If students are considering higher education as their next step, there are several things to keep in mind as they begin this exciting, and potentially daunting, process. While this journey can begin at any point in life, it typically begins during one’s junior and senior year of high school. From understanding what to look for in a school, to the final stages of filling out an application, the information provided here can help to break down the process of entering U.S. colleges and universities.

Exploring Your Options

Before a student chooses what names to put on an application out of the thousands of options, they must consider what each institution has to offer them. To narrow down the search, students can utilize criteria such as:

Programs: Students can start by searching for schools that offer degree programs they are interested in. Further, they may research the reputation and standing of those specific programs at those colleges or universities.

– Institutions also vary in their duration (ex. 4-year, 2-year, etc.). To learn more about these options please refer to Sascha Zissu’s article on the Different Types of U.S. Colleges: https://newyorkinfrench.net/d/19314-different-types-of-us-colleges
Location: For most students, location plays a large role in their choice. Do they want to be close or far from home? In a city or small town?

– As for distance, living farther from home would place students in a new environment where they will likely live on-campus. This option might require students to take flights, trains, or long-drives in order to attend a certain institution, which will require more planning in returning home for breaks. If students decide to continue their education closer to home, schools may offer students the option to commute. In this model, commuter students attend classes with all students, but they will not live on-campus, driving to and from the school each day. However, it should be noted that many schools require students to live on-campus for at least their freshman year, if not more. Some, such as Ohio University and SUNY New Paltz among others, offer a waiver to this requirement if the student’s home address is within a certain radius of the campus (ranging from 25-50 miles). That being said, if a student is set on commuting, this can act as a set of criteria for choosing where to apply. Costs may be a factor in this decision considering the difference in tuition. To elaborate, while students will not be charged for housing and can usually opt out of the meal plan, they will often have to pay for parking permits and must factor in gas prices which can all be calculated to aid in the final decision. On the social side, if students are commuting it may be more difficult for them to integrate in the student and school community. For instance, they may miss certain events and opportunities, especially those that take place at night or on weekends when commuters are less likely to be on-campus.

– Regarding the distinction between cities and smaller towns, students may choose to be in a more fast-paced urban environment, or a quieter more suburban or rural setting. Within a city, students will likely have access to a greater network of public transportation and by extension a variety of opportunities that range from professional to recreational. For instance, students may be able to intern in-person at a company or organization’s offices, or visit museums throughout the city. However, schools located in large cities may lack the sense of campus community that rural schools offer, given that students and/or buildings may be scattered throughout the city rather than on a closed-off, centralized campus. On the other hand, rural schools often have access to more natural spaces and outdoor activities, and as previously mentioned, usually foster tighter-knit communities.
Size: The student population is also important to take into account as it creates a distinct atmosphere. Between small liberal arts colleges and large state universities, each type of institution has pros and cons.

– For further clarification, there is a distinction between colleges and universities, which is largely based on size. While the title “college” often reflects an educational institution with a smaller student body, “universities” are typically larger and may have different “schools” or “colleges” within them. For instance, the University of New Hampshire has a College of Liberal Arts, Engineering and Physical Science, and more within the institution, offering a wide variety of degree programs.

– Small Colleges: Defined as institutions with 5,000 or fewer students, these schools often have smaller class sizes with stronger student-faculty relationships that lend to a more individualized experience. However, these schools may not offer the same variety of programs and name-based recognition that larger schools possess.

– Larger Universities: With approximately 15,000 students or more, these institutions usually have a wider range of programs and courses available to students, as well as a large alumni network that can help students after graduation. These schools may also serve as research institutions and will likely offer undergraduate and graduate programs. However, opportunities will be more competitive at larger institutions, and lower level classes may be taught by graduate students rather than professional staff.
Housing and Dining: If living on campus, students will likely be in residence halls and enrolled in the campus dining plan. Typical student housing entails dormitory style buildings where students live with 1 to 3 roommates with a student Resident Advisor (RA) on each floor, and a professional Resident Director (RD) for the building. However, housing styles vary from school to school in terms of building structures and living situations (ex. Co-ed dorms vs single gender buildings).
Sports: Particularly important for Student-Athletes, a college or university’s sports teams are often categorized by a DI through DIII classification, which distinguishes division their school competes in. According to NSCA Sports, Division I teams represent the highest competition of the three tiers and require the most commitment from athletes. Aside from the DI-III teams, there are also typically club and intramural sports offered that decrease in commitment respectively.
Extracurriculars: A large part of student life outside of class, the college or universities extracurricular activities bring another point of consideration to the table. These clubs present students the opportunity to meet other like-minded students, engage in areas of interest, and get involved in leadership positions. For instance, extracurriculars may be based on hobbies, activities, community service, religion, cultural identity, pre-professional groups, and more. These clubs may provide students opportunities to engage in activities beyond campus. For example, a school may have an outreach club such as Habitat for Humanity where students to participate in organized community service, or an Outing Club that may take them on hiking trips. Leadership positions will provide students with skills and professional experience. Although, the transition from a member to a board/leadership position in a club constitutes a large time commitment that students should keep in mind. While this might not be a determining factor, it may add a point of interest for certain schools.
AP and IB Credits: If students took Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate program courses during their high school career, and received a 4 or 5 (some take 3) on the exam, many colleges and universities will recognize that credit in the form of general requirement fulfillment.

