6. What is diversity like on campus? Consider all of the following areas:  Geographic: __________________________
      Racial/Ethnic: _______________
_______________________  Socioeconomic: __________________________________
      Gender/Gender identity: ____________________________  Sexuality/LGBTQIA+:  ______________________________
_
_
___
  7. What personal support programs/centers/resources are available to you on campus (e.g., Black Student Union,   
      counseling services, women’s center, etc.)?  ___________________________________________________________
  8. What do students seem to value (e.g., social justice, nature, Greek life [sororities and fraternities], sports, 
      academic rigor, etc.), and do you value the same things? ________________________________________________
  9. Try to identify the college’s culture by analyzing its mission statement and website. How would you describe 
      the school’s culture? _______________________________________________________________________________
10. Search online for recent news items that feature this college (e.g., how the school has responded to various social  
      issues, incidences of student harassment or mistreatment, etc.), and consider what this tells you about life on  
      this campus. _____________________
___________________________________________________________________
Exploring Financial Fit
1. What is the total cost of attendance at this college?	
Tuition: $ __________________
     	
Room & Board: $ __________________
    	
Fees: $ __________________
	
Books: $ __________________
	
Personal Expenses: $ __________________
	
Transportation: $ __________________
	
	
	
	
	
	
     TOTAL COST OF ATTENDANCE: $ __________________
2. What types of financial aid (grants, loans, etc.) are offered by this college? ____________________________________
3. What merit-based aid (aid based on grades or achievements) is offered by the college? _______________________
4. What is the average financial aid package offered by this college? $ ________________________________________
5. Look at your answers to questions 1–4. How does the average financial aid package compare to the total cost of  
    attendance? _________________________________________________________________________________________
6. What percentage of students receive need-based financial aid? ________%
7. What options are available on campus for Work-Study or employment? _______________________________________
8. What types of financial aid services are available on campus (e.g., payment plan options, loan counseling, etc.)?
    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
9. What is the average student debt for graduates of this college? $___________________________________________
Final Fit Rating
Now, look at your answers and determine this college’s fit rating for you.
	
4 POINTS	
3 POINTS	
2 POINTS	
1 POINT	
NO POINTS
ACADEMIC	
 Perfect	
 Strong	
 Fine	
 Poor	
 Not a Fit for Me
SOCIAL 	
 Perfect	
 Strong	
 Fine	
 Poor	
 Not a Fit for Me
FINANCIAL	
 Perfect	
 Strong	
 Fine	
 Poor	
 Not a Fit for Me
Add your scores for Academic, Social, and Financial fit to calculate the overall fit rating of this college:
Fit Rating*:  ________  +  ________  +  ________   =  FINAL FIT  ________
                         Academic              Social               Financial                                  TOTAL
*On a scale of 1-12, where 
  0 = Not a Fit and 12 = a Perfect Fit.
© 2026 Heights Philadelphia 
To find these figures, go to the college’s  
website and search “net price calculator.”
27
Starting Your College Search

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