The Right “Fit”
Your college “fit” is the school that is the best match 
for you academically, socially, and financially.
• Academic: Your academic fit is a school that 
matches your academic profile — your high school 
GPA and SAT/ACT scores will be similar to those  
of accepted students. It will offer majors and courses 
that interest you and provide opportunities that are 
attractive to you, such as study abroad, internship 
and co-op programs, or the opportunity to do  
research with a faculty member. 
• Social: Your social fit is a school that fits your  
personality and preferences — a school where  
you will feel comfortable and fulfilled. To find your  
social fit, you will look at a school’s culture and  
distinguishing characteristics, such as location,  
size, diversity, extracurricular and athletic offerings, 
inclusivity, supports, and housing. 
• Financial: Finding your financial fit means you  
will be able to afford the total cost of earning your 
degree. College costs and financial aid packages  
vary by school, so it is important to research a range 
of schools. No college is your “right fit” if you  
cannot afford to go there. Research the financial 
aid policy at each college on your list.
After discussing the three kinds of fit — academic, 
social, and financial — you will need to decide which 
of these is the most important and why. Use this  
information to begin narrowing your list. On the next 
two pages, we will share the stories of real-life college 
students who determined their best fit.
Degrees, Certificates, and 
Pre-Professional Programs
A degree is different from a certificate, and a certificate 
is different from a pre-professional program. Here are 
definitions for these terms:
• Bachelor’s Degree: This is awarded after 
completing a specific course of study at a college or 
university. Often referred to as a “four-year degree,” 
although it can take five or more years to complete.  
If you have a Bachelor’s Degree, you can go to  
graduate school, or enter the job market. 
• Associate’s Degree: This is awarded after 
completing a specific course of study, usually at a 
community college; often referred to as a “two-year 
degree.” If you have an Associate’s Degree, you can 
transfer to a four-year college to obtain a Bachelor’s 
Degree, or enter the job market.
• Certificates: A certificate is different from a 
degree. A certificate is focused only on job-specific 
skills and is much faster to obtain; most take  
between a few months and one year to complete. 
For example, the Community College of Philadelphia 
offers certificates in such fields as Technology & 
Computer Science, Business & Leadership, Culinary  
Arts, Healthcare & Human Services, Skilled Trades, 
and Law & Public Safety. Note that a certificate is  
different from a certification. A certificate is awarded  
after you finish a program, but a certification is  
a test given by a group to prove you have mastered 
that subject. For example, you might take a college 
certificate program in nursing to prepare for a  
nursing certification exam.
• Pre-Professional Programs:  
A pre-professional program is different from a degree 
or a major. A pre-professional program is an advising 
track that prepares undergraduate students for entry 
into graduate programs such as medical school, law 
school, or dental school. Choosing a pre-professional 
program ensures that you take the right courses  
required for those fields. You must still choose  
a standard major; for example, if you want to follow  
a pre-law track, you might choose to major in English.
15
Starting Your College Search
University of Pennsylvania

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