or through tools like our Connect with Colleges feature
• Asking admissions officials to recommend current students or recent graduates to talk to.
• Visiting college campuses, if possible. For more information, see the Campus Visit Checklist .

Keep Perspective During College Selection.

During your search, keep asking yourself questions about your preferences and goals. You continue to evolve throughout high school. Your answers to "What college fits me?" may change during the search process.

Remember that there are many good college that are suitable for every student, and you can be successful at many types of schools. At College Board, we introduce test scores as one additional factor to weigh as you balance your list. Think about grouping your colleges into three categories:

• Safeties: Your SAT or ACT score is higher than the average score range of last year’s first-year class.
• Matches: Your SAT or ACT score is solidly in the same score range as last year’s first-year class.
• Reaches: Your SAT or ACT score is lower than the average score range of last year’s first-year class.

To find this information, explore the BigFuture College Profile of every school you're interested in attending. You can view admissions data for easy comparison with your scores and high school GPA. There's also information about topics such as academics and tuition costs.

To have a balanced college list and increase your chances of acceptance, we recommend including three reach colleges, two matches, and one safety college.

How to Decide What College to Go to

There's no easy answer to the question, "What college should I go to?" Everyone's aspirations are unique. There's a good chance you'll find several schools that check off every box. Consider what factors are most important to you. Keep an open mind, explore all opportunities, and send in several applications to keep your options open.

There's no shortage of excellent schools to prepare you for your future. Learn more about them at BigFuture. Narrow your options. Find the college that’s best for you .

How can I know what college is right for me?

Figuring out what school is right for you involves asking yourself tough questions and researching your options. While there's no such thing as a perfect choice, you can follow the suggestions above and explore college profiles to see which colleges might be a good fit for you. You can try different filters based on your interests and needs to find colleges that are right for you .

Your ultimate decision will require some self-reflection, thinking about what you want to do with your life and what journey you want to take to get there. With that information in mind, you can explore your options, see what schools fit the bill, and do your homework to settle on the right match.

What college should I go to if I don't know what I want to do?

If you're unsure about your career path, you can choose to learn more about schools with solid liberal arts programs or interdisciplinary studies majors. Another thing you might do is to begin at a two-year college, saving money until you’re ready to declare a major and settle on a college.

Where’s the best place to attend college?

The best place to attend college depends entirely on your needs and where you think you’ll be successful. When asking yourself, "What kind of college should I go to?" think about what characteristics, locations, and environments would help you succeed. BigFuture has a variety of resources to help you consider what type of college might be the best fit for you. Start by exploring types of colleges . Consider what environment you might list best, including big vs. small colleges as well as campus settings .

Related Articles

How to Do Research: A Step-By-Step Guide: Get Started

• Get Started
• 1a. Select a Topic
• 1b. Develop Research Questions
• 1c. Identify Keywords
• 1d. Find Background Information
• 1e. Refine a Topic
• 2a. Search Strategies
• 2d. Articles
• 2e. Videos & Images
• 2f. Databases
• 2g. Websites
• 2h. Grey Literature
• 2i. Open Access Materials
• 3a. Evaluate Sources
• 3b. Primary vs. Secondary
• 3c. Types of Periodicals
• 4a. Take Notes
• 4b. Outline the Paper
• 4c. Incorporate Source Material
• 5a. Avoid Plagiarism
• 5b. Zotero & MyBib
• 5c. MLA Formatting
• 5d. MLA Citation Examples
• 5e. APA Formatting
• 5f. APA Citation Examples
• 5g. Annotated Bibliographies

Research Essentials Video Tutorials

Related guides.

• Elmira College Writing Center Get one-on-one assistance for all types of writing.

Recommended Websites

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Research Process Overview

Step 1.  Develop a topic Select a Topic | Develop Research Questions | Identify Keywords | Find Background Information | Refine a Topic

Step 2. Locate information Search Strategies | Books | eBooks | Articles  | Videos & Images | Databases | Websites | Grey Literature

Step 3. Evaluate and analyze information Evaluate Sources | Primary vs Secondary | Types of Periodicals

Step 4. Write, organize, and communicate information Take Notes | Outline the Paper | Incorporate Source Material

Step 5. Cite sources Avoid Plagiarism | Zotero & MyBib | MLA | APA | Chicago Style | Annotated Bibliographies

For research help,  use one of the following options:

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Calculate for all schools, your chance of acceptance.

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Choosing a college is a decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Many high school students get wrapped in up in big name colleges, schools that older friends or siblings have attended, or colleges that their parents hope they’ll attend. These are valid reasons for considering a college, but they aren’t the best way to choose your college.

Instead, high school students should take a more holistic approach to choosing colleges. To do this, you’ll need to research colleges carefully using a number of different resources. Once you have an extensive list of colleges that meet your search criteria, you’ll need to narrow them down according to your own priorities. To learn more about how to research colleges and identify those that are the best fit for you, read this important post.

