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Researching Colleges

Not sure what colleges to apply to? QuestBridge can help guide you through researching colleges with important tips, resources, and more!

It’s never too early to start researching colleges that interest you. As a talented student from a low-income background, you have more options than you may realize, including QuestBridge's 55 college partners. There are important steps we recommend you take as you research colleges:

  1. Identify your personal "why"
  2. Determine what college fit looks like for you
  3. Frame your college research around your "why" and your college fit

Throughout this page, you'll find tips and resources for each of these steps, including interactive reflection exercises and strategies to create a balanced college list.

What you’ll find on this page

What is college fit?

College fit is the extent to which a school meets your academic, financial, social, emotional, and other needs and preferences. By having a strong understanding of what you need to succeed and thrive in college, you will be able to conduct a more meaningful and intentional college research process that is rooted in your motivations, values, and aspirations.

Identifying your "why"

Reflect on your mindset and values as you think about why you are embarking on your path to college. When you ground your "why" in your motivations and values, you can: 

  • Guide your college search to seek schools where you'll thrive.
  • Open your mind to college options and make choices that align with your values.
  • Take ownership of your journey to college, especially in the face of challenges.
  • Empower yourself to make the most of your college experience, explore your interests, and achieve your long-term goals.

Start identifying your "why" with our Map Your Path worksheet and consider both personal and outside motivations:

Personal motivations

Personal motivations are reasons for completing a task, project, or goal that are rooted in your own interests, enjoyment, or satisfaction. Examples of personal motivations for attending college include:

  • Learning more about specific topics
  • Building a strong sense of community
  • Exploring numerous interests

Outside motivations

Outside motivations are reasons for completing a task, project, or goal that are tied to external praise, rewards, or incentives. Examples of outside motivations for attending college include:

  • Making your community proud
  • Earning a bachelor’s degree
  • The ability to financially support your family

Determining your college fit

Regardless of where you want to apply, it’s important to think critically about which colleges will provide you with tools to succeed. Besides looking at the strength of a college’s financial aid, you should also consider what kind of lifestyle is important to you. Choosing a college that facilitates your personal happiness will greatly enhance your undergraduate years. 

When researching colleges, what kind of questions can you ask yourself, current college students, or admissions officers to determine if a college might be a good fit for you? Read through the different kinds of fit and use our College Fit and Goals Reflection Worksheet to decide what factors to consider.

Whether or not you’ve decided what to study, it’s important to attend a college that suits your general range of potential interests, your personality, your relative academic strength, and your learning style. 

  • What programs fit my current and/or potential academic and career interests? 

  • Will I thrive under the school’s teaching style, calendar structure, and faculty? 

  • Am I comfortable with the school size? How many students are in an average class?

The social scene on college campuses can vary widely. If you aren’t able to visit the campus in person, use admissions websites, student blogs, and talk to current students to get a sense of the campus personality. 

  • Does the campus have a community that I will be comfortable in? What does community mean to me?

  • Are there non-academic opportunities that interest me? What are students doing outside the classroom? 

  • What values does the college uphold? Are there any fun campus traditions that I can take part in?

One of the most exciting parts of the college search is the opportunity to think about where you want to live for the next four years. 

  • Does the location appeal to me? Is the campus in a city, a small college town, or something in between?

  • How close or far do I want to be from home, and how often can I visit? 

  • What about other aspects like weather, seasons, or culture? What will impact my experience? 

One of the biggest concerns for students from low-income backgrounds is financial aid. All QuestBridge college partners have financial aid policies that are among the best in the country; they guarantee to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need. 

  • What types of financial aid do I qualify for?
  • Does the college meet 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans, or are student loans included in the financial aid package?
  • Are work-study jobs on campus guaranteed for eligible students?

For more information on paying for college, review our Financial Aid Overview and Financial Aid Glossary pages. You can explore the net price calculators for each college partner to see an estimate of your financial aid package if you were admitted.

Researching QuestBridge college partners

The National College Match application provides multiple paths to QuestBridge college partners. If you want to be considered for early admission and a full four-year scholarship, you must rank colleges. Whether ranking colleges, expanding your options through QuestBridge Regular Decision, or exploring other admission rounds, it is important to research colleges.

Our college partner pages offer a summary of each of our 55 college partners, providing insights into what makes each campus unique — from open curriculum to study abroad opportunities. These profiles provide an overview of key information such as location (city, college town, etc), campus size, class size, and more. Use these pages and complete our Rankings and/or Regular Decision research worksheets to decide which colleges align most with your best college fit. 

Creating a balanced list

To create a balanced list, plan to apply to a mix of colleges, including reach, target, and likely schools.

  • Reach: colleges that are highly selective, even for very qualified applicants.
  • Target: colleges where you have a good chance of admission.
  • Likely: colleges where you feel confident you can gain admission.

As you research colleges, make sure you take into account your motivations, goals and fit factors. Additionally, consider colleges' admissions statistics, such as averages for GPA and test scores (if applicable), acceptance rates, and financial aid packages for admitted students, to help you finalize a balanced list. 

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