The Princeton Review's 2024 College Hopes and Worries Survey

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I am a:

1. Student applying to college
2. Parent of a student applying to college

What year will you (your child) begin college?

1. 2024
2. 2025
3. 2026
4. 2027
5. Other (please specify)Please specify

1) What would be your "dream" college? What college would you most like to attend (or see your child attend) if the chance of being accepted or cost were not an issue? Please write the complete name of the school, e.g., "University of Oklahoma," not an abbreviation such as "OU" that could also be the abbreviation for Ohio University.

2) How many colleges will you (your child) apply to?

1. 1 to 4
2. 5 to 8
3. 9 to 12
4. 13 or more

3) Which of the following will be the most important part of your (your child's) college application?

1. Class rank
2. High school transcript, grades, and GPA
3. SAT®/ACT® scores
4. Extracurriculars
5. Essay
6. Recommendations

4) Which of the following will be the toughest part of your (your child's) college application experience?

1. Researching colleges
2. Taking SAT, ACT, or AP® exams
3. Completing admission and financial aid applications
4. Waiting for the college acceptance letters and choosing which college to attend

5) Which college admission exam(s) have you (has your child) taken or plan to take?  

1. ACT
2. SAT
3. Both tests
4. Neither test

6) Many colleges have gone test optional (i.e., no longer require SAT or ACT scores) while some still require test scores, and others may return to requiring them. Which of the following characterizes your (your child’s) perspective with respect to schools' admission test policies?

1. Admission test policies don’t affect my (my child’s) application decisions.
2. I (my child) is more likely to apply to a college that is test optional.
3. I (my child) is less likely to apply to a college that is test optional.

7) As only a very low percentage of colleges are "test blind" (i.e., won’t consider SAT or ACT scores), are you (your child) still planning to take the SAT or ACT?  If so, what is the key reason?  (Note: If you aren't (your child isn't) planning to take either test, skip this question.) 

1. Test scores are considered in scholarship and financial aid award decisions.
2. Test scores can distinguish applications and improve their chances of being accepted.
3. Having test scores on hand will help should they be important for an application.

8) The SAT became a computer adaptive test—the Digital SAT—in spring 2023 at international test centers.  In U.S. test centers, the first administration of the Digital SAT will be in March 2024.  What is your opinion of this big change in the SAT? (For info on the Digital SAT click here.)

1. I think the Digital SAT will be a better test.
2. I think the Digital SAT may be a more difficult test.
3. I (my child) will likely take the paper-and-pencil ACT instead.
4. I (my child) will likely not take either the Digital SAT or the ACT.

9) What do you estimate your (or your child's) college degree will cost, including four years of tuition, room & board, fees, books, and other expenses?

1. More than $100,000
2. $75,000 to $100,000
3. $50,000 to $75,000
4. $25,000 to $50,000
5. Less than $25,000

10) How necessary will financial aid—education loans, scholarships, or grants—be to pay for your (your child’s) college education?

1. Extremely
2. Very
3. Somewhat
4. Not at all

11) What's your biggest concern about your (your child's) college applications?

1. Won’t get into first-choice college
2. Will get into first-choice college but won't be able to afford to attend
3. Level of debt I (my child) will take on to pay for the degree
4. Will attend a college that I (my child) may regret

12) How would you gauge your stress level about the college application process?

1. Very High
2. High
3. Average
4. Low
5. Very Low

13) How do you feel about the use of AI (Artificial Intelligence)-based tools by students and by admissions staff in the college application and admission process? (For info on The Princeton Review’s AI-tools, click here.)

1. I am excited about the ways AI is being—and can be—used.
2. I am concerned about the ways AI is being—and can be—used.
3. Both of the above.
4. Neither of the above.

14) Ideally, how far from home would you like the college you (your child) attend(s) to be?

1. Fewer than 250 miles
2. 250 to 500 miles
3. 500 to 1,000 miles
4. More than 1,000 miles

15) When it comes to choosing the college you (your child) will attend, which of the following do you think it is most likely to be?

1. College with best academic reputation
2. College that will be most affordable
3. College with best program for my (my child's) career interests
4. College that will be the best overall fit

16) If you (your child) had a way to compare colleges based on their career center services (e.g., career counseling, employment fairs, job search guidance and placement) how much would this contribute to your (your child’s) decision to apply to or attend a school?

1. Strongly
2. Very much
3. Somewhat
4. Not much
5. Not at all

17) If you (your child) had a way to compare colleges based on their "green" commitment (e.g., practices concerning energy use, recycling and sustainability; availability of "green" majors and course offerings), how much would this contribute to your (your child’s) decision to apply to or attend a school?

1. Strongly
2. Very much
3. Somewhat
4. Not much
5. Not at all

18) If you (your child) had a way to compare colleges based on their services dedicated to students' physical health, mental health, and wellness, how much would this contribute to your (your child’s) decision to apply to or attend a school?

1. Strongly
2. Very much
3. Somewhat
4. Not much
5. Not at all

19) What will be the biggest benefit to you (your child) from earning a college degree?

1. The education
2. The exposure to new ideas, places, and people
3. The potentially better job and higher income

20) On the whole, do you (your child) believe college will be "worth it"?

1. Yes
2. No

What advice would you give to college applicants or parents of applicants going through the college admission process next year?

Have 2 minutes to tell us more?

Over the years, we’ve surveyed millions of college students about THEIR colleges for the annual rankings we tally in 50 categories for our Best Colleges guide. Their answers are the basis for our student survey-based rankings here.

Now we’re interested in WHAT MATTERS MOST TO YOU when shopping for a college.

Imagine this: If you were visiting a college and had opportunities to ask random students at the school (not the tour guides) about their campus experiences there, which of the 10 topics below would you most like to get their feedback about?

Note: You can only pick 5.  We list them in alphabetical order. We have no preference.  It’s yours we care about.

1. Academics – How interesting and accessible are your professors? Can you get courses you want?
2. Administration – How well is the school run? Is it “green”-committed?
3. Amenities / Facilities – How’s the campus food? Dorms? Athletic/lab facilities?
4. Career Services – Are they available—and helpful?
5. College City– Is there much to do off campus?
6. Financial Aid – Did you get financial aid from the school and were you satisfied with it?
7. Health & Wellness Services – Are they generally accessible—and good?
8. LGBTQIA+ Matters – How are LGBTQIA+ people treated on campus?
9. Race/Class Matters – Do people of different races/classes interact much on campus?
10. Student Body – How friendly are the students? Political? Religious? Are sports popular? What's the social scene like?

Please select at most 5 choices for question 19.

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