Decision Day is approaching, and asa high school senior,you’veprobably alreadyheard this phrase about a hundred times:“It’s all about finding the right fit.”
But what does that actually mean?
As an admissions counselor,I’vehad this conversation more times than I can count. Students sit across from me (on campus or on Zoom), acceptance letters in hand, and say, “I just don’t know how to tell which one is right.”
First, take a deep breath. The fact thatyou’rethinking carefully about this tells meyou’realready approaching it the right way.
Let’sbreak it down.
Start with how you want to feel
When you picture yourself walking across campus on a random Tuesday in October, what do you see?
Do you want small classes where your professors know your name?
In between classes, do you want to run into people you recognize?
Is it important to have space so you can explore who you are becoming—academically, socially, spiritually?
Fitisn’tjust about rankingsor majors.It’sabout college being a place where you feel known,challengedand supported.
At Northwest Nazarene University, for example, students often tell me they chose us because when they visited, it just “felt different.”That’shard to measure on a spreadsheet. But it matters. We do college different—and for many students, that difference shows up in relationships,mentorshipand community.
Look beyond the website
Every college website looks polished. Every campus tour hits the highlights;Iknow,I give them. So how do you dig deeper?
Ask me the real questions:
- What happens if I struggle in a class?
- How accessible are professors outside of lectures?
- What do students do on weekends?
- Is it easy to change majors?
- What’s chapel like, and how can I grow in my faith?
- Do people seem genuinely happy here?
Talk to current students.I can evenconnectyou with afew. Ask them what surprised them most after enrolling. Their answers will tell you more than our website ever could.
Think about your growth, not just your major
It’simportant to love your academic program, of course. But you also need to look at what happens outside of class. Look at internships andextracurriculars. Look at location and entertainment, and recreation opportunities. How about opportunities to explore and expand your Christian faith? Read alumni stories and look at outcomes after graduation.
Here’sthe BIG question: Will this place help me grow as a whole person?
College is four years,but it shapes the next forty. The right fit should stretch you academically while also giving you room to discover your strengths, yourvoiceand your purpose.
AtN鶹ԭ, undergraduate programs are designed to be rigorous, but also personal. Professorsaren’tjust experts in their fields;they’rementors who invest in students. Our kind of environment can makea big difference, especially ifyou’restill figuring out exactly where you want to land.
Pay attention to your gut
Sometimes students try to logic their way into a decision thatdoesn’tsit right in their gut.
If you felt energized during a campus visit, that matters.
Can you picture yourself in the residencehalls? That matters.
When you finish your campustourthinking, “I belong here,”that really matters!
This decision is personal.
Remember: Thereisn’tonly one “right” choice
Here’ssomething I wish every senior understood: you are not choosing the only path your life can take. You are choosing a place for your next chapter.
The right college is the one whereyou’llengage, ask questions, buildrelationshipsand say yes to opportunities. A school can offer all the resources in the world, butit’syour involvement that makes it transformative.
Soas you weigh your options, look for the place where you feel seen. Whereyou’llbe challenged. Where you can imagine becoming a fuller version of yourself.
That’sthe “fit” that really means. And when you find it,you’llfeel it!
