Searching For A College

Where to begin and what to consider? 

• Areas of Academic focus; Breadth of Majors and Minors

• Size

• Location 

• Statistics (SAT/ACT and your GPA relative to Naviance database)

• Private vs. Public

• Religious affiliation

• Cost and availability of scholarships and aid

Visiting Colleges

Students and parents should start to visit colleges some time during the Junior Year.  A list of considerations is provided.  It is by no means exhaustive, but it covers many of the major factors that students (and parents) consider when evaluating schools for a good fit. 

If students know some of the factors that are very important to them, they should focus on those as they start to compare different schools.   If students are less sure about what they are looking for, noting major likes and dislikes after a few visits, may help them focus their search.

Campus information sessions and tours are both valuable in helping you to learn as much as you can about the college you are visiting.  Typically, these visits can be scheduled online via the college website.  Information sessions are usually led by members of the admissions staff (sometimes students also speak during these sessions).  Tours are typically given by student volunteers.

Additional Advice:

Don’t try to visit more than 2 colleges in one day.  It can be overwhelming and things may blur.

Take notes while you are on campus.  Note major likes/dislikes; pros/cons.  This will be invaluable later when you are trying to decide which schools you want to apply to.  You may also refer back to these impressions if you are asked to write an essay about why you want to attend a particular school.

Pick up a copy of the school newspaper, try out the cafeteria, sample a day in the life of a student.

Plan in advance for February and April break and other long weekends.  Many other people are also visiting colleges at these times and sessions may fill up. 

If you are particularly interested in a certain program, set up time to meet with a professor or sit in on a class. 

Ultimately, what’s most important is your overall impression.   Can you see yourself on the campus?  And will the school offer you whatever is most important to you in terms of academics and student life?

Use the guidelines from the school (GPA and test scores) and Naviance to evaluate whether the schools you are most interested in are realistic choices for you.

Stop by your counselor’s office and ask for the contact information of the Hingham High students currently attending the school or schools you are planning to visit.  They can be a great source of information even if you only connect via email.

HHS College Visits

Each fall (late September through early November), Hingham High School offers students the opportunity to meet with representatives from over 100 college and universities. Juniors and Seniors are eligible and must sign up via Naviance. Sessions are offered at different times throughout the day, so students must get permission from their teacher to leave a class to attend a session.

The purpose of the sessions are varied: students can get general information about schools they may be interested in, they may have specific questions to ask, or they may want to follow up with a rep if they have already made a campus visit and want to express continued interest.

College Fairs

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NCAC) offers College Fairs throughout the country.

See NACAC website for details on dates and locations locally.

Campus Tours

Visiting college campuses is a great way to see a campus in action and learn more about what the school has to offer. Note that students are allowed 3 excused absences during the Junior year and 3 during the Senior year. Documentation from the college is required (e-mails are not acceptable).

Student Athletes

NCAA Eligibility Rules

Students With Disabilities

The College Board Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) is committed to providing services and reasonable accommodations appropriate to a student’s disability and the purpose of the exam. SSD provides Advanced Placement® (AP®), PSAT/NMSQT®, and SAT® testing accommodations for students who have documented disabilities.

For more information go to: College Board Services for Students with Disabilities

Fine Arts Students

Applying to college with the goal of majoring in a fine art (music, studio art, dance, theater) is a bit different from applying for a traditional liberal arts degree. Explore both liberal arts schools and conservatories. To help assess the strength of the program you can review the careers of alumni and the backgrounds and resumes of the college instructors. Be sure to check the admission requirements for each school, as you will find many similarities, but also key differences. In most cases, you will need to apply to both the college and the specific arts program. Some programs will review your applications simultaneously, while others will accept you first to one program (the general college) and then to the arts program. Many of the arts schools have early deadlines, so be prepared to approach most of your applications as if they are early applications, i.e. November and December deadlines.

Depending upon your area of interest, you will need to schedule an audition, provide photos, submit recordings and/or a portfolio of your work, as well as essays explaining what you hope to gain from admittance to their program. You will need recommendations from your high school counselor and academic teachers, and one or two instructors from your specialized area of interest (e.g., voice/dance/theater/music/etc.). The web site for each school has details about what specific requirements they have for both the recording/portfolio and for the live audition. Generally, the arts program will review your written application and submitted recordings/photos, and if viewed favorably, invite you to come to the campus for a live audition. These auditions usually take place in January and February, so plan on taking several days out of school for these. It is best to give yourself plenty of time for these auditions; don’t schedule your flight to arrive on the day of your audition – you’ll want to be relaxed and focused for your audition and not worried about traffic! Your private teacher should also be able to guide you in the process of applying to college for the arts, and provide helpful tips to better prepare you for what to expect. Contact your school counselor for a list of HHS alumni who are willing to talk with you about your school or major choices. Alumni can give a great deal of insight about the fine arts college application process and they specific school they are attending.