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!

You may have seen a lot of news in the past few years about closed colleges. It's true; many colleges have shut down in the past decade, and some sources estimate that roughly one college closes down each week. Which colleges have closed, and why? And should you be concerned about the school you're interested in or attending closing?

Read this guide to learn which colleges have closed down since 2015, what happens when a college closes, and why there have been more closed colleges in recent years.

SAT and ACT scores are common admission requirements for college. But what if I told you that you could get into a great school without taking either of these exams? Behold test-optional colleges. Colleges that are test optional don't require you to submit SAT or ACT scores but will consider them if submitted.

In this guide, we'll explain what "test optional" means for different schools before providing you with a comprehensive list of test-optional colleges and universities in the US. The first two lists will cover the best test-optional colleges and universities (i.e., those ranked in the top 100), and the last list will include all other test-optional colleges in the country.

Along the way, we'll also give you a few key tips on when you should and should not send your SAT/ACT test scores to schools.

Did you know that early decision isn't necessarily early? "Binding decision" might be a better name for it, since some schools now offer "early" decision deadlines in January as well as in November.

Either way, applying early decision is a big commitment. If you apply this way, you should be totally sure you want to attend that school. Let's review the pros and cons of early decision and look at all the schools that currently offer early decision admission.

Before you envision yourself getting settled in at Georgia Tech, you must get over the hurdle of writing the Georgia Tech essays. The Georgia Tech supplement requires you to write a short essay specifically for Georgia Tech. But what is the essay prompt? And what should you include in your Georgia Tech essay?

Keep reading to learn exactly what the Georgia Tech essay is, what kinds of topics you can write about (and what kinds of topics to avoid), and how to ensure you're submitting a quality essay.

If you're applying to one or more of the UC schools, you want to make sure you get the application right. This step-by-step guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the UC application, from the time you decide to apply to a UC school to when you submit the final piece of the application.

Keep reading to learn when the most important UC application deadline is, which documents you need to submit to complete your application, if you need a separate application for each UC school, and how you can make sure every part of your application sets you apart from the crowd.

Ivy League colleges are often viewed as the gold standard of colleges in the US and worldwide. While most people know that all Ivy League schools are good, which are the best Ivy League schools? Now you can find out with PrepScholar's exclusive 2025 Ivy League rankings. Get excited!

The Ivy League schools are ranked in this article. Furthermore, the answers to what makes the Ivy League unique, how to find the Ivy League school that’s right for you, and how to decide whether you should pursue an Ivy League education are all broken down.

Has your school counselor ever told you that it’s important to find a “good fit” when you’re selecting your college? And have you ever wondered what that term even means?

When educators talk about the best college fit, they are talking about finding a school that is compatible with your personality and lifestyle, a school that feels comfortable and feels like “you.”

If you have your sights set on Los Angeles for college, the University of Southern California and the University of California Los Angeles are two great options to choose from. But when it comes to USC vs UCLA…what are the differences and which is better?

We’re going to break down both of these schools and what they have to offer, including campus sizes, the majors they offer, and how much tuition costs. Information is power, and once you have all the fact, you can make the best decision for you.

Ready? Let’s get started.

If you’ve dreamed of becoming a doctor and adding MD to the end of your name, you’ve likely spent a lot of time thinking about how to get there. You’ve heard about the many years of schooling, clinicals and residencies and watched TV shows where doctors are exhausted from long shifts and tough cases.

Earning a medical degree is a long process with big rewards. There are many steps to getting there, and the first is determining what courses to take in college to prepare you for medical school.

We often use the term “pre-med” to define the college courses leading to medical school. But is pre-med a major? Is it something you can select when you declare your major on your college applications or early in your college career?

Affirmative action is one of the most hotly debated topics in college admissions today. With the 2023 from the Supreme Court that colleges and universities can no longer use their full affirmative action policies in admissions decisions, things are about to change in higher education.

If you’re applying to college and wondering what the new Supreme Court affirmative action decision is all about, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’ll answer the question, “What is affirmative action in college admissions?” and go over real examples of affirmative action in education policies and how colleges have used them historically.  

We’ll also explain how the upcoming changes to affirmative action in public and private schools might affect incoming students, and how to put together stellar college applications no matter what.  

So let’s get started.

The City University of New York system is the lesser-known member of New York State's public university system. Unlike New York's SUNY colleges and universities, however, all the CUNY schools are located in NYC.

In this article, we'll go over a list of CUNY schools in NYC and CUNY locations along with what to consider when choosing which CUNYs to apply to.

If you're politically active, you may want to go to a college where the students, faculty, and administration share your values. You'll be more likely to find student groups that are aligned with your interests and beliefs, and you'll probably have a more enjoyable college experience.

In this article, we'll give you a list of over 70 of the most liberal colleges in the United States. Furthermore, we'll detail the traits of liberal colleges, explain possible advantages and disadvantages of attending liberal colleges, and advise you how to find liberal colleges that could be a good fit for you.

If you're from a Southern state, or you just love sweet tea, hush puppies, delicious BBQ, and saying "y'all," you may want to attend college in the South. If you're considering going to college in the South, you should have an idea of which schools are the best in the region.

In this article, I'll rank the best colleges in the South and offer tips on finding the best Southern colleges for you.

Thinking about attending a SUNY or CUNY school but aren't sure where to start or even what the differences between the two are? We're here to help! Read this guide to get an overview of both CUNY and SUNY schools, see how they compare across different areas such as academics, cost, and student life, and learn the four steps to follow to decide which school is best for you.