Choosing where you’ll go to college is a big decision. But how can you tell if a school is actually right for you? And how do you know which college is your “dream school?”
In this article, we’ll walk you through how to choose your dream college—or colleges! We’ll go over the ins and outs of what a dream school really is…and why it may be different from what you’ve always thought a dream school should be.
Let’s get started!
What Is a Dream School?
When people talk about applying to a “dream school,” it’s pretty common for things like national rankings or prestige to be a major part of the conversation.
But there are other important things to look for when you’re picking your dream schools.
A dream school is a place where you will thrive as a student—and that comes down to a lot more than rankings and reputation. It’s about finding the school that meets your needs as a student. For some students, that may look like picking a school that offers their perfect major. Other students’ dream school might be in a specific location, or offer unique internship or scholarship opportunities.
In other words: there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all dream school.
For instance, while your best friend may dream of getting into Harvard, you might be dreaming of a small liberal arts school on the west coast where you can let your inner artist shine.
At the end of the day, your dream school is whatever you say it is. Picking the university that will help you thrive throughout college and achieve your goals after graduation is what’s most important!
What Makes a College Your “Dream School?”
The good news is that even though everyone’s dream school might be different, there are a few key qualities you can look for to determine whether a school should make it onto your dream college list.
Quality 1: It Will Prep You For Life After Graduation
College lasts for a few years of your life. But it prepares you for everything that happens after graduation.
That means your dream school is one that prepares you for your future. Not only will it prepare you for your future career, it will help you develop other skills you’ll need to succeed throughout life. That might mean offering extracurriculars that supplement your education, unique internships in your field, or even scholarships that help you avoid taking on lots of student loan debt.
But college isn’t just career preparation. It’s also a journey of self-discovery. Also make sure you’re looking at schools that offer you the chance to grow as a person, whether that’s through diverse campus communities, study abroad programs, or leadership opportunities.
Quality 2: It Give You a Place Where You Belong
When you go to college, you join a community that you’ll be a part of for the rest of your life. That means that the community at your dream school should be one that makes you feel like you belong.
Belonging at college can mean a lot of things. It can mean joining clubs or organizations with people who share your interests, forming a diverse group of friends, or attending a school that offers small, close knit classes.
As you research schools, pay attention to the communities they foster—from club offerings to class sizes to student testimonials. Your dream school should be a place where you can genuinely see yourself fitting in.
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Dream colleges help you embrace your interests, no matter what they are. Like, if you love 3D printing...your dream school will have clubs and engineering majors that let you explore your passion!
Quality 3: The Academic Programs Match Your Interests
When you get ready to apply to colleges, it’s important to spend time thinking about what your academic and career interests are. Your dream school will be one that offers programs and majors that allow you to explore those interests.
You don’t have to know exactly what you’ll major in before you apply to college. You’re still planning for your future, after all! If you’re not sure what you want to study, your dream school should have a good amount of academic variety. That way you can take classes in a bunch of different subjects to find your perfect (major!) fit.
Even if you have a major picked, be aware that sometimes your interests can shift while you’re in school. That’s okay! That’s why it’s a good idea for your dream school to also have strong core programs. That way you know you’ll get a good education even if you do change your mind about your major.
Quality 4: It Makes Financial Sense
Your dream school should be one you can actually afford—or at least one that offers financial aid to make attendance possible.
Before you fall in love with a school, research its net price calculator, scholarship opportunities, and financial aid policies. Some schools meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, while others might offer generous merit scholarships. Most universities offer work study programs that allow you to work on campus to help offset your tuition costs, too.
Remember: your dream school should set you up for success after graduation, not saddle you with financial stress. Factoring finances into picking your dream school can help you find one that will set you up for long-term financial success, too.
Once you have an idea of what a dream school actually is, you can start to build a list of universities that match your criteria. Let’s talk about that step-by-step process now.
How to Choose Your Dream School: A Step-by-Step Process
Choosing a dream school takes time and reflection. We’ll walk you through all of the steps you need to take in order to find your dream school.
Step 1: Reflect on What You Want from Your College Experience
Finding the right school for you starts with understanding what you want from your college experience. Here are some questions you can ask yourself to figure out what you’re looking for in a college:
- Do I want to be a part of a large or small campus community?
- Am I interested in attending a public university, private school, small liberal arts college, or faith-based institution?
- Is living close to home important to me?
- What are my academic interests? What majors do I need my college to offer?
- What kinds of student support services, like tutoring, therapy, or financial advising, do I need my college to offer so I can succeed?
- Am I hoping to go to a school that offers smaller classes, or am I okay with big lecture halls and lots of students in one classroom?
- What kind of financial assistance will I need in order to attend college, if any?
- Do I want to attend a school with a vibrant sports culture?
- Am I looking to live in a particular climate, like near a beach or somewhere with four seasons?
By answering these questions, you can establish your “must-haves”: the things that are non-negotiable for your college experience. When you have a really clear idea of what you want, it’ll be much easier to find colleges that are the right fit for you.
