July 24th, 2008
It’s that time of year when rising high school seniors (and soon-to-be college applicants) should begin to take stock of their application preparations. I recently received a note from the parent of one such student that raised questions about strategies for reporting test scores. It’s a question I receive fairly often so I thought I would share my response. This parent writes:
“My daughter scored a 34 on her ACT and a 2170 on her SAT (760 math, 730 writing and 680 critical reading.) Her ACT converts to a higher SAT score (2260) so would you be inclined to send only the ACT scores for those schools who will accept either, or would you be inclined to go ahead and send both to show that she did pretty well on both “types” of tests? She has also taken 4 subject tests: 700 in literature and 730 in math this June, and 680 in chemistry and 680 in history as a sophomore.”
In responding, I must first point out that every college in the country now accepts the ACT or the SAT and acknowledge that the young woman in question has produced superb test results on both tests. While it would be wrong to make assumptions about whether she will be admitted, her results will put her on the competitive “playing field” at any school in the country. Interestingly, these scores are not likely to be the credential that tips the scale in her favor at highly selective places even though they speak well to the likelihood she will find success if admitted.
Generally speaking, submitting both the ACT and the SAT can work to this student’s advantage. The same can be said for students who possess closely matched but lower scores. Why? While it might be nice to show that the student is capable of scoring well on all the tests, the presence of two respectable scores for a given college affords its admission committee options with regard to the score it uses to justify an offer of admission. (More on that in a minute).
That said I would like to make several observations. First, be careful about being too literal with regard to how an SAT might convert to an ACT and vice versa. While both test makers provide concordance tables to give you an idea as to how their scores compare, the tests themselves are quite different in terms of what they measure. As a result, you can’t make exact comparisons with regard to the diagnostic benefit of the respective tests.
Second, the need to demonstrate proficiency on both types of tests may be a bit over-rated. At the most highly selective colleges, such proficiency is both expected and rather routine.
And, third, I would like to reflect on the notion of giving admission officers options. Schools that receive a preponderance of one test type over the other are regarded as dominant with regard to that test. For example, a school where most of the applicants submit the SAT is considered “SAT dominant.” While ACT results are considered in its admission process and reported on institutional profiles of entering classes, the ACT scores themselves disappear when test results are reported to ranking guides as the latter only factor in results from the dominant test at a given college or university.
So, what does this mean for you, the applicant? If you find yourself competing for admission at a college where your overall credentials are compelling but your test results are relatively modest, the fact that you submit test results from both testing services allows the admission committee to rationalize an offer of admission based on the scores from the non-dominant test. Without the scores from the non-dominant test, the committee might be wary of offering you admission for fear that your scores from the dominant test will adversely affect its testing profile.
The bottom line: think of your test results, whether they are from the SAT or the ACT—or both—as competitive credentials—numbers that reflect your ability to function on a given test. And know that colleges like big numbers. If you have the opportunity early in the process to sample one of each (perhaps the PSAT for the SAT and the PLAN for the ACT), do so to determine the testing format and methodology to which you respond best. If one test emerges as a favorite, then focus on preparing to do well on subsequent administrations of that test. Trying to master both will only distract you from other more important pursuits in your life.
Posted in Testing/Test Prep | No Comments »
July 11th, 2008
As you make plans to visit colleges this summer, be sure to inquire about opportunities for personal interviews while you are on their campuses. The interview gives you a chance to develop a relationship with a decision-maker, someone who will later be involved in the credential review process. While having such a relationship does not guarantee that you’ll get in, it should give you peace of mind that someone will be able to interpret your situation to other decision-makers behind the closed doors of the admission process.
That said, the prospect of having to talk with a stranger for half an hour or so may not seem too appealing. The fact that you’ll probably be expected to talk about yourself or that this conversation might have a bearing on your admission outcome doesn’t make the task any easier. The good news is that nobody ever died in an admission interview! It’s safe—and relatively harmless. The interview is not a test. The people you meet are really decent human beings who are simply interested in getting to know you better. Give them the chance.
As an interviewer, I always looked for opportunities to learn something new with each encounter. This led to fascinating conversations about the mental preparation actors go through as they take on stage personas, theories regarding the convergence of parallel lines in space (way over my head!), and the politics of poverty. I learned how to sail, followed the hand of an artist as it covered fresh canvas, and watched the sun in its early morning ascent from the top of Mount Masada through the eyes of students who had been there.
Each interview was an opportunity for me to meet with and understand a young person from a perspective that wasn’t scripted anywhere else. I could not have otherwise known the circumstances of the political exile who was understandably reluctant to reveal her family’s story. And I would not have met the homeless youth who came to my office with the simple plea: “All I want is a chance. I want someone to believe in me so I can get an education that will enable me to make a difference in the world.”
