VIS is authorized by the College Board  to provide AP (Advanced Placement) courses. The following article is from the official College Board website. The below will help us understand college search step-by-step. 
VIS 為美國大學理事會（College Board）正式認證學校，經授權可開授AP課程。以下文章出自於美國大學理事會 College Board 官網，提供中文翻譯給學生家長參考，讓我們一同來按部就班找學校

Original source 原文出處: 
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/plan-for-college/find-your-dream-college/choose-a-college/college-search-step-by-step?excmpid=FB-ED-CB-1

College Search Step-by-Step
按部就班找學校

You Can Find Colleges That Are Right for You
你可以找到適合你的大學

Although there's no magic formula for choosing a college, you can start by asking yourself some questions that help most students find the right fit.
選擇大學並沒有什麼神奇的魔法，不過你可以從問自己問題開始，這些問題對大部分學生來說，都對於找到適合的學校很有幫助。
Use this guide to:
使用本指引，你可以：
●Learn about some key college search categories.了解關鍵的大學搜尋類別。
●Answer questions to discover what's important to you.回答問題，發現自己最重要的考量點。
●Get advice from college students and educators.獲取大學學生和老師的建議。
It's your journey. We're just here to help you get started.
我們幫助你邁開腳步，但整趟旅程，仍由你自己掌握。

Kinds of Colleges 大學的種類
Most students start by thinking about the kind of college they want to attend. As you do so, keep in mind that you have lots of options. More than 1,600 colleges — mostly community colleges — accept almost all high school graduates.
大部分的學生一開始都會思考要上哪種大學。思考的時候請記得，你有很多選擇。有超過 1,600 所大學 (社區大學占大部分) 是所有高中畢業生都可以就讀的。
Begin by considering these questions 首先請思考以下問題：
●Do I want to go to a two-year or four-year college? At a two-year college, students can earn an associate degree. At a four-year college, students can earn a bachelor's degree. Many students begin at a two-year college on the path to a bachelor's degree at a four-year college.
我想要上的是兩年制或是四年制？兩年制的大學，學生可以取得副學士學位。四年制的大學則是學士學位。很多學生會先上兩年制再去四年制的大學取得學士學位。
●Am I limiting my choices by focusing on whether a college is public or private? Many students exclude private colleges because they think they're more expensive, but that's not always the case. Financial aid can sometimes make private colleges as affordable as public colleges. And private colleges are not always more selective.
我是否聚焦在公私立學校之間，而限縮了自己的選擇？很多學生因為覺得學費昂貴而排除私校，但是其實不見得。透過財務支援，可以讓私校學費像公立學校一樣負擔得起，而私校選才也不見得總是只挑選精英。

Location 地點
Many students begin their college search by setting a limit on how far away from home they want to be. This might be an easy way to narrow the many options out there, but it doesn’t mean you’ll find the best colleges for you. Keep your mind open and think about these questions:
很多學生選校方式是先設定自己希望學校離家多遠，這可能是個簡單的方法，可以快速刪減很多選項，但不見得會保證你找得到最好的學校。請保持開放的心，思考以下問題：
●How close to home do I want to be? Close enough for meals and laundry, to visit on weekends, or to only come home on breaks?
我想要離家多遠？近到可以回家吃飯洗衣服、適合週末再回家的距離，或是寒暑假才回家的距離？
●Do I want to stick to a setting I’m used to or try something new?
我想要待在已經熟悉的環境或是嘗試新事物？
●If I look just a little farther — a few more miles or another half hour away — what other opportunities open up to me?
如果我再把距離拉遠個幾哩或半小時車程，是不是還有其他學校選擇？
●Am I staying close because I think it will be less expensive? Sometimes out-of-state schools are more affordable.
我是因為花費較低所以盡量找近的學校？有時候位處州外的學校，費用其實比較可負擔。

