What’s holding you back?

94,083 students have the same concern.

These college students once felt lost on the road to college—find out how they got there.

My father did not want to help me.

Stephanie talks about the lack of support from her father.

Stephanie

"My father did not want to help me."

View Stephanie's Full Story

My father did not want to help me.

Student: Stephanie

Year in college

Junior

Major

Nutrition

Family income

$20,000–$40,000

It hits you at once.

Student: Brandon

Year in college

Junior

Major

Medical sociology

Family income

$60,000–$80,000

I don’t really put myself out there a lot.

Student: Rosanne

Year in college

Junior

Major

Biology/premedicine

Family income

$40,000–$60,000

I’m very proud to say that I’m doing very well.

Student: Annaesia

Year in college

Sophomore

Major

Accounting

Family income

$10,000–$20,000

I didn't know what I wanted to do.

Student: Elijah

Year in college

Sophomore

Major

Criminal justice

Family income

$20,000–$40,000

I have a good chance of becoming more stable.

Student: Jonathan W.

Year in college

Sophomore

Major

Air traffic control

Family income

$20,000–$40,000

I was a quiet freshman but now I'm outgoing.

Student: Charlinda

Year in college

Junior

Major

Sociology

Family income

Under $20,000

Leaving the reservation is a huge step.

Student: Aaron

Year in college

Freshman

Major

Biochemistry

Family income

$50,000–$75,000

I stayed close to home so my parents could visit.

Student: Jonathan O.

Year in college

Junior

Major

Economics and political science

Family income

$20,000–$40,000

I was intimidated since I was undocumented.

Student: Gabriela

Year in college

Junior

Major

Biochemistry

Family income

Under $20,000

I relied on my high school counselor.

Student: Alex

Year in college

Senior

Majors

Accounting and finance

Family income

$20,000–$40,000

My mentor still helps me today.

Student: Alexandra

Year in college

Senior

Major

Psychology

Family income

$40,000–$60,000

My mom, she just up and left.

Student: Kwame

Year in college

Sophomore

Majors

Political science and prelaw

Favorite musician

Stevie Wonder

I knew I had to do it on my own.

Student: Kriste

Year in college

Junior

Major

Early childhood education

Family income

$60,000–$80,000

Everything I worked for paid off.

Student: Jonard

Year in college

Junior

Major

Business economics

Family income

$20,000–$40,000

I have a lot of people behind me, helping me.

Student: Mo’Nique

Year in college

Sophomore

Major

Premedicine

Family income

$20,000–$40,000

You Don’t Have to Go It Alone

It’s okay if you don’t know where you’re headed or which route to take. Help is out there.

Take the wheel
On the road to college, you’re the driver. Asking for directions is a smart first step: Tell your teachers, family, friends and neighbors that you’re going and ask questions about their college experiences. Instead of waiting for your school counselor to contact you, make an appointment today.

Ask your counselor or teacher
Try these conversation starters:

I’m going to college. What’s my next step?
Which colleges would be a good fit for me?
Are there special programs or resources that can help me get into college?
How do I learn about my financial aid options?
If you’re a senior: Can we review my transcript to see how it will look to colleges?
If you’re not a senior: Which classes should I take next year to better prepare myself for college?
Where do our graduates go to college? Can I talk to any of them?
Do I qualify for test and application fee waivers?
Are there local scholarships I should apply for?

Make yourself a home on campus
You’ll enjoy greater independence at college, but you can still ask for help when you need it. Become an active member of the campus community and take advantage of all the resources offered by college clubs and services, including:

Advisers to help you pick your classes and choose a major
Peer mentors (experienced students who can help you navigate college)
Tutoring
Free feedback on your essays and research papers
Study-skills workshops and guided study groups
Career fairs, guest speakers and other special events

Some services are designed for specific groups, like minority students and students who are the first in their family to go to college.

Customize a college search
With College MatchMaker, you can figure out what you want in a college and perform a custom search. For instance, you can use the Specialized Options page to:

Find colleges with a high percentage of minority students.
Search for colleges by the type of disability for which you need services.

Links to more resources

Answer your questions about paying for college:
Financial Aid FAQs >

Five steps to a college list

Challenge yourself to find and apply to colleges that are right for you. It’s your journey; make the most of it.

Ask Yourself

What am I passionate about?
How do I spend my time?
How do I learn best?
What are my friends like?
Who do I want to be in the future?

Check Out Options

Get to know the search choices on each page of College MatchMaker. You can choose between things like two-year and four-year; urban and rural. You can search for schools by the majors, sports and special programs they offer ... whatever’s important to you.

Decide What Matters

Some people care about sports and dorms; others know what they want to major in. Look at your answers to the questions in Step 1: What do they say about you and what you might like in a college?

Search

Go ahead; give it a whirl. Remember that MatchMaker will list only colleges that meet all the requirements you select. You might need to change your settings if you get too many results or too few.

Create a List

Look at the profiles of colleges in your results. Click Add to List whenever you find one that interests you.

What’s holding you back?

These college students once felt lost on the road to college—find out how they got there.

Stephanie

View Stephanie's Full Story

My father did not want to help me.

It hits you at once.

I don’t really put myself out there a lot.

I’m very proud to say that I’m doing very well.

I didn't know what I wanted to do.

I have a good chance of becoming more stable.

I was a quiet freshman but now I'm outgoing.

Leaving the reservation is a huge step.

I stayed close to home so my parents could visit.

I was intimidated since I was undocumented.

I relied on my high school counselor.

My mentor still helps me today.

My mom, she just up and left.

I knew I had to do it on my own.

Everything I worked for paid off.

I have a lot of people behind me, helping me.

You Don’t Have to Go It Alone

Links to more resources

Five steps to a college list

Ask Yourself

Check Out Options

Decide What Matters

Search

Create a List

Take a next step

Tell people why you're going