Why You Need to Research Colleges

There are over 5,000 colleges and universities in the United States. This means that no matter how many you visit, hear about from friends, or read about in prominent college rankings, you’ll likely still never hear the names of the majority of colleges and universities that exist.

You are unique. No one before or after you will ever be the same exact kind of community member, student, or athlete. No one will bring with them the exact same strengths and weaknesses or preferences and dislikes. This means that your search for a college that fits you best will also be unique. While it’s helpful to hear from friends, mentors, and family members about schools that might interest you, ultimately there should be a lot more behind your search for the best college for you.

What Makes a College a “Good Fit”?

As you begin researching colleges, it’s important to recognize what a “good fit” college looks like for you. Some aspects that you should consider include:

Academics/Selectivity

Are your grades and test scores in line with those of admitted students? Do you have a reasonable chance of getting into the college? Beyond that, will you be able to keep up with the level of academics expected of students there? These are important questions to ask as you decide whether a school is a good fit academically.

Finances are a substantial factor in many family’s college decisions. You’ll need to have a conversation with your parents about the colleges you can afford. You’ll also need to weigh the scholarships and aid packages that are offered at each college before you can make an informed decision.

Student Resources

Some students have particular needs that need to be met on campus. Others prefer access to certain campus resources. If you know that an extensive research library or a community of diverse students are important to you, you will need to find out if these are available at the schools you’re interested in attending.

Program/Major Offerings

Ultimately the school you attend will need to prepare you for your future. Does it offer the majors you’re interested in? Does it offer combined lines of study or other specifics you’re interested in? Start with your long term goals and work backwards from there to decide which programs are most important to you in choosing a college.

Online Research Tools

One simple way to begin researching colleges is online. There are extensive online search tools now that allow you to narrow your choices according to geographical location, programs of study, size, and other factors that might be important to you.

One great starting point is the Big Future. This resource provided by the College Board provides a unique query tool that allows you to filter by dozens of factors, including according to your own grades or test scores.

You can also perform simple web queries on your own. Google searches for terms such as “colleges with the best performance music programs” will yield lots of results to explore. Be prepared to spend some time wading through them and don’t stop after the first page of results. Many colleges or third party sites spend significant funds ensuring that they top the Google search results, but that doesn’t necessarily make them any better than results that fall lower in the Google rankings.

In addition, CollegeVine also provides a customized college list generator using specialized algorithms backed by over 100,000 data points to develop a school list based on your student’s real admissions chances and preferences. For more information, check out our   College Applications Guidance program .

While talking with friends and family shouldn’t be the backbone of your college research, it should still play an important role. After all, your friends and family know you best and may have valuable insights into colleges that will be a good fit for you. Also, attending a college where you know a few people might be an important factor in your college search. Only you can decide how important it is to attend a school where you already know some students. Just be wary of weighing your friends’ college choices as heavily as more important factors like programs of study and quality educational resources.

Another valuable resource is your guidance counselor. Optimize conversation about college choices with your guidance counselor by preparing for it ahead of time. Make a list of your priorities in a “best fit” college. What is its ideal setting, geographical location, size, and specialty? Consider things like selectivity, demographics, and campus culture as well.

You can learn more about weighing these factors in our posts 10 Considerations for Making Your College List and Seven Tips for Creating Your College List .

Once you have developed a list of your own priorities, share it via email with your guidance counselor. Ask if he or she has some time to sit down with you to discuss your priorities and offer some insights into schools that he or she feels may be a good fit.

Many guidance counselors juggle the needs and questions of hundreds of students, but if you prepare for your meeting in advance and give your guidance counselor the information he or she needs to prepare as well, you can expect to have a much more productive meeting.

College Fairs

College fairs are another way to learn more about colleges. Essentially, these are events where college admissions representatives get together to present information about their colleges and to attract students who might be a good fit. Remember, it’s not just students who want to find a college that fits—colleges want to attract students who are a good fit as well!

Before a college fair, you will be able to see a list of which colleges and universities are attending. Take advantage of this by researching schools in advance so that you know which may be of interest to you. Then, brainstorm a list of thoughtful questions that will help you in your search for a best fit college. To learn more about maximizing your attendance at a college fair, check out our post CollegeVine’s How to Make the Most of a College Fair .

If you can’t attend a college fair in person or if the schools you’re interested in aren’t attending, consider attending an online fair. These are virtual fairs where admissions representatives are available to chat and field questions in an online forum. College Week Live is one host of online college fairs. Check out their Event Schedule to see when specific schools will be participating.

