Choosing a College
Getting ready for college is an exciting time. However, there are many questions facing the high school senior, and the prospect of all the decision-making may seem daunting. Should you go away or attend a local school? Are you looking for a large university or a small college? Private or public? Four-year school or two-year community college? Fortunately, there are many resources that can help you in choosing a college.
School guidance counselors have a wealth of information at their fingertips. They can tell you which schools offer certain majors, what their admission policies are, even how many students from your school are typically accepted each year. In addition, your guidance counselor is an invaluable resource when it comes to making sure that your high school curriculum satisfies college requirements.
College guides are wonderful for getting more statistical information about schools, such as: tuition, majors offered, ethnic make-up of the student body, sports teams, and SAT profile, although students should remember that colleges look at more than SAT scores when deciding on applicants. They also take into consideration your GPA, difficulty of high school curriculum, extracurricular activities, etc. in making their decision, and students should not be discouraged from applying to a school solely because their SAT scores are not commensurate with the school's average.
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- Some good college guides to try:
- Peterson's Four-Year Colleges 2000
- Barron's Guide to the Most Competitive Colleges
- Princeton Review Complete Book of Colleges, 2000 Edition
Many schools now have their own websites where you can get more individualized
information, such as admissions requirements and deadlines, degree requirements,
classes offered, housing, etc. In addition, you can usually see photos
of the campus, request an application, and submit any questions you
may.
Schools are more than happy to send information to prospective students. You can call, write, or e-mail schools for brochures, applications, even videos. In addition, by your senior year, you'll be inundated with unsolicited materials from colleges. Don't just throw it in the corner; go through it. Yes, it's a lot of information, but when schools want you to apply, they will sometimes include enticements, such as waiving the application fees! Plus, looking through all the material helps you decide what you do and do not want in a school. So take the time to do your research. Remember, you are searching for your home for the next four years.
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