Your teen will go to college to both live and learn, so it’s important to find a campus that is a good social fit along with academic programs and financial aid offerings to match your student. How do you tell which colleges might be a good match for your high school student? In this episode, Anita Gajula, an independent college counselor, and I give you insights into finding the best home away from home for your child.

EPISODE NOTES
When your teen starts window shopping for colleges, it can be tempting to hold out for the perfect match. However, I firmly believe and teach that there are no soulmate colleges. So while the “perfect” school may not exist, there are likely many places where your child can thrive if given they give it a chance.

Anita Gajula and I arm your family with ways to start your search in this episode. Since your teen has never attended a university before, we provide guidance on how you can use their high school experience to frame their search. Asking the right questions is key to determining if a college is a good option.

Anita also shares additional strategies to guide your search like how to people-watch on campus and we list our favorite apps and platforms you can use to weed out colleges that are poor matches, along with choosing which schools to invest in a visit.

Your family will be wise to also remember that college, like many other things in life, will be what you make of it. Sometimes the right mindset can matter more than the right school. That’s why, to avoid disappointment, starting your college search knowing every school will have its quirks and drawbacks will serve your family well.  Remember not to let perfect become the enemy of good!

Links mentioned in this episode:

Launch College & Career Clarity Course

Episode #031 Your College List: Social Fit

CollegeWise Website

College Search Sites:

Niche

Loper

Campus Reel

College Scoops

Timeline

[00:17] Introduction
[01:57] A campus should be your child’s home away from home
[02:49] Don’t expect perfection or a soulmate match
[04:53] Start considering colleges through the lens of the high school experience
[07:33] Start window shopping at local college campuses
[12:27] Resources for finding potential college matches
[14:31] Follow college social media accounts
[17:29] How much does social fit matter?
[21:22] Sign-off

Connect with Lisa:
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