View the interview as an opportunity to provide a conversational window into your world. Think about it. If there are things that need to be made known regarding your academic performance or your life experience in general, this is the time to tell your story. In reviewing your credentials, admission officers need to understand what’s going on contextually. Without explanations or interpretations of unusual circumstances from you, they are left to draw their own conclusions—and you don’t want them to start guessing!
So, you need to ask yourself, “What do I have to lose by going for an interview?” If a college offers the interview, it is a clear indication that it wants to get to know you better. Go for it!
Interview Tips
- Do some research in advance. Be prepared to ask one or two thoughtful questions that relate to your areas of interest (for example, why not find out about opportunities for independent study or study abroad?). You don’t want to waste your interview time with questions that can be answered easily from websites and viewbooks.
- Dress comfortably. Don’t let your attire distract interviewers from the opportunity to get to know you.
- Arrive early so you can become familiar with campus life. Check out the school newspaper and read activity boards to get a sense of what’s happening on campus so you are reasonably informed when you walk into the interview.
- Take ownership. The interview is about you and your future.
- Relax. Smile. Extend a firm handshake. Maintain good eye contact. Don’t slouch in your seat. You demonstrate your respect for the interviewer by your posture and mannerisms.
- Eliminate the conversational “hiccups” (“like,” “well,” “you know”) and stow the gum!
- Be prepared to talk about your passions. Many interviewers are eager to learn something new. You never know when something you enjoy might lead to a broader conversation.
- Have a resume handy but don’t be surprised if the interviewer puts it aside to focus on having a conversation with you.
- Tell your story. If circumstances beyond your control have adversely influenced your performance, now is the time to bring them to light.
- Make sure you leave with the business card of the person who interviewed you. This person should be regarded as a key resource and you’ll want to make sure you know how to reach him/her with questions in the future.
On another note…I produced a webcast presentation on July 10 for CollegeWeekLive entitled “What You Didn’t Know to Ask About Financial Aid.” You can view this webcast at http://www.collegeweeklive.com. You will need to register to log in to view the archived presentation.
Posted in College Planning | No Comments »
June 26th, 2008
Did you know that barely half of the students who enter college each year will graduate in 4-5 years? That statistic is numbing when you consider the potential costs involved—your time, your parents’ money, and the lost opportunity to you as a wage earner upon graduation. Over the last five postings in this space, I have given you ideas about how to find the college that is best for you—a place that is likely to attract and keep you through graduation. Before we wrap up this discussion, it might make sense, then, to address some of the common pitfalls that lead to unproductive college choices—colleges that do not fit well.
Scenario #1: Love I hate to break it to you but the best college for you is not the place that your love interest attends! Before you and your boyfriend/girlfriend get too far along in planning the rest of your lives together, you need to know that the odds of maintaining the relationship over four years of college are not in your favor. In fact, most high school romances break up before the end of the first year of college. Does it make sense, then, for you to commit to four years at somebody else’s college just so you can be together when there is a very good chance that before the end of the first semester she’ll find some other guy—and you’ll end up being a spectator on her campus. Would you call that a good fit?
Scenario #2: Friends The same logic applies to your friends. While you are ready to graduate from high school, you might not be ready to leave the people with whom you hang out. As a result, the whole gang heads off to college together—in many cases, site unseen. If anybody asks why you chose to attend that college, your response will probably be, “my friends go there.”
Now, how much sense does that make?! One or two of your friends have it figured out. They know the program and have made considered decisions. The rest of you just want to hang out. Now, you are on a campus that is strange to you except for the guys you want to hang with. A good fit?
Scenario #3: Parents The best school for you is not likely to be the place your parents attended or the place they want you to attend! This can become uncomfortable if your parents are already talking about the places you should attend. While you don’t want to disappoint them, you want to find your own college—a place that is the best fit for you. After all, you are different people. What worked for them might not work for you. If you sense a conflict of this nature brewing, you need to find a diplomatic solution to it early in your search. The longer you allow your parent’s expectations of a destination to linger prominently in the picture, the harder it will be to extricate yourself from those expectations later in the process—that is, assuming you truly want to look in different directions.
Scenario #4: Sports The best college for you is not likely to be the place that won the national championship. Everybody likes to be around a winner and there is something to be said for body painting and the crowd frenzy on crisp Saturday afternoons in the fall. Just remember, though, that whatever colors you bleed, you still need to be a student Monday through Friday.
