Teenagers across the nation are receiving more and more mail from colleges each day. Their classmates are talking about admissions rates and test scores while their friends, parents, and even distant relatives are inquiring about their plans for college. All are indicators that high school will be coming to an end and the next step awaits them.
Many students feel overwhelmed at the beginning of their college search. After all, this is perhaps the biggest decision that they will have to make. With this pressure, no wonder most teenagers are intimidated!
By breaking down the college search into steps it’s easier to get started and to stay on track. Here are some things to keep in mind this summer:
- Begin by thinking about what you enjoy the most, what bores you, what are your strengths or talents? Think broadly – not just academically, but socially, artistically, athletically, and personally.
- Once you have a list of your basic interest and abilities, reflect on the following: your learning style, do you enjoy learning in large or smaller groups, do you seek diversity among your friends or prefer people who are similar to you, are you comfortable in the city or in a rural area, what else helps to describe your preferences.
- Test your imagination. Close you eyes and envision your ideal college. While you have that picture in your mind, write down what you see in your classroom, in your residence hall, on a Saturday evening, etc.
- Translate these impressions into characteristics you’d like to see in a college.
- Gather the viewbooks you’ve been receiving and sort them into three piles – Yes, No, and Maybe based on these characteristics.
- Take a closer look at the Yes pile – what do these colleges have in common?
- Run a college search on line: www.collegeboard.com, www.petersons.com, www.princetonreview.com for more options check the recommended website page of www.collegecounselling.com
- Visit different types of colleges this summer: a large research university (USF, UF, UCF), a medium size college (U of Miami, Emory U, UNF, FGCU), and a small liberal arts campus (Eckerd C, Stetson, Rollins). Evaluate each after your visit with your impressions.
If you are a rising senior, the summer is also a good time to begin rough drafts of your essays and complete a resume. Many colleges begin to post their application for admission on their website in August so you can begin to complete them before school begins. Getting a jump start on your college applications will improve the quality of what you send, as well as your chances for admission.
Next time you’re asked about what college you want to attend….you’ll be able to describe what you’re looking for! Good luck!!
