The college search process often starts with questions like “What’s the best school?” or “Where can I get in?” But at College UnMazed, we encourage students and families to ask a better question: Which colleges fit who I am and what I need to succeed?

That’s where the 6 Keys of College Fit come in. These six areas help students create a personalized definition of college “fit” and evaluate potential schools with purpose, not pressure.

At least half of all high school students, college students, and young adults will tell you they have an interest in starting and owning their own business. The good news is that many colleges across the United States now offer incredible opportunities to help students learn how it’s done!

Not all colleges will be the right fit, and not all students prioritize the same factors. The Six Keys of College Fit—which consider academic, financial, personal, career, student outcomes, and student support services—help students evaluate schools based on what’s most important to them.

Yet, these rankings continue to play a powerful influencer role in college decision-making. Students and parents use them to narrow college searches and meet their social status and prestige needs. Caught in the middle, what are we to do?

A parent of a graduating 12th grader, who is now deciding on whether or not to major in game development, asked us to look into this and provide them more information. They sent us the names of the top colleges their student has applied to. We used two of the 6 Keys of College Fit (www.collegeunmazed.com) to gather data that would help the student make a more informed decision.

How as a parent, do you help your student see beyond the "emotional appeal" of a college and more objectively at the process?

Find out you can assess a college based on the 6 Keys of College Fit.

Students can make more informed decisions about which college to attend when they understand each college they are considering from 6 key perspectives. We call these the 6 Keys of College Fit that include Academic Match, Career Match, Financial Match, Personal Match, Student Outcomes, and Student Support.