– However, in cases such as schools with an Open Curriculum (more common in liberal arts colleges), these credits will likely not apply as this structure features fewer requirements so that students may tailor their experience.

– Here is a tool to search for a school’s AP Credit policy (https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/getting-credit-placement/search-policies) and IB recognition (https://recognition.ibo.org/en-US/?utm_source=ib+public+website&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=recognition+statements+referral)

Tours and Open Houses

So, once the general net has been cast, it is likely that a few candidates will stand out, as they align with one’s interests, preferences, and other criteria. However, it is difficult to be certain about a school before seeing the campus and hearing from real students and faculty. There are two common forms of visiting campus in the stages before application—Open Houses and tours.

Open Houses: This option involves a series of set days, typically on select weekends throughout the Fall semester (typically weekends in October or November), where the school offers prospective students an opportunity to visit campus and attend a series of events and informational sessions about different programs. This is a great opportunity to interact with students and staff, get a feel for the campus, and ask any questions! During the Spring, schools may host Admitted Student days, which have a similar set up to the Open Houses but are only open to students accepted to the school, before making their decisions.
Tours: This choice is available more consistently throughout the academic year and sometimes year-round, offering guided tours around campus that are often student-led. While this option is a great introduction to schools, open houses may provide a more in depth view of the college or university.

With that being said, a possible strategy would be for students to attend tours for schools that are closer to them, or are of lesser interest, and for the colleges and universities that require a greater time commitment or are of greater interest, students can attend their Open House events. Another option to keep in mind are “virtual tours” that are sometimes available on a school’s website. The dates and registration information for Open Houses and tours should be available on the institution’s website as well!

How To Apply

After students have evaluated what each institution has to offer them, it is time to present what the applicant has to offer to the school. A common tool for students to submit applications is the Common App website. This program acts to streamline the application process by allowing students to apply to over a thousand universities all in one place. To prepare for this step, it is important that applicants have the following materials/information:

School Transcripts: This document is a compilation of a student’s grades from all semesters of their high school career, as well as a list of currently enrolled courses.
Letters of Recommendation: Often written by an applicant’s high school counselor, teachers, coaches, or employers, these letters speak to the student’s performance in the relative setting. Applicants should choose recommenders with whom they have a good relation in order to ensure a personalized letter.
Personal Essay: The essay provides an opportunity for students to present themselves beyond the data of grades, club involvement, and awards. The personal essay acts as a common writing sample that is sent to every school, while individual schools may have their own additional writing prompts (supplemental essays). Here are the personal essay prompts from Common App for 2026-2027: https://www.commonapp.org/blog/announcing-2026-2027-common-app-essay-prompts
Academic achievements: This is the place to highlight students’ honors, awards, recognitions, and any other academic accomplishments or areas in which they excelled.
List of activities, work, and responsibilities: This section acts as an opportunity for the applicant to present themselves beyond their academic standing, through their involvement with clubs, the community, and responsibilities such as work.
Parent/Legal Guardian information: The application will ask for their parent or guardian’s occupation, employment status, and education level.
Test scores: These include a student’s SAT, ACT and other specified test results self-reported to their chosen institutions. However, individual policies vary and some institutions may be test optional, meaning that students are not required to submit their scores.
Fees: While it does not cost to use the Common App itself, each individual school charges their own processing fee, ranging from $35 to $75. However, there is an application fee waiver available for students with demonstrated financial need. To obtain this, students can answer “Yes” to the waiver prompt in the “Profile” section of the site which is to be approved by a high school counselor. Alternatively, individual institutions may have their own fee waivers and promo codes which may also be applied if granted.
International Students: For international students, a few sections of the Common App need more attention such as citizenship and language. These sections will appear in the profile section of the Common Application. For the question on citizenship, applicants should select their country of citizenship and that they are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. If English is not the applicant’s first language, students should enter their native language and then enter their English language level under the “Language Proficiency” section, though most schools require proof of English language proficiency.