Campus Setting 學校環境
Many students say that campus size and feel was a big part of their college choice. Whether or not you already have a mental image of what college life should be like, visiting a college and talking to students is a great way to get to know a campus. But first, consider these questions:
很多學生表示，學校規模與氛圍是他們選校時的重要考量。不管你是否已經對於學校生活有了些想像，親身去參觀校園、和學校學生直接談話都是認識校園很好的方式。但是請先考慮以下幾點：
●Do I see myself at a college with lots of students or in a smaller community?
我認為自己適合人數多的大校還是小而美的群體？
●Do I want to be at a college where students stay on campus most of the time? Do I want to live in a dorm?
我想要待的學校，學生都會幾乎待在校園中生活嗎？我想要住校嗎？
●Do I want to be around lots of different kinds of people or people with interests similar to mine?
我想要周遭有形形色色的人，或是大家氣味相投的？
●Do I want to be at a school where sports are a big deal? Or one that’s known for its activism? Or for its hard-working students?
我想去重視體育賽事的學校？或是以社運聞名的學校？或是學生以用功著名的學校？

Cost 花費
For many families, cost is a big concern — understandably. But it doesn't have to be such a big hurdle. College is usually more affordable than you think. Here are a few things to consider:
對很多家庭來說，花費是重大的考量，這絕對是可以理解的狀況。但是費用不會是個難以跨越的障礙，大學其實比想像中更可負擔。請考慮以下幾點：
●Do I have the facts about what colleges will cost? Students don't usually pay the published price because of financial aid — and shouldn't rule out colleges early in their search because of cost.
我知道念大學實際上會花多少錢嗎？仰賴財務支援的學生就不用負擔表定金額，學生也不應該因為花費而在選校時過早排除某些學校。
●Will I qualify for financial aid? All students should apply for aid, whether or not they think they will qualify. Most students get financial help from the government or the college itself.
我有資格申請財務支援？所有學生無論是否認為自己有資格，都應該要申請。大部分的學生都可以從政府或學校本身得到財務支援。
●Am I eligible for scholarships? Certain characteristics or accomplishments might qualify students for private or college scholarships that award money they do not have to pay back.
我有獎學金資格？學生具備某些條件或是成就，就可能可以申請私人或大學獎學金，得到的金援也無需償還。

Majors 主修
A college major is the subject area you’ll spend the most time studying. Many students think they have to know what their major will be before they start college. In fact, you have plenty of time to decide on a major, and a lot of students change their major more than once. These questions can help you think about majors that may interest you:
大學主修就是你即將花最多時間學習的科目。很多學生認為，在上大學前就該知道自己想要主修什麼。但其實，選擇主修科目的時間很充裕，很多學生也不只換過一次主修科目。以下問題可以幫助你思考哪些主修可能會讓你感興趣：
●What are my favorite school subjects? What do I like doing when I’m not in class?
我最喜歡的學校科目是什麼？課堂外我最喜歡做什麼？
●Do I want to take classes in many different subjects or focus mainly on one subject?我喜歡上很多不同的科目，或是主要專注在某一個科目上？
●What do I want to do after college and which majors can help me get there?
大學畢業後我想做什麼，哪個主修科目可以幫助我做到？

Learning Environment 學習環境
As you know, college is about learning! So it makes sense to imagine your ideal learning environment. Don’t get stuck on things like a college’s reputation, rank or selectivity. What’s more valuable is how well a college’s academic style fits you. Consider the following:
如你所知，大學就是要讓你學習的地方，想像一下自己理想的學習環境，當然是合理的。不要被學校名聲、排名或是選才方式給拘泥住，學校的學術風格適不適合你，對你來說才是更值得考量的事情。請思考下列問題：
●Do I learn best when I’m academically comfortable or academically challenged?
對我來說，怎樣學習成效最好？是適中的學術難度，還是有挑戰性的？
●Do I prefer to be part of small group discussions or to listen to lectures? How much interaction do I want with my professors?
我比較喜歡小型團體討論還是聽課？我想要跟教授有多少程度的互動？
●What sort of balance am I looking for between studying and having a social life?
在念書跟社交生活中間我想要什麼樣的平衡？
●Do I want to choose most of my classes myself, or do I prefer more structure?
我想要自己選大部分的課，還是有較多的必修？

If you would like to discuss college options further, please make an appointment with our college counselor Rosalyn Shih ( collegecounseling@vis.tp.edu.tw ) to find out more.
如果VIS同學們想進一步討論如何選擇海外的大學，請與VIS的升學顧問 Miss Rosalyn Shih ( collegecounseling@vis.tp.edu.tw ) 預約晤談以了解更多資訊。