Academics are important, but THIS is crucial
When evaluating which college to attend, it’s tempting to give the most weight to academic-related factors like ranking, major options, and notable faculty.
But what about the Fit Factor?
The Fit Factor is a term referring to a student’s sense of belonging and social connection on a campus - college fit. This phenomenon is highly studied and, as it turns out, extremely important to student success.
Studies show that students who feel like they belong at their school are more likely to retain and persist (not drop out), thrive academically, and see themselves as qualified for their future careers. At its most basic level, social fit is a form of social capital that keeps on giving long after graduation.
Translation: Feeling like you “fit” on campus isn’t just a ‘nice to have,’ it’s a ‘must have’! 🤯
That’s exactly why I included a section in The College Visit Journal asking students to consider if a school is a good fit in 5 core areas: financial, academic, diversity, athletic, and social.
“Cool Danielle, but how exactly does one get better at gauging if a school is a good fit for them?”
^Great question! The answer is pretty simple: by getting comfortable asking great questions. 🙋🏽♀️
Here are two simple ways to help your student practice:
➡️ Before their next campus visit, ask them to reflect on and write down what belonging means to them (this method is actually proven to help!).
➡️ On their visit, encourage them to ask questions like “How does this school help students feel like they belong and can thrive on campus?” “What opportunities are there for active learning inside and outside the classroom?”
Here’s to investing time, tools, and energy into finding our fit —it’s always worth it! 🥂
P.S. The Fit Factor is especially important for students from underrepresented groups to consider, as they can inadvertently find themselves in educational environments that threaten their sense of belonging, academic achievement, and well-being.
Not sure where to write down all this good information? Check out the abundance of note-taking pages in The College Visit Journal: Campus Visits Demystified.
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