Researching Schools and Programs

How to Research Schools

Researching schools is a vital step to finding the one that best meets your needs, ideals, and academic goals. You may think you know where you want to go; but research anyway. Who knows? You could find the perfect school buried away in lists of colleges, piles of brochures, or whilst searching for colleges on the online. But where do you begin? Luckily, there are plenty of tools at your disposal.

Students and alumni

For the real inside scoop, talk to enrolled students and alumni. They're the best source for a candid, unvarnished opinion of what the school is like and how it could serve your needs and goals. Many of the top US colleges have an alumni group in the UK, ask their admissions department to find out more.

Don't be shy about asking them the tough questions: Do you like it? ...What's it like to live there? ...Was the school helpful in finding a job? ...What are the classes like?

The Internet

Most colleges and universities have a website. Visit them. They're an invaluable resource for information on the institution. Many of them, obviously, are like online brochures. But, you can often read between the lines to gain insight into what the school is really like. Look for pictures of the campus, school resources, the catalogue of courses, and data like demographics, graduation rates, etc.

Professional guidance

Your admissions process should begin with a chat with your guidance/careers counselor. Together, you should go over your goals and the grades you have achieved so far. Discuss factors like your exam results, admissions test scores, etc. Find out how you stack up against the admission requirements of your target schools. And determine what you can do to enhance your chances of getting in.

Commercial sources

There are countless books, software packages, and commercial web sites that offer information on schools, financial aid, the admissions process, scholarships, and more. Before spending any money, research the company and look for brand names you know.

To find out more about how Kaplan can help you navigate the admissions process, come along to a Undergraduate Admissions and Test Strategy Seminar. Call the Kaplan London Center on 020 7930 3130 to enroll now!