A college education is one of the biggest investments a family makes—financially and emotionally. Often, students and their parents approach the admission process with a great deal of excitement but also significant anxiety. Students fear their achievements won't measure up, forcing them to "settle" for a lesser option. Parents worry about return on investment and degree value. In a competitive process, these anxieties are natural, but they often overshadow a key truth that the college admissions process is about finding the right fit for each student rather than getting into the "right" school.
Colleges vary widely in experiences, costs and offerings. Relying solely on rankings, athletics or family tradition can obscure the best match. At Darlington, our college advising process helps students prioritize fit across four key areas: affordability, available majors, return on investment (ROI) and quality of life.
1. Affordability
Start with what you can realistically pay. All colleges must provide Net Price Calculators, which estimate costs based on your family's income, assets and the school's aid policies—often as detailed as actual financial aid forms.
College pricing is highly individualized. Full price at an in-state public school might be cheapest for some, while a selective private institution could be more affordable for others with generous aid. Run the numbers early to set realistic expectations.
2. Majors and Academic Flexibility
College is for exploration, but enter with a sense of direction. Research career outcomes by major and ensure your target schools offer strong programs in your interests, plus options if passions shift.
Avoid schools with only one appealing major; flexibility is key. A hardworking student thrives anywhere with opportunities, but having a solid array of potential choices for a major prevents costly transfers.
Research the majors at each individual school. Sometimes a school may have excellent majors in a particular field but might not be known as one of the highest-rated schools overall. Just as importantly, remember that a school's ranking does not ensure that every single major offered there is of equal quality.
3. Return on Investment (ROI)
With rising costs, ROI matters more than ever. Use resources that factor in net price and post-graduation outcomes, such as average earnings and debt levels. The Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University researches ROI for many institutions and this data is starting to be used by some of the college ranking providers to provide more detail on post-graduation outcomes for students. A simple search will put a variety of high-quality datasets at your fingertips.
Selective schools often lead in ROI, but many institutions—across sizes, costs and locations—deliver strong long-term value. A 2025 study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York calculated that a college education offers a 12.5% rate of return for the typical college student. While these metrics aren't guarantees for individuals, they do show that a college education is still valuable.
4. Quality of Life
You will spend years on campus, so comfort is essential. Consider location, safety, housing, activities, Greek life and distance from home.
Visit top choices multiple times. A school may excel on paper but feel unwelcoming in person—a clear sign of poor fit, even if you think you'll "get used to it." You might find that as the seasons change the local climate is not as agreeable as when you first visited. Maybe the promise of on-campus activities was more of a marketing tactic than a reality. The more you know ahead of time the more easily you can imagine yourself at a particular school.
If frequent visits are not feasible, use social media and other networks to make connections with students currently at the school or recent alumni. They often can give you an insider perspective that will help confirm or dispel concerns that you might have about the school. Knowing as much as you can about a school before making the decision to enroll will make the transition to college easier and set you on a path to a happy and successful time.
The Darlington Difference
The ideal college is affordable, academically versatile, high-ROI and feels like home. This combination is achievable with expert guidance. Darlington invests heavily in personalized college advising: our experienced counselors help students clarify priorities, identify best-fit schools, and navigate admissions successfully.
It's about knowing what you want—and having a trusted guide to get you there.
Click here to learn more about college guidance at Darlington.
