4 Numbers to Ignore When Looking at Colleges

Last week we discussed the four numbers to consider when looking at colleges, and today we are talking about the four numbers to ignore when looking at colleges.

The first number is their SAT and ACT score ranges. Colleges show you the middle 50% of the students, the interquartile range, meaning that 25% of students enrolled are below that bottom number. If you’re a part of that 25% you can be in good company with students who are just like you and still consider that college, especially if they’re test optional.

The second you can ignore is the exact ranking on a list. It’s nice to be recognized as the best program and college, but it doesn’t matter if they’re number five, six, seven or eight. Choosing what best fits you is always the priority. 

The third is the employment rate six months after college. This is because they include students enrolled in graduate studies and they sometimes hire their own students to inflate that number.

And the fourth number is their cost of attendance. It’s important to look at the percent of students who receive gift-aid and the average number of those free dollars to get a better idea of what you expect to pay there. 

If you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at 732-556-8220. We are here to help.