Want access to expert college guidance — for free? When you create your free CollegeVine account, you will find out your real admissions chances, build a best-fit school list, learn how to improve your profile, and get your questions answered by experts and peers—all for free. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

15 Steps to Good Research

• Define and articulate a research question (formulate a research hypothesis). How to Write a Thesis Statement (Indiana University)
• Identify possible sources of information in many types and formats. Georgetown University Library's Research & Course Guides
• Judge the scope of the project.
• Reevaluate the research question based on the nature and extent of information available and the parameters of the research project.
• Select the most appropriate investigative methods (surveys, interviews, experiments) and research tools (periodical indexes, databases, websites).
• Plan the research project. Writing Anxiety (UNC-Chapel Hill) Strategies for Academic Writing (SUNY Empire State College)
• Retrieve information using a variety of methods (draw on a repertoire of skills).
• Refine the search strategy as necessary.
• Write and organize useful notes and keep track of sources. Taking Notes from Research Reading (University of Toronto) Use a citation manager: Zotero or Refworks
• Evaluate sources using appropriate criteria. Evaluating Internet Sources
• Synthesize, analyze and integrate information sources and prior knowledge. Georgetown University Writing Center
• Revise hypothesis as necessary.
• Use information effectively for a specific purpose.
• Understand such issues as plagiarism, ownership of information (implications of copyright to some extent), and costs of information. Georgetown University Honor Council Copyright Basics (Purdue University) How to Recognize Plagiarism: Tutorials and Tests from Indiana University
• Cite properly and give credit for sources of ideas. MLA Bibliographic Form (7th edition, 2009) MLA Bibliographic Form (8th edition, 2016) Turabian Bibliographic Form: Footnote/Endnote Turabian Bibliographic Form: Parenthetical Reference Use a citation manager: Zotero or Refworks

Adapted from the Association of Colleges and Research Libraries "Objectives for Information Literacy Instruction" , which are more complete and include outcomes. See also the broader "Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education."

Library & Learning Commons

• Search for sources
• APA style guide

How to do Research for College Assignments

• Introduction to the Research Process
• Choose & Develop Your Research Topic
• Search Library Resources
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In college-level programs, there are certain expectations for academic assignments: instructors expect reliable, scholarly sources to be used with properly formatted citations and references. 

This guide will help you meet those expectations with a step-by-step process for:

     •  Choosing and developing a topic

     •  Searching and exploring library resources online in multiple formats, such as ebooks and databases

     •  Evaluating sources for credibility and reliability

     •  Properly using sources with APA style

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I’ve joined the team at magellan college counseling and now provide an even greater depth and breadth of college guidance. .

• Feb 1, 2021

Tips to Research Your College List

Updated: Feb 26, 2021

Part 4 of the College List Research Series

Does the thought of researching colleges feel a bit overwhelming?

Maybe you're just not sure how to start or where exactly to look for specific information.

Fear not, college research is not an exact science and you won't be graded on it. But the results of your efforts can have an impact on your future. If you do a cursory job, you may end up at a college that doesn't actually make you happy or meet your goals.

Now is the time to dig into what the colleges have to offer you, so you can be sure the ones you ultimately apply to are colleges where you will be happy and succeed. There is are so many great colleges to explore, try to think of the research process as an online treasure hunt.

Parts 1 and 2 of the College Research Series give guidance on how to get focused on what to look for in a college. Part 3 helps you get started generating an initial college list. Now for the Research and Refinement step. In this article, Part 4, you'll learn five list research tips.

Tip 1: Break it up and space it out

Pick a day and set aside an hour. Take a look at your initial, big list of colleges (remember Part 3? ) and select two schools. Choose one you've heard of and one you've never heard of or know little about, just for variety's sake. Research a couple of schools each week, until you've refined your list down to 6-12 colleges, keeping in mind the idea of creating a balanced list.

Tip 2: Get a read on the college "vibe"

Before you start digging into the details of the college, get an overall feel for the vibe of the college and the type of students who attend. If you don't like the vibe, there's no sense wasting your time with the rest of the research.

"College Vibe" resource #1 - The Fiske Guide

The Fiske Guide is the go-to-guide that includes detailed profiles for hundreds of colleges. You’ll read about campus vibe, cultural amenities, popular academic programs, students' opinions about teacher interactions, and more. You can buy the book or use the Fiske Interactive Online guide for a small annual fee.

"College Vibe" resource #2 - CollegeXpress's Lists & Rankings

I use this tool in the initial list-building stage, but the lists and rankings are also a quick way to get a sense of the college vibe. Here's how:

Pick a school on your initial “big list,” search for it in the CollegeExpress search bar .

Let's say Willamette University is on your initial list.

Type Willamette into the search feature at CollegeXpress and pull up its profile. From there you can learn more about the school (e.g., admission info, financial aid facts, etc.). But first, take a look at the Lists & Rankings section. Click More Lists & Rankings .

You should get a list that looks likes like the image here.

This list of “ lists '' quickly reveals that

Willamette is a liberal arts school that is also strong in the sciences, is likely to be an affordable school, has a robust study abroad program, is great for homeschooled applicants and students who may be a little shy, and is known for teacher accessibility.

