"Helpful
Hints - Searching and Applying"
by Katie Steger
Maybe you're a high school junior. You're preparing for those nasty
standardized tests, and you're on the verge of stressing over where and
how you're going to further your education. Or maybe you're a high school
freshman and you're just casually wondering about that great higher
institution of learning. Or maybe this is the first time you've considered
the subject. Regardless, at some point in time most of us think about it.
College.
There are SO many! How on earth are you supposed
to narrow it down to one single establishment of academia?? This is where
I'll step in. I'm going to set you up with some helpful hints on how to go
about choosing the right school for you. Granted, this is definitely not
the only way, and I'm probably leaving out a few factors of
consideration...but maybe I can give you a sort of guide to get started.
- Hit the books! No, I don't mean study for
seven hours a day, do ALL your homework, or be a straight A student
(although that certainly can't hurt). I mean go to your local library
and check out college books. They're in the reference section, but you
may want to ask a librarian if you need specifics. These books are
thick and intimidating, but they're also very helpful. You can look up
colleges by state, look them up by major, even look them up by cost.
Whatever fits your needs best. If you KNOW you want to go to a school
that has access to good ski resorts because you're on your way to
becoming a pro-skier, look at colleges in Colorado or the northeast.
Or if you KNOW you want to major in journalism, look up schools that
offer that major. Or maybe you just want to go to a school that you
can afford. In that case, your best bet is to look at what you can
afford in your state. Become familiar with how these books work, and
you'll have a decent idea of what you're looking for in a school in no
time!
- Take the tests! Everyone will tell you that
colleges don't JUST look at test scores...and that's true. But, a lot
of them have cut-off scores, or average scores that they look for. If
you know your scores, you can search for colleges (in those big books)
using that as a reference point. That can give you an idea of what
kind of competition you'll be up against at various schools. It can
also help you determine if a school is way out of your league, or
below your standards.
- Participate! Get involved. Colleges love to
see that you are an active student, rather than a passive student.
Maybe you get straight A's and you got perfect scores on your SATs.
But if all you do is school work, and someone else gets mostly A's,
but volunteers regularly at an animal shelter, who do you think the
school will pick? Colleges love to diversify their student body, so if
you are involved in something unique, make sure you mention that on
your application.
- Talk to your guidance counselor! I know this
isn't an appealing thought for a lot of students, but most counselors
can help you find your sense of direction. You can tell them what
you're interested in, what your aspirations are, where your weaknesses
lay, and they may be able to help you make competent, well thought out
decisions. They can even write recommendations for you if they know
you well enough. Remember, you're not imposing on them by asking for a
meeting to discuss your future plans...that's their job!
- Talk to the upperclassman! You know that girl
on your volleyball team who you see a lot of yourself in? Ask her what
her plans are after high school. See what your elders are planning and
why. They can be a great source of information on what colleges they
like and for what reasons. Take this to heart, because you'll be them
before you know it!
- Don't forget to write...and visit! Okay, so
you've picked out a few colleges that you think meet your wants and
needs. Take it from me, you CANNOT base one of the biggest decisions
of your life on statistics that you find in a big book. Write to the
schools that interest you and ask for more information. This will put
you on their mailing list and they'll send you tons of stuff trying to
make you love their college. This will probably help you further
narrow it down. So, now do you want to make a decision based on the
biased opinion of the people who write those pretty brochures? No.
Visit the campus! Talk to students, stay overnight if you can, get a
guided tour. No doubt you'll get a feel for the campus atmosphere,
which is highly important. It's important that you don't judge too
quickly, though. Take into account your mood, the weather, and other
various factors that will have an impact on your visit. If you feel
strongly one way or the other, another visit(s) may be something to
consider
- Apply yourself! Maybe you apply before you
visit, maybe you visit before you apply. The sequence isn't
important...is it? Well, actually, it can be. A lot of schools give
you the choice of applying 'early decision' or 'early acceptance.'
This just means that you know if you're accepted before the regular
decision people. The catch? If you apply early, its an ethical
commitment stating that you will attend that school come the following
fall. So, be sure that a college is your top choice before you apply
early...in which case you should visit before you apply. To make your
life a little easier, I recommend picking up applications in your
guidance office ASAP. If you can get your hands on one before the
beginning of your senior year, do it. It makes senior year much less
stressful to get these done early. And as for the essays that
sometimes accompany applications, have a trusted adult or teacher look
them over for errors and weaknesses. This is your chance to make an
impression on the admissions office, so you want it to be as near
perfect as you can make it.
It's a lot to think about, huh? Well, a bit of
advice: the sooner you start this operation and begin to gradually narrow
down your options, the sooner you can be done with it. It'll be kind of
amusing to watch your classmatesstress-out in January when they're trying
to make decisions and finish applications while knowing that you're done
with the process. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go work on my
scholarship applications. But, that's another story!
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