Finding the best college fit

The best school is not necessarily the most prestigious, according to new study

The college application process is overwhelming. One way many people narrow down searches is by applying to the most selective schools. A degree from an Ivy League school is a guarantee of future success, right?

Not so, according to a new report on college admissions from Challenge Success, a nonprofit organization affiliated with the Stanford University Graduate School of Education.

The four key outcomes that families value — student learning, well-being, job satisfaction and future income — are determined by the students themselves not by what school they attend, said Dr. Denise Pope, co-founder of Challenge Success and senior lecturer at Stanford University Graduate School of Education.

About the study

In a survey of more than 100,000 high school students, the organization found that the college admissions process is one of their primary causes of stress, Pope said. With an eye on the future, these kids and their families are asking, what makes a college a good choice?

The paper sought to determine what college rankings really mean. Do students who attend a more selective college do better later in life? What does a “right fit” college look like?

“What we found was that (college) rankings are not based on a particular science. They’re not accurate or meaningful,” Pope said. College rankings are determined by certain metrics such as ACT or SAT scores and class rankings rather than positive outcomes of graduates, such as whether the school offers a good return on investment: Will a graduate be able to find a job in his or her chosen field?

Graduation rate is weighted heavily (25 percent) in college ratings, but that often has little to do with the school and more to do with the socioeconomic status of its students, Pope said. Lack of wealth, the need to work or family obligations can prevent a student from graduating, she said.

Additionally, high school guidance counselors add their input to college rankings and are asked to rate 300 to 400 schools, Pope said. They can’t know all these schools and how they may have changed recently, she said. Instead, they may just be going on a school’s reputation, which can be misleading, she said.

Finding a fit

Because attending a top-tier college doesn’t equal success, what should students look for? The best college to attend is one that is the right fit, where a student will feel engaged, Pope said.

“The most successful students are the ones who engage in the undergraduate experience regardless of how selective the school is,” she said. A student has a greater chance of thriving after college if he or she studies hard, forms strong relationships with peers and professors and participates in the college community.

That means students have to do their research to determine where they will fit in.

“I think a college is a good fit when the student is in an environment that encourages them but also challenges them. One that will nourish their confidence, dreams and goals but will also push them out of their comfort zone,” said Kiah VanTull, a member of the Davidson College Advising Corps in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Factors that can determine a student’s “fit” at college include clubs, majors and sports offered, the size of the school, the size of the classes, commuter versus residential student bodies and the student body demographics, VanTull said.

For more information on Challenge Success, visit challengesuccess.org.