What do you think? Do these characteristics pique your interest? Will Willamette make the initial list refinement cut?

Pro tip: You can also click on any list title to see all the other colleges that have that particular ranking (e.g., click Oregon Hidden Gems to see the other Oregon Hidden gems, besides Willamette).

While you’re looking at lists… Be sure to look at the suggested list of similar colleges. On CollegeXpress, these are found on the Overview tab under “People Who Liked This School Also Liked…" In the Fiske Guide, they are called Overlap Schools. Consider: Are these similar colleges on your Initial Big List? Should they be? When you look at the lists that catch your interest, are there certain colleges that are showing up across multiple lists? You might want to add them to your list if they aren’t already. If they are on your list, great, you are one the right track!

Tip 3: Go to the Source: The college's website

Once you have a general sense of the vibe of the college, go to the college’s website to begin your in-depth research. The college’s website is where you will find the most relevant information when it comes to academic programs, core curriculum, and specific courses you may take.

While you research, take note of if and of how the college meets your specific college priorities (e.g., must have a strong study abroad program or must have access to arts and cultural events).

In addition to your specific college priority fit factors, research, and note the following factors:

The core mission/value of the college This gives another sense of the college vibe. Some colleges prioritize community service, others prioritize intellectual curiosity. Housing

Is it a residential campus? Is housing required and for how long? Is housing guaranteed? Student life

Check out the clubs (identify three that you might be interested in). Consider: Greek life presence? Do students socialize on campus, off-campus, both? What are the campus traditions?

Is there a required core curriculum? Or specific gen ed requirements for graduation? Are you okay with taking these required classes? Does the college offer your major area or program of interest? Is it a competitive major and do you need to apply to the major or college directly? Are there opportunities to explore majors? Explore the major pathway course curriculums. Look at the classes you might potentially take. Look for (or use the search feature) to find course catalogs or curriculum guides, which will tell you exactly what courses you can expect to take.

Student resources and services

What are the recreational facilities like? What do you think of the academic advising? Do they offer pre-professional advising? What sort of student supports are available -- from tutoring to mental health counseling? Athletics

How important are sports to you? Do they offer intramural and club sports?

Student outcomes

What percentage of students graduate in 4 years? How many are employed after graduation, go on to a professional program?

Key admission criteria

Average GPA and average standardized test scores of admitted students.

Affordability stats

Visit the college’s financial aid page to find out the total cost of attendance and average net price, scholarship opportunities, etc. Connections

Note the name of the admissions representative for your area. If you have a question, call them! Admission reps have never been more accessible. College websites often have links to schedule virtual appointments. You may even be able to connect with current students, as well. You can find more student perspectives from niche.com and unigo.com, which also provide alumni impressions.

Not finding what you need on the college website? Refer to the Additional Research Resources at the end of the article for more help.

Tip 4: Note & Record

Take notes and keep track of what you learn while you explore. Make note of your overall impression of the college. You may think you will remember some of the details, but believe me, it will all start to blur after a couple of deep dives into a few schools.

Create a document for each college that lists all of your criteria and your research findings. Or use a College Fit Research spreadsheet like this one.

Or download and print the pdf version if you prefer to take notes on paper.

Tip 5: Repeat

Repeat this college exploration process, tackling two or three colleges in a session, until you've made your way through your list. Some colleges you'll remove from your list immediately. Others may remain until you've finished your research and can see how they stack up against the other colleges you research.

By the end of the process, you'll find that some colleges meet many of your college priorities and others check off just a few boxes. You may determine that certain factors are more important than others. Maybe you decide that an affordable college with a friendly culture and accessible teachers is more important than a temperate climate and Greek life. Keep notes, so that you can compare and rate the colleges when you are all done.

Dig in, take notes, have fun, and please reach out if you need guidance or have questions.

Additional research resources:

College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

o Cost tab and a quick review of Net Price ranges/Net Price Calculator links

o Retention rates including transfer and withdrawal

o Comprehensive outcomes: average salaries by major

College Navigator: https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator

o 4/6 year graduation rates & retention rates

o Size of departments: degrees sorted bachelors/masters/PhD

o Campus safety

This post with tips on how to make the most of a virtual college fair.

Like what you've read? Want more like this but in a shorter format? Subscribe to my monthly newsletter -- Touchstone Tips and get timely, relevant info about college admissions delivered straight to your inbox. Click here to subscribe.

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• CAREER COLUMN
• 15 March 2019

A student’s guide to undergraduate research

• Shiwei Wang 0

Shiwei Wang is a junior undergraduate student studying Integrated Science and Chemistry at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Twitter: @W_Shiwei

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience working in a materials-chemistry laboratory at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, for the past two years. Being able to mix an undergraduate education with original research in a proper laboratory has been a fantastic opportunity.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-00871-x

This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place for Nature readers to share their professional experiences and advice. Guest posts are encouraged. You can get in touch with the editor at [email protected].