Scenario #5: Prestige Finally, the best college for you is not necessarily the place that will give you the most impressive car sticker! Consider how the events unfold. The “Committee of We” has been involved in an exhaustive college search process. I don’t need to explain that mom and dad are integral to this committee! “When are we going to get started?” “When are we going start visiting schools?” “When are we going to get the applications finished?” “When are we going to hear?” Does this sound familiar?
One day in late March of your senior year, the “thick envelope” from XYZ, a very prestigious college, arrives in your mail slot. A committee member is home (not you because you’re in school) and finds the letter. Unable to find restraint, this committee member rips open the letter to discover the good news and euphoria reigns—“We’re in!!” Before you know it, this unnamed person pulls the XYZ car sticker out of a drawer (where it’s been in safe keeping just in case), puts it on the car and begins to drive slowly through the neighborhood so everyone can see where “we’re going to college!”
This is an exciting time for the entire family because, of course, “we” got in. And good for you—if this is truly the place that you want to attend. Unfortunately, a lot of students and their families get caught up in the rush for “gold.” For them, the process is more about winning the prize then it is finding the best fit. They may have “won” the car sticker and all the bragging rights that go with it, but does the student have the right college? Maybe, maybe not.
Summing it up
You need to remain reflective throughout the process in order to make sure a school, especially a high profile place, is the right one for you. College choices based on emotion are often regretted. They just don’t “fit” you well in the long run. (Would you buy a good-looking pair of shoes even if they were too snug in the toes?) As you move forward, resist the temptation to act impulsively or run with the herd. You must be able to live with your choice for the next four years and it needs to work for you in the years that follow. Invest in learning more about places that might be right for you—not your love interest or your friends or your parents. Now is the time to focus on you and what constitutes a good fit for you—so yours will be a successful four-year college experience.
Posted in College Planning | No Comments »
June 17th, 2008
When the dust settles on your college search, there should be abundant evidence that the college you have chosen is excited that you will be joining its number. You will sense this enthusiasm at every step along the way as you get to know the place and apply for admission. More than just another face in the freshman directory, you are someone who will be valued in that population for the things you do well.
Think about your close, personal relationships. A relationship works because both parties are equally invested in its success. Each side values and respects the other. Problems arise when the degree of investment in the relationship is not shared equally. Despite the determination of one party to make things work, one-sided relationships are often doomed to failure.
The same is true of your pending relationship with a college or university. Your investment in the relationship would seem clear. You know what you want out of your four years and you know what you are prepared to do in order to achieve your goals. On the other hand, what type of investment in you and your goals can you expect from the institution? Where is the evidence that it is prepared to do to help you achieve your goals?
Be discriminating as you look for this evidence. Do you see it when you seek help in finding financial assistance? What is the response when you inquire about opportunities to pursue special independent study projects or to study abroad? Do you find yourself meeting with people who are eager to help you make things happen or are you left to figure these things out on your own. The manner in which a college engages you during the recruitment process often reflects the way it will treat you as an enrolled student. In particular, colleges that value you for what you do well will:
- Give you personal attention throughout the recruitment process.
- Answer your questions about housing, registration and payment plans in a timely manner.
- Provide financial aid to meet your need.
- Recognize your talents with scholarships and/or special academic opportunities (i.e. study abroad, internships, research, etc.).
This last point is especially important as you apply for admission. Why? What better evidence that you have found a good college fit than to be admitted and extended the financial support you need in order to enroll?! The best college fit for you will be a place that seems to be saying, “among all of the really good candidates we are considering, we want you because of what you have to offer and we’re prepared to invest in your success.”
What more could you want?! Interestingly, the question, “Which candidates are valued most in the selection process—and why?” is pervasive throughout the credential review processes at most selective institutions. Remember, such schools don’t have to admit you simply because you are good. If they admit you it is because they chose to do so.
So, what does this mean for you? The secret to your success still rests in your ability to reflect honestly on “who you are” and “what you have to offer”—and to find a good college match for those qualities. Take stock of your gifts, talents and perspectives. What do you have to contribute to a new community and where might such contributions be valued most? Be true to yourself, then, and put yourself in a better position to experience a lasting relationship with an institution that makes sense for you.
Posted in College Planning | No Comments »
June 12th, 2008
Do you ever feel the urge to shout, "I need to get out of here!" And "here" is wherever you are at the moment—home, school, community. As in the situations depicted in the airline commercial, you find that just about anywhere else would be a good place to be. It’s a common teenage affliction. The older you get the more claustrophobic your world becomes—you’re ready for a new look, a change of scenery. Right about now, college seems like an inviting destination.
As eager as you might be to get up and go, though, I suspect there is a quiet voice inside you that says something like, “I’m not sure I want to go. They feed me and let me drive their car. Besides, my friends are right around the corner. I actually have a good life here. Do I really have to leave?”
