Intentionality in the College Search Process

When it comes time to think about college, it’s important to slow down and consider why you'd like to attend college and engage in conscious decision-making instead of doing what you think you are supposed to do.  

Why? To begin with, the stakes are high. Your educational experience will be foundational in establishing the quality of your life. Moreover, the college you choose will be challenging and, quite likely, expensive. As a result, you will want to put yourself in the best possible position to succeed.

That said, barely half of the young people who start college in our country will ever finish. That’s not good! Frankly, it’s a waste of time, talent, and treasure, not to mention a lost opportunity. There can be many reasons for this, but the lack of intentionality—or sense of purpose—is often a key factor.

You must approach the college process with a sense of purpose. 

Here's what we cover in this blog post:

• Beware of Shiny Objects!
• Exploring Your Intentionality or Sense of Purpose for College
• How to Move Forward in College Planning with Intentionality
• Having a Sense of Purpose Can Make You a More Compelling Candidate
• Bonus Resources

Beware of Shiny Objects!

Imagine walking into a store without an idea of what to purchase. A shiny object catches your eye, and you decide to buy it, but now you’re left with a purposeless object. If you begin the college process without intention or purpose, you leave your path to chance and risk being left with nothing more than a shiny object—a college that isn’t the best fit for you. 

So, before thinking about colleges, reflect on what this educational opportunity could mean to you. Specifically, why do you want to go to college?

By the way, you don’t have to do it. No law or rule says you must go to college immediately upon graduation from high school. Think about it. You can graduate and get a job. You can do volunteer work in the community. You can travel and see the world. And you could hang out at home and play video games all day (not necessarily the best option).

You have choices, and college is among them. So, why would you choose college? If you lean in that direction, it must be a considered choice. For example, is going to college because everyone else is going a good answer for you? Or, perhaps you are going because your parents are making you do it. If so, how does that feel?

Don’t let college become the default answer! You deserve better!

Exploring Your Intentionality or Sense of Purpose for College

Finding intentionality or a sense of purpose begins with thoughtful reflection. Consider these questions:

• Why do you want to go to college? (It’s worth repeating!!) Know yourself!
• Do you see your college experience as a means to an end, an end in itself, or both? In other words, do you value learning for learning's sake, or do you regard the experience as a stepping-stone into a particular career? There are no wrong answers, but your orientation here can be a helpful guide as you explore appropriate college options
• How would you define a good education? What is the dynamic of that experience? What is happening that makes you feel you are benefiting from it?
• Similarly, how do you like to learn? College curricula can look the same, but the style of instruction can vary greatly across 3,000+ institutions. For example, if you want to learn biology, would you prefer to learn it from a book or in the lab? Would you rather learn about history in a lecture hall or in a seminar room? In each case, the content is essentially the same. It is simply presented differently
• What is your bucket list for your undergraduate experience? Make a list of the things you hope to accomplish by the time you graduate. Students have listed a range of experiences from studying abroad or having an internship opportunity, to playing in the band or joining a Greek-letter organization
• What do you care most about in life—and why? What excites or concerns you about your future—and why? In other words, how do you hope to engage in the world in which you live?

Notice: the focus thus far is on you, not colleges or universities. As you contemplate these questions, however, you can identify priorities that shape the intentionality and sense of purpose that will be foundational to your college search. Moreover, you will begin to establish filters through which you can assess college options that begin to emerge organically.

How to Move Forward in College Planning with Intentionality

Having intentionality in the college process means you know yourself, and you’ve found purpose in going to college. It also means that college planning will feel less random. Having a good sense of self can be empowering as you act confidently on that knowledge to discover colleges that will be a good fit for you. 

As you identify colleges to explore further, be particularly attentive to the academic opportunities available to you. A college or university might offer the program you want to pursue, but is it offered in a manner that will challenge and excite you, and that's suitable to your learning style? 

To find answers, go beyond the homepage of their websites to the departmental pages for the academic areas that interest you. Some questions to consider are:

• Which courses are offered?
• Who teaches them?
• What are the academic backgrounds of the instructors?
• How do they teach (lecture, lab, seminar)?
• What type of research or independent study opportunities exist for undergraduates?
• Are there student organizations affiliated with a given academic program that will allow for out-of-class engagement?
• How do these factors align with your priorities?
• How do you and your colleagues support off-campus internships and post-graduate employment/study opportunities?

If you visit a college’s campus, take advantage of opportunities to pursue this line of questioning with professors and students you might meet in the areas that interest you. In doing so, you can develop an appreciation for the culture that exists within the program and on the campus in general.

How does that culture mesh with your own sense of purpose? Is it a good fit?

Having a Sense of Purpose Can Make You a More Compelling Candidate

Being intentional in your planning will help you create a meaningful college list. Moreover, the more you know about yourself, the easier it will be for you to demonstrate your purpose as an applicant. Admission officers at selective institutions—places that must make fine distinctions between great candidates—will try to discern your seriousness of purpose in applying. Your ability to prove the synergy that you have found between your sense of purpose and the institution’s ability to meet that purpose will often make the difference after your other credentials have been considered.

In this high-stakes college process, your willingness and ability to engage with intentionality can make the difference in...

1. Getting into your preferred colleges
2. Graduating from one of them

You can choose to make the process happen for you, or you can let it happen to you. Your best bet is to proceed with purpose. Good luck!

Bonus Resources

Now's a great time for students to reflect on why they want to go to college, what they want to accomplish while they are there, and how they think they can accomplish those goals. The more you come to an understanding of your personal why for attending college, the easier it will be for you to focus on colleges that make sense and find intentionality in the way you present your applications. 

This article was originally published on May 22, 2020. It was updated on April 29, 2025 for accuracy and comprehensiveness.