Wang, S. et al. Preprint at ChemRxiv https://doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv.7824707.v2 (2019).

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how do you actually research colleges?

every college’s website/tour/info session is basically the same, and they mention the same stuff like collaborative environment, low student : faculty ratio, blah blah.

at their core most have very similar programs/ offer a similar education. other than the basic differences (location, cost, size, curriculum, student life, vIbEs, etc), what more is there to research?? do i just pore through the college’s website and watch more student vlogs or is there something else that i can do to learn more about a school?

thanks in advance for any responses :)

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Researcher leads training on sickle cell disease care

World Sickle Cell Day, on June 19 is an annual day of recognition to raise international awareness around Sickle Cell Disease and the challenges patients and families face when confronting this illness.

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States. Despite improvements in treating children with sickle cell disease, it remains life-limiting and reduces the quality of life of impacted individuals, especially as the person ages.

• The CDC estimates that SCD affects about 100,000 people in the United States.
• Over 4,000 South Carolinians have SCD.
• With over 27% living in rural SC, there are increased health disparities affecting SCD patients.

Meet the expert

Dr. Lori Vick, nursing, works with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s Sickle Cell Nursing Boot Camp, a globally recognized program addressing the critical need for specialized education and training for nurses who care for SCD patients.

Vick was invited by the Brazilian Ministry of Health to bring the boot camp as its first intensive outside the US in the fall of 2023. There, she and other nursing experts shared their comprehensive Train the Trainer evidence based SCD curriculum to educate other nurses about what is truly happening in an SCD patient’s body.

I have never met a more committed group to helping one another, to change the status quo and improve health outcomes.

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

A professor at the Cullen College of Engineering is part of a multi-million dollar research effort led by the University of Nevada that aims to decarbonize domestic iron and steel production.

Ben Xu , an assistant professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department, is co-PI on the research project “Fast Electrowinning via Rotors for Responsible Iron Creation (FERRIC).” The total project value is $2.1 million from Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Research Projects Agency–Energy (ARPA-E), with $300,000 earmarked for Xu's work.

The overall goal of the research is to innovate “a unique, clean energy solution to replace blast furnace technology, a centuries-old steel production method that has long powered one of the world’s dirtiest industries,” according to a press release from UNLV . Over the next three years, the team aims to “scale up and compete” with the industry-standard blast furnace method by using a room-temperature approach in an aqueous system for iron production — a huge departure from the high-temperature environment of the blast furnace method.

Xu noted that his team would be providing two areas of research for the project.

“My team at UH will perform computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study and integrated multiphysics simulations to design the proposed impeller-accelerated reactor, a key component of the low temperature electrowinning system that will be crucial for scale-up,” he said. “Once the design is finalized, my team will assist the 3D printing of optimized impeller and the assembly of the lab-scale testing system.”

Xu and his team will be employing computer algorithms to help find near-optimal hydrofoil impeller design.

“The multiphysics (hydro-thermo-mechanical) simulation will be performed in the interstitial domain to find hydrofoil designs that maximize a figure of merit involving boundary layer thickness, bubble growth rate and size, and drag reduction,” he said. “Using this hydrofoil cross-section, our UH team will then apply a new surrogate model for the top-down impeller blade geometry (e.g., number of blades, blade length, blade thickness, blade curvature, etc.). An optimal top-down geometry will be found, marking the first design iteration of a full impeller blade.”

Jeremy Cho is the lead researcher for the proejct and a mechanical engineering professor at UNLV. The collaboration with researchers at UNLV came about thanks to networking and sharing academic research between universities and departments.

Xu identified several students from his research team as being involved in this research.

“My postdoctoral fellow Dr. Santosh Rauniyar and Ph.D. student Shuqi Zhou will be in the team to perform the research,” he said. “In particular, Dr. Rauniyar will be in charge of the optimization and 3D printing, and Shuqi will conduct the multiphysics CFD simulations.”

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Mirror-image chemicals may revolutionize drug delivery

Tuesday, Jun 18, 2024 • Katherine Egan Bennett :

Cyclodextrins (CDs) are complicated carbohydrates, a term that describes the natural, sugar-based, starchy material that makes up much of fruits, vegetables and grains.

Their unique chemical properties make them ideal for all sorts of uses, including air fresheners, medications and cosmetics. Scientists also are exploring their potential to treat cardiovascular diseases caused by atherosclerotic plaques.

Now, more than 130 years after CDs were first discovered and reported, a University of Texas at Arlington team of scientists has created chemical mirror images of these complex carbohydrates in the laboratory. This discovery may revolutionize how medications are delivered to patients.

Daniel W. Armstrong, the Robert A. Welch Distinguished University Chair in Chemistry, has co-authored a new peer-reviewed publication in Nature Synthesis describing mirror-image cyclodextrins for the first time along with his former graduate student Saba Aslani.

