Words of Wisdom from a College Admissions Consultant: Finding the Best Fit

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We asked Melissa Starrett, a college admissions consultant on our team, to share some words of wisdom about the college admissions process. Here’s what she wants parents and students to know:

Be open minded and prioritize what’s best for YOU. It is so easy to get caught up in focusing on the big name schools, but there are so MANY lesser known schools with great programs that may be the best fit for you!

It is not uncommon for students and parents to embark on the college admissions journey with a preliminary list of schools in mind. Quite often, these are made up of the well-known “big name” schools, many of which are highly ranked on a list such as the well publicized US News & World Report.

The college search is not immune from our culture’s obsession with rankings. It is easy to assume that a school’s ranking is the main indicator of how good it actually is. Unfortunately, these assumptions can cause many options to be overlooked.  Most rankings do not consider colleges from a holistic viewpoint and as a result, important factors can be left out, such as campus culture, academic and mental health support services and student “happiness”. There are approximately 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. Only about 10% appear on the various lists published by the popular US News & World Report – leaving many, many great schools to explore and learn about! 

The ultimate goal is to help students find the school that is the right fit for them – academically, socially, personally, financially and professionally.  The process should be guided by a focus on the student’s individual preferences, strengths, challenges and needs. Asking guiding questions and using tools such as our Fit Factor Checklist will  help identify the criteria that are most important to each student.

One of my favorite parts of being a college admissions consultant is introducing students to the “hidden gems”. These  schools are not as widely known and may be overlooked due  to their smaller size,  lack of a national sports program or less of a media presence. However, many offer innovative and respected academic programs, a rich campus life, engaged professors, and happy, bright students. 

A great resource that can introduce schools that are not on your radar is Colleges that Change Lives. The website has a search option and features profiles of 45 schools.  Take the time to check out a school that sounds interesting by spending time navigating their website. Another helpful resource is The Fiske Guide to Colleges. This book provides thorough, detailed information on over 300 schools and offers an “overlaps” feature to help students determine “peer institutions” for colleges they are considering. Additional assistance researching colleges can be found in our College Research Guide.

The journey ahead may be challenging and occasionally stressful-but it is also exciting- an opportunity to help your student find the place where they will thrive and grow for the next four years. Remember to think outside the box, keep an open mind  and focus on the student first, not the college. If you would like my assistance building a college list and discovering both well-known colleges AND hidden gems, consider The College Spy’s College List Building package. I’d love to help you and your student find the best fit!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • You shouldn’t focus only on well-known schools because there are hundreds of colleges that could be a better fit for a student’s individual personality, interests, preferences and goals. The College Spy emphasizes that building a best-fit college list involves understanding what matters most to the student and exploring a range of options that align with those priorities. Focusing only on rankings or prestige can mean missing schools that could offer a richer experience.

  • Hidden gem colleges are schools that may not be at the top of the rankings but provide strong academic programs, supportive communities, unique opportunities, and an environment where students can thrive. Often, these are schools that are well known OUTSIDE of your geographic area. For example, people on the west coast may be unfamiliar with Swarthmore College, but people on the east coast know it is a very selective liberal arts college in Pennsylvania.

  • A consultant can help families understand what schools match their student’s strengths and preferences, avoid common pitfalls (like over-emphasis on rankings), and ensure a thoughtful list that includes both well-known and lesser-explored schools.

    Like our tag line says, WE KNOW COLLEGE! The College Spy can absolutely support you in determining which colleges are a great fit, whether they be well known schools or hidden gems. Consider our 1-1 Countdown to College package or our Small Group Coaching package. Details here: www.thecollegespy.com