Freshman year in college is a year of big change. The transition can be particularly rough if you find yourself on a campus that is nothing like you expected. Personal visits to college campuses before you make your college choice can give you insights that can make the difference between a comfortable fit and a lot of surprises when classes start.
1. Learn about the college before you visit.
Read materials from the college and check out their web site. Write questions as you do your research. If you are visiting more than one on a particular day, refresh your memory about that school just before you arrive. Be sure to spend at least a half day at each college.
2. Evaluate the environment of the campus.
Is the campus too big or too small? Do you like the nearby town or do you feel isolated? Consider how you would get around campus particularly in the rain or snow.
3. Visit the admissions office and participate in the information session.
Ask questions that help you clarify the academic program at the school and the type of student who is most comfortable and successful there. You may choose to have a formal interview with an admissions staff member. Bring a resume of your grades and activities. Dress nicely, but not out of character.
4. Tour the campus, with and without a guide.
Take a student-led tour and take advantage of the opportunity to ask questions about campus life from a peer. Recognize, however, that tour guides are not necessarily typical of all students since they formally represent the school. Give yourself a few minutes to wander the campus alone without parents or guide. Jot down your impressions.
5. Check out the dorms.
Find out about the dorm options available, such as all-Freshman or co-ed. Arrange in advance to spend the night in a dorm, if possible. Picture yourself living in a dorm. Are you comfortable with the activity level...even late at night? How do you feel about the location of the dorms, such as the proximity to classes or the campus center?
6. Arrange for campus meetings with department heads in the subjects that interest you, coaches in sports where you excel, and former graduates from your high school.
Bring a resume that highlights your experience in your area of expertise. Ask about opportunities based on your skills and interests. Write down the names of any officials you meet with and send personal thank-you notes when you return home.
7. Sit in on classes and check out the library.
How is the rapport between students and faculty in the classroom? Look through the books at the library in your area of interest. Look for quiet places to study.
8. Look into life beyond academics.
Check out athletic facilities, theater, and student center. Browse through the school newspaper. Read notices posted in the dorms or on bulletin boards. Can you see yourself joining?
9. Have lunch in the student center and watch student interactions.
Talk with students all over campus about their impressions of the school. Look at the students themselves. Do you feel comfortable among the students?
10. After each visit, write down your impressions of that college.
After a while, the visions of different schools start to blur if you dont immediately stop to record your thoughts! Keep a list of pros and cons for comparison.
http://www.thehighschoolgraduate.com/editorial/UStestdrive.htm
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Which School is Right for You?
One of my high school teachers was fond of reminding us that choosing a college was one of the two most important decisions most of us would ever make. She said the other decision was whom we would marry, and since statistically half of us would make a mess of that decision, we should endeavor for a better track record on selecting our school!
Today's high school student has it harder than ever. You are bombarded by marketing campaigns designed to influence your decision. On any given day a high school senior might open his or her mailbox and find three or four viewbooks, a couple of videos, and at least one computer disk or CD, all enticing them to come to the "best" institution.
After advising some of the nation's best high school students I have put together the following to help you find your way through the advertising and hype. Let me share a few easy steps for finding a good match for you.
First of all, remember that there are thousands of schools available, so chances are you can find what you want if you look hard enough. The key is not finding the school — it's deciding what you want. The easiest place to start is hearing what some college representatives have to say face-to-face. Attend college fairs, sign up for college visits at your high school, and go visit local colleges even if they're not where you think you will enroll.
If this sounds boring, I have a suggestion to make it fun. Get your friends together and play a game I call, "Stump the Admissions Rep." The challenge is to ask a relevant question that the representative wouldn't usually be asked. One of my favorites is, "What's the worst thing about your school?" The best representatives will give you an honest answer; others will stumble their way through or avoid the question completely. Just keep in mind that the representative you're stumping could be the same person who decides your admission!
During your college visits, your goal should be to listen for features that interest you. These may be obvious, like a specific major or sport. Others may be more obscure, like climate or local ski conditions. Keep a list of the items that interest you, and those you want to avoid.
Warning: Some of the items that schools regularly bring up aren't necessarily good items for your list. For instance, every school will tell you they have excellent academics—what kind of school wouldn't? Every school I've ever heard about has caring faculty, excellent facilities and a wonderful library. They also all quote great placement rates for their graduates. If they start quoting numbers, they're offering you another great chance to stump them. Ask them how they arrived at that number to truly assess its meaning.
Now take your large list and narrow it down to the five to ten features that are most important to you. You can include anything you want, but try to limit "major" to no more than one item on the list. Most students will switch their major at least two or three times, so you should make sure other features are equally important to you.
Now you can start doing a little research. If you've gone to college fairs or gotten tons of mail, you should start by examining the glossy viewbooks from the schools. These publications are each school's attempt to tell you what they consider most important about themselves. You may also check out listings in guidebooks , the internet, and school recommendations from friends, relatives and educators. Make two new lists: schools with most of what you want and schools with some of what you want.
If you have a large number of schools with most of what you want, it's time to take a look at their admission standards. You might want to divide these schools into those that will definitely admit you, those that will probably admit you, and those that will present a challenge for you to be admitted.