“This discovery is exciting, as it may make it easier to formulate and deliver complex medications to patients,” Armstrong said. “This missing piece of the puzzle definitely paves the way for additional gains in treating and curing disease.”

Other authors on the paper are from Northwestern University; University of Hong Kong; University of Wyoming; ZJU-Hangzhou Global Scientific and Technological Innovation Center in China; National University of Singapore; Universite d’Angers in France; Zhejiang University in China; and University of New South Wales in Australia.

After creating these mirror-image CDs in the lab, researchers were able to confirm their discovery using X-ray crystallography and binding studies of other mirror-image molecules.

“In the pharmaceutical industry, it is common and even mandated to synthesize and test such mirror-image drug entities, as they may have different medicinal properties and toxicities,” Armstrong said. “Based on how popular CDs are already for delivering medications, this newly discovered mirror image may have even more biomedical uses. Plus, we know that such mirror-images carbohydrates are more resistant to biological degradation than their natural counterparts.”

The UTA College of Science, a Carnegie R1 research institution, is preparing the next generation of leaders in science through innovative education and hands-on research and offers programs in Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Data Science, Earth & Environmental Sciences, Health Professions, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology. To support educational and research efforts visit the  giving page , or if you're a prospective student interested in beginning your #MaverickScience journey visit our  future students page .

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Testing Policy

February 5, 2024

Update On Dartmouth's Standardized Testing Policy

Informed by new research, dartmouth will reactivate the standardized testing requirement for undergraduate admission beginning with applicants to the class of 2029.

When Dartmouth suspended its standardized testing requirement for undergraduate applicants in June 2020, it was a pragmatic pause taken by most colleges and universities in response to an unprecedented global pandemic. At the time, we imagined the resulting "test-optional" policy as a short-term practice rather than an informed commentary on the role of testing in our holistic evaluation process. Nearly four years later, having studied the role of testing in our admissions process as well as its value as a predictor of student success at Dartmouth, we are removing the extended pause and reactivating the standardized testing requirement for undergraduate admission, effective with the Class of 2029. For Dartmouth, the evidence supporting our reactivation of a required testing policy is clear. Our bottom line is simple: we believe a standardized testing requirement will improve—not detract from—our ability to bring the most promising and diverse students to our campus.

An Evidence-based Policy Reactivation Informed by New Research and Fresh Data

A new research study commissioned by Dartmouth President Sian Beilock and conducted by Dartmouth economists Elizabeth Cascio, Bruce Sacerdote and Doug Staiger and educational sociologist Michele Tine confirms that standardized testing— when assessed using the local norms at a student's high school —is a valuable element of Dartmouth's undergraduate application. Their illuminating study found that high school grades paired with standardized testing are the most reliable indicators for success in Dartmouth's course of study. They also found that test scores represent an especially valuable tool to identify high-achieving applicants from low and middle-income backgrounds; who are first-generation college-bound; as well as students from urban and rural backgrounds. It is also an important tool as we meet applicants from under-resourced or less familiar high schools across the increasingly wide geography of our applicant pool. That is, contrary to what some have perceived, standardized testing allows us to admit a broader and more diverse range of students.

The finding that standardized testing can be an effective tool to expand access and identify talent was unexpected, thought-provoking, and encouraging. Indeed, their study challenges the longstanding critique that standardized testing inhibits rather than broadens college access; they note that contextually strong testing clearly enhances the admission chances of high-achieving applicants from less-resourced backgrounds when such scores are disclosed. Indeed, their finding reinforces the value of Dartmouth's longstanding practice of considering testing within our broader understanding of the candidate as a whole person.  Especially during the pandemic's test-optional period, my colleagues and I sharpened our awareness of local norms and environmental factors, as well as the degree of opportunity available at a student's high school and in their community. Those environmental elements of discovery and assessment were one of the fortuitous by-products of the extended pandemic moment during which we reimagined traditional guidelines and practices.  Knowing what we now know, it is an approach we will preserve as we move forward. Contextualized testing is an essential element of our individualized, holistic review. Of course, Dartmouth will never reduce any student to their test scores. It is simply one data point among many, but a helpful one when it is present.

The faculty researchers write: "Our overall conclusion is that SAT and ACT scores are a key method by which Dartmouth can identify students who will succeed at Dartmouth , including high performing students…who may attend a high school for which Dartmouth has less information to (fully) judge the transcript." Simply said, it is another opportunity to identify students who are the top performers in their environments, wherever they might be.

Indeed, as Dartmouth experienced our first admissions round with a "testing recommended" advisory this past fall, we set new institutional records for access even as 75 percent of those early acceptances included testing as an element of the application. We celebrated two early milestones: 22 percent are first-generation college bound and 21 percent qualified for a zero-parent contribution with family incomes and assets at or below $65,000 USD. These outcomes encourage and excite us, and we view contextualized testing as another opportunity to amplify our objective to admit and enroll a broadly heterogenous undergraduate class that is well-prepared to succeed in the curriculum we offer.