For some students, starting the process of finding your dream colleges can feel overwhelming, and talking it through with someone who understands the college admissions process can help. Our expert admissions counselors are here to provide you all the guidance you need to find your dream school. Click the link below to learn more.
Step 2: Research Schools that Match Your Criteria
After you establish what you’re looking for in your college experience, you can start looking for schools that fit the mold. That means asking more questions, doing your research, then creating a list of schools that meet your criteria.
Start by using search engines to look up schools that meet your core criteria. You can also look at some of the top school lists we’ve compiled on PrepScholar, like this list of the best engineering schools in the U.S., or this list of top universities for pre-med majors.
As you find potential colleges, you can add them to your list. Don’t worry if it starts to get long at this point. Over the next few steps, you’ll start whittling your list down to highlight your dream colleges.
You want to make sure your school fits you and your needs perfectly—just like a good pair of sneakers.
Step 3: Evaluate Schools Based on Fit
Once you have a big list of potential schools, you can dive deeper into each one to figure out which are the best “fit” for you.
When we talk about “fit,” we’re talking about schools that meet your criteria and provide a culture where you can thrive.
To figure out which schools are right for you, spend some time looking at their website, socials, and student reviews. With a little research, you’ll get a better sense of a school’s academics, campus community, and overall vibe.
For instance, say one of your criteria is attending a small school. But as you do your research, you realize that 5 of your 10 choices have class sizes that average under 10 students. And while you’re all about going to a smaller school, those classes are way tinier than you really want. That means you can strike those schools off of your dream college list!
That’s just one example of how you can use your “must-haves” to learn whether or not schools you’re considering should make your list. The more you learn about colleges, the more likely you are to track down ones that are the right fit for you!
Step 4: Make Campus Visits
When it comes to getting a feel for what colleges are like, there’s really nothing better than making an in-person campus visit. That way, you can see for yourself how it feels to be a part of the campus culture–and if that feeling is the right one for you.
Obviously, campus visits take time and can be expensive. That’s why it’s important to start narrowing down your dream school choices in Step 3 before you start taking your tours. (And if in-person tours aren’t in the cards for you, you can always see if your top schools offer virtual campus visits.)
With that said, there are a lot of perks to campus visits. You can see the dorms, try the campus dining options, and talk to real students. You’ll also have a chance to meet faculty, chat to an academic advisor, and maybe even sit in on a class. And if you’re still figuring out financial aid, you can meet with a financial advisor to hear about your options.
Step 5: Don’t Limit Yourself to Just One School
College admissions are competitive, and even the most qualified students don't always get into their top choice. That's why it's smart to create a balanced college list that includes reach schools, target schools, and safety schools—all of which meet your core criteria and where you could genuinely see yourself thriving.
Your "dream schools" should be the ones you're most excited about, but they shouldn't be the only schools you apply to. Build a list of 8-12 colleges that check your boxes, then apply to a mix of schools where you have varying chances of admission.
Remember: the goal isn't just to get into a college—it's to get into a college that’s a good fit for you. By applying to multiple schools that fit your needs, you'll have options when decision letters arrive. And that's when you can make the best choice for your future.
3 Expert Tips for Avoiding Dream School Pitfalls
The college search process comes with some common pitfalls that can derail even the most prepared students. Here are three tips to help you avoid them and stick to your priorities.
Tip 1: Don’t Get Sucked in by Hype
It's easy to get caught up in the hype around colleges when you're trying to decide which ones are right for you. Maybe everyone at your school is obsessing over the Ivies, or you keep seeing the same "elite" universities trending on social media.
But it's important you stay focused on finding the schools that meet your dream experience. Don't let "top college lists" or prestige-chasing make you overlook universities that actually meet your criteria!
Tip 2: Don’t Let Other People’s Opinions Affect Your Judgement
People have a lot of opinions about colleges, and people you know might have their own ideas about where you should go to college. But whether you’re talking to people in your hometown or strangers online, remember that there’s only one opinion that truly matters when it comes to choosing dream colleges: yours!
To keep what you think and feel front and center, spend time developing a strong sense of how your goals for college and your future will be supported by the schools you’re considering. When you have a solid foundation in your reasons for choosing certain schools, you’ll be able to block out the noise and make choices based on what you want, not on what others think.
Tip 3: Be Open to Changing Your Mind
It’s important to be excited about the schools you decide to apply to. But it’s also important to stay open minded about which one you’ll end up attending.
Sometimes unexpected things can happen during college admissions. Some students don’t get the acceptances they were hoping for. Others get into schools they thought were totally out of reach! And, sometimes, you have your heart set on one school…but end up feeling differently after some time has passed.
All of these are reasons why it’s important to stay flexible about the colleges you apply to. When you stay open-minded, you stand a better chance of being happy no matter where you decide to go to college–even if the final outcome isn’t what you were expecting!
What's Next?
- Now that you know how to pick a dream school, it's time to build your college list. We'll show you how.
- How many colleges should you apply for, anyway? Get the inside scoop on the ideal number of applications from PrepScholar's in-house experts.
- Not sure where to start? That's okay! We'll walk you through the college process. (Of course, you can always get connected with one of our admissions advisors, too.