– Additionally, international students will need a Student visa and certification of finances (proof of financial support requested by individual colleges and universities).

– There are three types of student visas, the F-1 (most common for international students; needed for study at U.S. college or university), J-1 (required for exchange programs), and M-1 (for non-academic or vocational study in U.S.) For more information about visa types and process please visit: https://educationusa.state.gov/foreign-institutions-and-governments/understanding-us-higher-education/international-student

The requirements vary heavily from school to school, and the Common App helps to compile all of these factors. Once a certain school has been selected on the site, the individual institution’s requirements will become visible. For a more detailed breakdown of the Common App, as well as information on how to set up an account, please refer to their page: https://www.commonapp.org/apply/first-year-students

When to Apply

There are several stages and distinctions within the application process that must also be noted.

Early Decision: (Application often in November; Response by December) This option is for students that know which school they want to commit to, as this application is binding. This means that if a student who applies for early decision is accepted to the school, they must attend. Students may only apply to one school using ED.
Early Action: (Application often in November; Response by January/February) This allows students to apply earlier to a school, and is non-binding. They will receive their admission decision earlier and also have the opportunity to apply to other schools during the regular period.
Regular Decision: (Application often in January; Response by March/April) This is a common option for students and allows more time to send in applications.

Financial Aid

To make attending a student’s top choice possible, financial aid is a crucial point to consider. Fortunately, the sticker price of colleges and universities are often higher than the price that students actually pay for their education. This is made possible by a few different options available to students such as:

FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid): In order to be considered for federal aid, in the form of loans (financial aid that must be paid back, with interest), federal grants (financial awards that do not need to be paid back), and work-study funds (earned through part-time jobs on-campus), students must fill out this free application form.

– The FAFSA form opens on October 1, 2026 for the 2027-2028 Academic year. Even though the form for the 2027-2028 school year does not close until June 30, 2028, aid is provided on a first come, first served basis, and each school and state have their own deadlines.

– This application must be completed for every new academic year to be considered for federal aid.

– For more information about deadlines, visit this site: https://studentaid.gov/apply-for-aid/fafsa/fafsa-deadlines

– To apply, students will likely need to collaborate with parents or guardians for information and may need to add them to the form. To learn more about materials and requirements, visit this page: https://studentaid.gov/articles/things-you-need-for-fafsa/
CSS Profile: Select schools allow students to submit a CSS (College Scholarship Service) Profile. This form may be submitted in addition to FAFSA, and offers students non-federal aid.
Merit Scholarships: In addition to need-based aid, institutions may offer merit-based scholarships to students that are based on academic achievements and skills. These opportunities will vary from institution to institution.
External Scholarships: Beyond scholarships offered by schools, there are several sources that offer scholarships to students. The competition for these awards can range from a local to national level, and students may need to meet certain criteria to qualify. Students are encouraged to reach out to their school counselors who may have a list of local opportunities. There are also platforms like College Board’s BigFuture (https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/scholarship-search) that act as a search engine.

No matter where individuals are in their educational journey, hopefully this information can provide a starting point for those looking to pursue higher education. Even though this is a lot of information to consider, it is only fitting that such a grand opportunity takes great consideration.

Sources:

Application Requirements for international students by Ethan Sawyer
Big City vs. Small Town Colleges by Campus Explorer and RNB Global University
Can You Live Off-Campus Freshman Year? by Laura Berlinsky-Schine
Common App: Step-by-Step Guide for International Students by Jakub Andre
Commuter Students: Ohio University, SUNY New Paltz
Colleges & Schools by University of New Hampshire
CSS Profile vs. FAFSA by Ed Recker, FAAC
Different Types of U.S. Colleges by Sascha Zissu
Early Decision vs. Early Action by Bigfuture
Guide to the Common Application by the Princeton Review
Key Differences Between a Grant and a Loan by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Pros and Cons of Small Colleges vs Large Universities by Tiffin Universityand Love the SAT
Student Visas from the U.S. Department of State
The Differences between the college divisions (DI, DII, and DIII) by NSCA
When Should I Visit College Campuses? by James Nondorf, Rodney Morrison, and Marty O’Connell