The 5 P’s of Choosing Colleges

With over 3,500 colleges and universities in the U.S., deciding where to apply – and, ultimately, which college to attend – can seem overwhelming, especially as you begin your college search. The task can be less daunting if your family agrees on a game plan for sorting out the options. The first step? Deciding what your priorities are for your college search. For most students and their families, college search priorities boil down to one or more of the “five P’s”: Place, Program, Prestige, Price, and Personal. Let’s take a look at some of the questions you and your parents might ask yourselves in order to weigh the importance of each “P.” As you read through these questions, answer those that seem particularly relevant to you. Place: Are you dreaming about attending college in a city? Is staying close to home important? Is a particular part of the country calling you? Do you prefer warm weather most of the year or want to experience all four seasons? Program: Do you already have a sp...