An Ivy League College isn’t for everyone, and no college education can ever guarantee that you’re going to be wealthy, happy and whatever your definition of successful is.

Myth Two: If you can't make an Ivy, a "prestige college" is next best, because the name on your diploma will determine whether you do something worthwhile in life.

Every college has a specialty- if you want to go into a specialty field it will be best to do your research to see what colleges have the best programs. No one college will have the best program in every single academic offering- including the Ivy League schools!

Myth Three: Eastern institutions are the best and most desirable.

While they certainly are the oldest in the United States, this does not mean that they are the best/most desirable. Education in different parts of the country will have a different focus depending on the type of school, the setting and the programs offered. Make sure that your schools matches what YOU want in those areas. That is the best way to determine what school is the “best and most desirable”.

Myth Four: The big university offers a broader, richer undergraduate experience.

Not necessarily! While a big university will probably have a wider selection of offerings for academics, extracurricular activities and bigger student body you have a good chance of being just another face in the crowd. Make sure you find a school that offers the combination of things that you want to have in a school (with enough variety that you can also try something new!).

Myth Five: A college you've heard about is better than one you haven't.

Just because you’ve never heard of a college could mean it’s a well kept secret! There are over 5,000 colleges in the United States, and with that kind of selection it’s impossible that you have heard of all of them- including the one that might be perfect for you!

Myth Six: What your friends say about a college is a good indicator.

Hearsay is never a good indication of how much you will like a college, the quality of the academics or even the type of extra curriculars that are offered. Go see the college first hand if you are interested in it and form your own opinions of what the college is like.

Myth Seven: The college catalog can help you decide if this is the school for you.

While this is not completely untrue, it’s not completely true either. You want to use the college catalogue to determine if the college has the classes that you want to take and the degree that you want. It may have some lists of extra curricular offerings as well, but it’s best to go on campus to get the latest list of these. What the catalogue will NOT tell you is if you feel comfortable on the campus, if you feel like you belong there, and your general impression of the place. Always always always visit a college before you decide to attend it!

Myth Eight: You should make your college selection early in your senior year, before Christmas if at all possible.

While a decision at this time (before Christmas) will ease up your deadlines if you are going to live on campus or participate in sports or performing arts, it’s not set in stone. You can decide as early as your junior year, or as late as the summer before you go off to college- provided you haven’t missed the fall enrollment deadline!

Myth Nine: Your college should be bigger than your high school.

Did you go to a large high school at hate it? Or, did you go to a small high school where everyone knew each other and loved it? If so, than a small college might be for you! There are many colleges with a total enrollment of less than 500 students, so the important thing is to know if you want to be one of the family, or a face in the crowd and then choose your college accordingly.

Myth Ten: Going more than 200 miles away from home will cost more and may result in isolation.

If you choose to attend college more than 200 miles away it might be intimidating at first if you don’t know anyone, but if you choose to participate in the activities provided to Freshman you’re bound to meet a few people with whom you have something in common. (Hint: the college provides these activities to prevent isolation of its new students!) And while you won’t have the friends that you’ve known forever with you, you’ll make some new ones that are sure to stick with you for a long time!

Myth Eleven: If you're in the top 10 percent of your class with SATs of 1300 or better, you belong in an Ivy or prestige college.

Again, see the answer to #1. The Ivy Leagues or “prestige colleges” aren’t for everyone.

Myth Twelve: Ivy League schools are looking for students who don't have excellent grades.

If you DO have your heart set on going to an Ivy League school, then keep in mind they are looking for the most well rounded, all around successful student. In addition to community involvement, extra curricular (whether it’s the chess club or the football team), you’ll need solid test scores AND good grades. Also, a factor to getting into some of these Ivy League schools is who in your family also attended it- sometimes that factor alone can overcome some other weaker points.

Myth Thirteen: SAT scores are the most important thing; good ones will get you in and poor ones will keep you out.

See the answer to Myth Twelve. This is the answer for most colleges, though perhaps with slightly less rigorous standards.

Myth Fourteen: A coaching course will improve your SAT scores.

A coaching session with an SAT coach will at least let you know what to expect on the exam. While this may or may not raise your scores, you can at least be more confidant going into the test itself… which may lead to higher scores!

Myth Fifteen: A bad recommendation from a teacher or counselor will ruin your chances.

First off, don’t ask someone for a recommendation who you are unsure or of who will not give you a good recommendation. Secondly, this is why the schools often ask for more than one recommendation.

Myth Sixteen: Your choice of major will decide your career path, so the quality of the department should govern your choice of college.

There are many other factors that should help you decide your college in addition to the quality of academic department you’re interested in. Think about things like class size, the “feel” of the student body, the location of the campus, the setting of the campus… etc. See our list on what to think about when visiting a campus for more ideas of all the other things to look for. It’s important to look at all of this- not just the academics, even though that is the reason you’re going there- because if you’re not happy it’s either going to be a miserable four years or you won’t make it through to degree completion.

Myth Seventeen: A high school diploma is needed to get into college.

Not so! Many colleges will accept a GED provided your scores are high enough in place of a high school diploma. Be sure to see the entrance requirements of the college to verify if this is possible.

Myth Eighteen: Going to a private prep school will enhance your chances of getting into a good college.

Colleges understand that not everyone can afford to attend a private prep school, or they are not always available in the area your family lives in. What is important is doing your best in the high school you are enrolled in and participating in some activities outside of the classroom.

Myth Nineteen: Millions of dollars in unused scholarships are going begging every year.

Most places with money to give to college students have given it all out by their deadlines. Make sure all of your scholarship applications are in early- plus remember that every dollar you get from a scholarship is one less you need to pay back!

Myth Twenty: A good college is hard to get into.

A good college is simply what you make it. Every college has different entrance requirements, and you may be surprised at how easy it is to get into many of them. However, just because some schools don’t have as high of entrance requirements as others does not make them less “good” or mean you should do the bare minimum to get in!