Now that you have narrowed down your list, its time to start your serious "shopping". Call the schools and get on their mailing lists and, if possible, set up a campus visit or a local interview. At this point you may want to pull out the list you made of features you wanted to avoid. You should attempt to rule schools out until you have your list down to a reasonable number to which you send applications.
Important: Your final list should include at least one school that will definitely admit you and a limited number of the challenging schools. Application fees can become expensive so choose carefully.
You should come up with a ranking of which schools seem to be the best matches for you. Finally, after you are accepted you can compare the net price after any scholarships or financial aid each school offers. Then you tackle the hardest part — figuring out which school offers the best value for the amount you will have to pay or owe.
Many students (and parents!) feel this is a long and complicated process. However, compare it to buying a new stereo. Before you would make a purchase, you start by deciding what kind of options are most important_do you want a lot of bass, a ton of features, and does it need to be hooked up to your television? You might browse the ads to see the features that are available, narrowing your list down. You will probably go to the electronics store and actually compare stereo system floor models before you decide. Finally, you will compare prices and then make your purchase. If you go to that much trouble for a stereo, how can you justify doing less when you choose your school?
College can cost thousands of dollars and have a profound impact on your life. Take the time to make it the best decision possible, and with thousands of schools to choose from, you have great odds of making a good match.
http://www.thehighschoolgraduate.com/editorial/USwhich.htm
Today's high school student has it harder than ever. You are bombarded by marketing campaigns designed to influence your decision. On any given day a high school senior might open his or her mailbox and find three or four viewbooks, a couple of videos, and at least one computer disk or CD, all enticing them to come to the "best" institution.
After advising some of the nation's best high school students I have put together the following to help you find your way through the advertising and hype. Let me share a few easy steps for finding a good match for you.
First of all, remember that there are thousands of schools available, so chances are you can find what you want if you look hard enough. The key is not finding the school — it's deciding what you want. The easiest place to start is hearing what some college representatives have to say face-to-face. Attend college fairs, sign up for college visits at your high school, and go visit local colleges even if they're not where you think you will enroll.
If this sounds boring, I have a suggestion to make it fun. Get your friends together and play a game I call, "Stump the Admissions Rep." The challenge is to ask a relevant question that the representative wouldn't usually be asked. One of my favorites is, "What's the worst thing about your school?" The best representatives will give you an honest answer; others will stumble their way through or avoid the question completely. Just keep in mind that the representative you're stumping could be the same person who decides your admission!
During your college visits, your goal should be to listen for features that interest you. These may be obvious, like a specific major or sport. Others may be more obscure, like climate or local ski conditions. Keep a list of the items that interest you, and those you want to avoid.
Warning: Some of the items that schools regularly bring up aren't necessarily good items for your list. For instance, every school will tell you they have excellent academics—what kind of school wouldn't? Every school I've ever heard about has caring faculty, excellent facilities and a wonderful library. They also all quote great placement rates for their graduates. If they start quoting numbers, they're offering you another great chance to stump them. Ask them how they arrived at that number to truly assess its meaning.
Now take your large list and narrow it down to the five to ten features that are most important to you. You can include anything you want, but try to limit "major" to no more than one item on the list. Most students will switch their major at least two or three times, so you should make sure other features are equally important to you.
Now you can start doing a little research. If you've gone to college fairs or gotten tons of mail, you should start by examining the glossy viewbooks from the schools. These publications are each school's attempt to tell you what they consider most important about themselves. You may also check out listings in guidebooks , the internet, and school recommendations from friends, relatives and educators. Make two new lists: schools with most of what you want and schools with some of what you want.
If you have a large number of schools with most of what you want, it's time to take a look at their admission standards. You might want to divide these schools into those that will definitely admit you, those that will probably admit you, and those that will present a challenge for you to be admitted.
Now that you have narrowed down your list, its time to start your serious "shopping". Call the schools and get on their mailing lists and, if possible, set up a campus visit or a local interview. At this point you may want to pull out the list you made of features you wanted to avoid. You should attempt to rule schools out until you have your list down to a reasonable number to which you send applications.
Important: Your final list should include at least one school that will definitely admit you and a limited number of the challenging schools. Application fees can become expensive so choose carefully.
You should come up with a ranking of which schools seem to be the best matches for you. Finally, after you are accepted you can compare the net price after any scholarships or financial aid each school offers. Then you tackle the hardest part — figuring out which school offers the best value for the amount you will have to pay or owe.
Many students (and parents!) feel this is a long and complicated process. However, compare it to buying a new stereo. Before you would make a purchase, you start by deciding what kind of options are most important_do you want a lot of bass, a ton of features, and does it need to be hooked up to your television? You might browse the ads to see the features that are available, narrowing your list down. You will probably go to the electronics store and actually compare stereo system floor models before you decide. Finally, you will compare prices and then make your purchase. If you go to that much trouble for a stereo, how can you justify doing less when you choose your school?
College can cost thousands of dollars and have a profound impact on your life. Take the time to make it the best decision possible, and with thousands of schools to choose from, you have great odds of making a good match.
http://www.thehighschoolgraduate.com/editorial/USwhich.htm
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)