How to Research Colleges

September 24, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET

"Where do we even begin?" With thousands of colleges out there, taking that first step can feel overwhelming for early high schoolers and their parents. But researching schools is Step One of your entire admissions journey—and it should be exciting!

This is your chance to envision your future. Do you want the roaring game-day crowds of a big state university, the tight-knit community of a small liberal arts college, or the intensity of an Ivy? Figuring out what is actually important to you is the key to unlocking your high school strategy. Once you know what kind of schools you are aiming for, you can finally answer the big questions: What kind of grades do you actually need? What is a competitive test score? What should your extracurriculars focus on?

Join former Admissions Officer Samuel Day for a clear, stress-reducing session designed specifically for 9th, 10th, and 11th graders. We will cut through the information overload to show you exactly where to start your research, how to find your ideal college fit, and how to build a strategic roadmap to get there.

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Meet the speaker:

Samuel Day | Former Assistant Director of Admissions

Samuel Day is a former Assistant Director of Admissions at Purdue University, where he worked on the international recruitment team from 2022 to 2025, directly recruiting in nearly 30 countries and reviewing applications from many more. He led application review teams and trained staff in international application review and credential evaluation.

Samuel holds a Master's in International Relations from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia, and dual Bachelor's degrees in East Asian Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics and Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics from Indiana University Bloomington. He was also a Fulbright grantee to Germany.

Samuel approaches college advising as equal parts coach and cheerleader, helping students celebrate the milestones of the application process while navigating its challenges with confidence.