It’s difficult for a high school junior to find the college that will be a perfect fit for their 18-22 year-old college self. Students change a lot in just those few years, and what seemed so appealing at age seventeen may not hold the same luster 2, 3 or 4 years later.
But there’s real value in the process of looking for the right school.
To thoughtfully consider questions like why they’re going to college, what they might want to study, in what kind of environment they’ll flourish, etc.—that’s a mature way to approach a major life decision. And the student who thinks about these things, who researches, compares, and seeks advice from people who care—that’s a student who will enter college with eyes wide open, comfortable that they gave the decision the consideration it deserved.
For students (and their parents) in the midst of their college search, remember that looking for the fit is just as important as actually finding it. Your college isn’t going to be perfect—no college is. But if you spend the time and energy looking for it, you’re more likely going to go to the school that will be close to perfect for you.