Extensions: Search for Colleges Online

In this video, you will search online for images, maps, and news to learn more about the colleges you’re interested in.

Searching online for colleges will provide information for you to use as you decide which schools to apply to.

Using different search terms can bring up different results.

But you can also use other Google search features to find out specific details about the colleges you are interested in.

To begin, start a Google search.

If you are looking for a certain college, search for it.

Explore different types of results to learn about the school, Like the Maps result.

This will bring you to a closeup of the exact location of the college, As well as give you the address.

Choose the view setting that you like best.

Using the map is a quick way to view the school’s website, Contact information, And any events that might be going on at the school.

You can also find out what places are near the school,...

such as restaurants,..

Stores, and other points of interest.

You can explore more of the area around the school as well.

Using the map result should give you a good idea of where your school is and what’s around it.

Then, search for news, And images that feature the school.

If your search is broad at this time, you can do a more general search.

Depending on where you live, you will have several schools to research, And the map view will cover a larger area.

Now, it’s your turn: Search for a college or type of college, And explore different search options.

In this video, you will format the details in your spreadsheet to compare and highlight differences among the colleges.

As you gather information in your spreadsheet about the colleges you have researched, you can compare the details to see which choices are best suited to your needs and wants.

Formatting your spreadsheet to highlight differences and sort the details can help you compare colleges more effectively.

To begin, open your spreadsheet.

If you have searched for more colleges, fill in your spreadsheet with the information you learned about them.

Then, add conditional formatting to any columns that you want to color code.

Conditional formatting is a tool that allows you to format a cell or range of cells depending on what is added to the cell.

For example, if you have a column for tuition cost, you can add color to numbers over $20,000.

Select the first column you would like to apply conditional formatting to.

Next, add the formatting criteria.

This example changes the color of the cells that have the letters CA after it to show that the student wants to highlight schools in California.

If you prefer, change the fill color.

This color will appear anytime you add to this column with text or a number that follows the condition you applied.

You can also sort your spreadsheet using the values in the cells.

When you sort, you put data in a certain order.

Select your entire spreadsheet before sorting to make sure each row of college details remains together.

You can sort your spreadsheet alphabetically or numerically in descending, Or ascending order.

For example, you might want to sort alphabetically by the name of the college.

Indicate whether you have a header row.

Choose a column to sort.

Then, choose the order in which you want the details to appear.

For this example, the spreadsheet is sorted by average cost after financial aid in ascending order, so the lowest costs are listed first.

Now, it’s your turn: Add conditional formatting to highlight certain college details, And sort your spreadsheet to place the colleges in a specific order.

In this video, you will add and rename a sheet in your college search spreadsheet for a new search.

As you continue your search for colleges to apply to, you might want to search for different types of schools.

To keep track of each of your searches separately, you can add sheets to your spreadsheet.

To begin, open your spreadsheet.

Then, rename any sheet tabs you have already filled in.

Next, add a new sheet for a college search you bookmarked or a new search you will conduct.

Rename the new sheet tab using details that are important to your search.

This will help you know which sheet to open when you want to review the information.

Change the color of the new sheet’s border to make it easier to find.

If there are details from your completed sheets that you can use, such as the headers, copy and paste them into your new sheet.

Then, conduct your search or open a search you bookmarked to find details for your sheet.

Add details from your search to your new sheet.

And format your cells if you need to.

Now, it’s your turn: Rename your original sheet tab, Add and rename a new sheet tab, Format your new sheet, And add and format college details from a different search to your new sheet.