Lessons Learned from Test-Optional Practices

Our experience with optional testing has been enlightening. As with the other optional elements of the Dartmouth application—an alumni interview, a peer recommendation—the decision to share testing was individualized. But as the faculty study notes, "Some low-income students appear to withhold test scores even in cases where providing the test score would be a significant positive signal to admissions." Dartmouth admission officers also observed this pattern: Our post-admission research showed students with strong scores in their local framework often opted for a test-optional approach when their scores fell below our typical mean or mid-50% range. Often, those scores would have been additive, positive elements of the candidacy had they been shared. The absence of such scores underscores longstanding misperceptions about what represents a "high" or a "low" score; those definitions are not binary. A score that falls below our class mean but several hundred points above the mean at the student's school is "high" and, as such, it has value as one factor among many in our holistic assessment. That is how we consider testing at Dartmouth, and the opportunity to imagine better ways to inform students about their "score strength" will be a priority for us.

Moreover, the Dartmouth faculty study found testing "allows Dartmouth admission officers to more precisely identify students who will thrive academically." In our high-volume, globally heterogeneous applicant pool in which most candidates are "high achievers," environmental and historical data, high school performance, and testing—when taken together—offer the most robust framework for predicting success at Dartmouth. That finding was especially true for applicants from under-resourced high schools, noting that students with standardized test scores at or above the 75th percentile of test-takers from their respective high schools are well prepared to succeed in our fast-paced, rigorous course of study. All scores are assessed through that local framing as we seek excellence from new geographies.

Reactivating and Reimagining Our Testing Requirement

Beginning with the Class of 2029, Dartmouth will once again require applicants from high schools within the United States to submit results of either the SAT or ACT, with no Dartmouth preference for either test. As always, the results of multiple administrations will be super-scored, which means we will consider the highest result on individual sections of either exam regardless of the test date or testing format. For applicants from schools outside the U.S. , results of either the SAT, ACT or three Advanced Placement (AP) examinations OR predicted or final exam results from the International Baccalaureate (IB), British A-Levels, or an equivalent standardized national exam are required. This distinction between students attending a school in the U.S. or outside the U.S. acknowledges the disparate access to American standardized testing—as well as the lack of familiarity with such testing—in different parts of the world. Dartmouth's English language proficiency policy remains unchanged: For students for whom English is not the first language or if English is not the primary language of instruction for at least two years, students are required to submit an English proficiency score from TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo or the Cambridge English Exam.

Dartmouth will pair the restoration of required testing with a reimagined way of reporting testing outcomes, ideally in ways that are more understandable for students, families, and college counselors. For example, when testing was submitted as part of our Early Decision round for the Class of 2028, 94 percent of the accepted students who shared testing scored at or above the 75th percentile of test-takers at their respective high school. More significantly, this figure was a full 100 percent for the 79 students who attend a high school that matriculates 50 percent or fewer of its graduates to a four-year college. Accordingly, we will develop a new testing profile that seeks, in part, to disrupt the long-standing focus on the class mean and mid-50 percent range, with hopes of empowering students to understand how a localized score aligns with the admissions parameters at Dartmouth.

An Enduring Commitment to Holistic Admissions

Dartmouth has practiced holistic admissions since 1921, and that century-long consideration of the whole person is unquestionably as relevant as ever. As we reactivate our required testing policy, contextualized testing will be one factor—but never the primary factor—among the many quantitative and qualitative elements of our application. As always, the whole person counts, as do the environmental factors each person navigates. And, as always, we will evaluate and reframe Dartmouth's undergraduate admission requirements as the data and the evidence informs us.

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Research into Japanese folklore evolution gratifying for student-designed major

Mia Mann ’24 came to The College of Wooster with an interest in multiple majors; anthropology, East Asian studies, and history all appealed to her. Working with faculty advisors, she developed a student-designed major in anthropology and East Asian history, and for her Independent Study project, she brought all her ideas together in a way that allowed her to study visual media in Japanese folklore, a topic that always interested her.

“Actually having the time, resources, and energy to focus on such a massive research project and having it all turnout was really satisfying and gratifying as well,” Mann said.

Working with mentors Margaret Ng Wee-Siang, associate professor of history and chair of East Asian studies, and Michael Miyawaki, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology, Mann studied media from the Edo period (1603-1868) to contemporary Japanese literature. She looked at the historical evolution of yokai spirits including a kappa or froglike creature, and the tsuchigumo, a spiderlike demon, and their representations in visual media from woodblock prints to contemporary manga comics and anime.

“They always fit to shape the narrative needs of the producers and consumers in the social and cultural context,” she explained. “As cultural society continues to progress, global audiences have become more interested in Japanese media, and the narrative context and definition of these yokai will continue to shift to accommodate the growing needs of different audiences.”

What inspired you to choose this topic for your I.S.?

