As the fall semester kicks off, new Cornellians have arrived on campus and entered their first-year residence halls. A year ago, they were high school students, dreaming about the many opportunities available to them—just like you! Whether you've only just begun your college search journey or if you've been preparing for months, remember that deadlines approach quickly. It always benefits you to be proactive, especially when juggling home, school, and community responsibilities.

Here are some tips to help you jumpstart your college search.

Reflect on What You Love to Learn

Many students may not know how to go about selecting a college or school that fits them best. To start, consider what you love learning most. If you loved your biology class, you might enjoy the biological sciences major at Cornell, but you'll soon discover there are many ways to explore this area, whether through the medical field, biological engineering, or lab research. Consider what you love to learn and whether you want to pursue two majors or add a minor. Once you know what you want your academic home to look like, you can look at colleges, schools, and universities with programs that will help you succeed.

Picture Your Dream School

Your dream school will undoubtedly need to fulfill your academic needs, but there is much more to consider. Do you want to attend college close to home or on the other side of the country? Do you love a school but are worried about being in a climate you're not accustomed to? What about going to a more rural school or a school in a big city? You can learn a lot about an institution without traveling to visit, so explore their social media, virtual visit sites if available, and student testimonials to learn more about what it's like to be a student there.

Reach, Target, Likely: Institutions that match your Goals

Once you start figuring out what you want to study and what your personal ideal institution may look like, start making a list of schools that align with your goals. From this list, you will narrow down the schools you plan to apply to. Don't go overboard! There's no need to apply to twenty institutions, but you will want to apply to institutions you feel strongly about that fall into reach, target, and likely categories.

A reach school is an institution that may have a lower acceptance rate or where your academic credentials may be less than average compared to other incoming students. This doesn't mean you shouldn't apply! It just means it may be harder to be admitted to. A target school is an institution where your credentials mirror average incoming students. These are schools that may not be your dream schools but ones you would be happy to attend. Your likely school may be less selective than other schools, and your credentials may skew higher than other average incoming students, but you will still find programs that resonate with your goals and set you up for success.

Be a Master Organizer and Stay on Top of Timelines

That list of colleges we mentioned can help you stay organized while you navigate the college search. If working in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, or another program, consider adding additional columns with college information and deadlines (for both admissions and financial aid—which may differ by institution). For example, you might include the application type and the corresponding due date (Early Decision vs. Early Action vs. Regular Decision), whether the school requires standardized testing, and how many writing supplements are required. Other requirements specific to your program or your desired institutions may arise, so be sure to stay organized early.

Stay Positive!

There may be times when undergoing the college search process may feel overwhelming. At times like this, remember to lean on those supporting you at home, friends, and your counselor and other advocates. You don't yet know what awaits you, but your college years will be transformative regardless of what happens. For now, try to relax and enjoy the process. You will find a great home where you're happy!