Mann: I’ve always been really interested in folklore, but specifically I was interested in Japanese folklore because it had a different societal progress from other folklore that I’d looked at. When I studied abroad in Japan, I noticed a lot of these characters kept popping up. I thought it would be interesting to look at how their context in society has changed over time because I knew the yokai have had such a dramatic shift.

What did it mean to you to be able to choose your own research project and design it based on your interests?

Mann: I love doing research, and being able to put the puzzle pieces together is such a satisfying experience overall because I knew that I had these questions and interests in learning more. Being given the time, resources, and energy to focus on such a massive research project and having it all turnout was really satisfying and gratifying as well.

How has your relationship with your I.S. mentor supported you throughout this process?

Mann: Dr. Ng and Dr. Miyawaki were intrinsic to the construction and execution of my thesis, as well as my personal growth in academia. Beginning with the task of narrowing down my I.S. topic, and ending with the final round of edits, my advisors’ insights were the guiding force for me. I deeply value the knowledge, insight, and time that my advisors dedicated to me. Their help and patience have shaped me for the better in terms of my writing, critical thinking, and my approach to the world and my career.

What has I.S. taught you?

Mann: Completing I.S. and participating in the symposium presentations proved to me that I could plan, structure, and complete a project of this magnitude and expectation. My college career has not only proven to me my own intellectual capacity but has also expanded my worldview and capacity for critical thinking exponentially.

Mann presented her Independent Study to the College community at the Senior Research Symposium.

After completing her degree, Mann is excited to work in her community as guest services associate at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center in Cincinnati.

Posted in Independent Study on June 17, 2024.

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Critically examine events and societies of the past and learn to tell the stories future generations need to know

East Asian Studies

A multidisciplinary approach to studying the diverse but related historical and cultural traditions of East Asia

Anthropology

Use problem-solving and research skills to explore and understand communities and cultures in every part of the world.

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CU Boulder, industry partner on space docking and satellite AI research

Docking with a satellite orbiting Earth is delicate business, with one wrong move spelling disaster. A team of industry and University of Colorado Boulder researchers is trying to make it easier.

The work is part of two major business-university grant partnerships that include the lab of Hanspeter Schaub, a professor and chair of the Ann and H.J. Smead Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences.

“The goal with these grants is very much tech transfer,” Schaub said. “We’re combining university research with business goals and initiatives to develop a product or service.”

The first project is a U.S. Space Force Small Business Technology Transfer grant with In Orbit Aerospace Inc. The goal is to use electro adhesive forces to ease docking between satellites, future space cargo vehicles, or orbital debris. Electro adhesion uses short-range strong electric fields to hold together adjacent bodies, even if they are not made of magnetic materials.

“Docking in space is surprisingly difficult. If servicer bumps target vehicle in an unexpected manner, it’s going to bounce off and fly away. Electro adhesion has been used a lot already with manufacturing on Earth. With electric fields, you can create attractive forces to grab stuff. They’re not huge forces, but they’re nice,” Schaub said.

The team completed early work on the project last year and has now advanced to a second stage, which began in May.

Schaub’s portion of the grant is worth about $500,000 over 18 months, and includes numerical modeling and atmospheric experiments as well as the creation of samples to test in the lab’s vacuum chamber that approximates orbital conditions.

It is not the only business development grant in Schaub’s lab. He and Associate Professor Nisar Ahmed are also in the process of setting up a contract with Trusted Space, Inc. on a U.S. Air Force STTR grant to advance autonomous satellite fault identification. CU Boulder’s portion of this project is worth roughly $300,000 over 18 months.

Like all electronics and machines, satellites sometimes fail. The goal of the effort with Trusted Space is to develop an AI that can automatically identify likely sources of errors.

“If a satellite isn’t tracking in orbit, maybe something bumped into it, maybe the rate gyroscope is off, maybe everything is fine but a sensor is giving bad information. There might be 10 different reasons why and we’re trying to down select in an automated way so a human doesn’t have to scour through datasets manually,” Schaub said.

The team has completed proof of concept work on a Phase 1 grant and is now advancing to Phase 2, modeling dozens of potential errors.

Both grants make extensive use of Basilisk, a piece of software developed by Schaub’s lab to conduct spacecraft mission simulations.

Although many of Schaub’s grants are directly with government agencies or multi-university initiatives, he said conducting work with a business partner offers unique opportunities for advancing science and additional potential for students.

“Students get exposure to industry and are excited because suddenly people outside the research community are interested in what they’re doing,” Schaub said. “They attend meetings and see how projects are run, what challenges industry is trying to solve. It helps influence their dissertations and gives more focus. I see a lot of benefits and companies also often want to hire the students.”

Related News

CU Boulder leading $5 million multi-university project to advance the space economy

CU Engineering faculty land prestigious multidisciplinary Department of Defense projects

CU Boulder developing space wargames simulation facility

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