The answer is “yes.” At some point you will need to find a change of address. So, if that place will be a college, why not find one that feels like home to you—a place that includes people with shared values and interests, a place where people will encourage you on bad days and celebrate with you the good days? Why not find a place you can comfortably embrace?
When you think about it, the best college fit will be a place that offers a community in which you will feel comfortable. It will be a place where you won’t be distracted by worries about how you fit in. You won’t worry about what people think about you—how you talk, what you say, how you dress or what you think. You won’t have to prove yourself to anyone. Instead, you can relax and focus on getting the most out of your college experience and that includes, by the way, your academic work. There is a strong correlation between one’s comfort level in college—and one’s grade point average!
So, how do you find such a place? It’s hard to search the Internet for such a fit. Chat room conversations can be deceptive, as they tend to reflect only the opinions of those who participate. And the images you are shown on videos and in viewbooks are rarely unattractive.
As a result, you will need to do some original research. Specifically, you need to experience college campuses and, in the process, be sensitive to your “gut” reactions. Quite often when students believe they’ve found the college of their dreams, they’re hard-pressed to explain the attraction, except to say, “It’s a gut feeling. It feels right—like I would be at home.” As you think about living apart from the comforts of home, finding your niche is vitally important so let your gut go to work for you.
What gut feeling do you hope to find as you look at colleges? Look for students who come from similar backgrounds—who share your interests and your loyalties. While they shouldn’t be exact clones of you, it’s a good sign if they are people from whom you can learn and around whom you can grow personally. In all likelihood, your gut will tell you when you have found people you’d like to get to know better.
Moreover, what does your gut tell you about a college’s inclination to stretch and support you through various aspects of your college experience? Do you sense that there are people in a given environment who will encourage and support you in your journey of self-discovery? Based on your experience on college campuses, where do you see evidence that interaction with others will help broaden your perspective—get you to take risks and think outside of the box periodically? What does your gut tell you about how an environment will respond if you struggle? Will anyone know? Will anyone care?
The answers to these questions will help define the ideal college community for you. At a time in your life when you may be aching to get away and have a different experience, it’s vital that you “land” well when you get to college. Be careful not to react impulsively, then, as you consider your college “home away from home.” Be sure to test your reactions. Until you can experience such a place first hand and come away with a really strong, positive “gut feeling,” that feeling only exists in your imagination. Be prepared to visit campuses—and revisit and revise your list—as your college search continues until one day you know—it feels like home!
Posted in College Planning | No Comments »
June 5th, 2008
How comfortable are you around water? Are you a strong swimmer or do you struggle to keep your head above water? Are you comfortable venturing into the deeper water or do you prefer to wade into shallow water as long as the bottom is visible and the footing is certain? Most people expose themselves to water and swimming situations according to their respective levels of skill and comfort—no more, no less.
The same might be true as you assess your comfort level with different academic environments in search of a good college “fit.” Just as you might study a body of water to figure out its temperature, depth and current (relative to your levels of tolerance) before venturing in, you need to investigate the rigor and pace of an academic environment—and your ability to keep your “head above water” if admitted—before deciding to apply.
The question of academic rigor as a measure of “fit” can be broken into two parts: 1) What is your capacity to do the work in a given academic environment? Do you possess the level of ability and preparation to get the job done? and 2) How competitive is your academic track record with those of other candidates in the applicant pools at the colleges to which you want to apply?
If you are like most students, you have the basic aptitude or capacity to perform in a range of college environments. Given the opportunity, you can perform with at least minimal success at most of the schools you are considering. The big question is, then, are you equipped to meet the challenges at higher levels of rigor? Do you possess both the aptitude and the preparation (through successful exposure to a regimen of demanding courses in high school) to achieve well in the more rigorous college environments?
Conversely, if you are immensely talented and accustomed to achieving at a very high level, will you continue to test yourself or will you choose environments that do not provide much of a challenge. While the latter might be appealing at first, be prepared for frustration if you choose to enroll. You might enjoy the easy pace for a while, but like strong swimmers hanging out in a wading pool, you will quickly become bored.
Your objective, then, should be to find academic environments where your levels of ability and preparation will enable you to achieve well as you stretch yourself intellectually. These places represent appropriate “bodies of water” for you academically. The best sources of insight regarding your preparedness to meet the academic rigor of various colleges and universities are your high school teachers. Their familiarity with your capabilities can be invaluable in identifying the colleges where you will be well served academically.
Assuming you are able to identify appropriate environments academically, you now need to assess the competitiveness of your credentials for admission to those colleges. How does your record stack up with those of other candidates, most (about 90%) of whom are just like you in that they can do the work, too?
A helpful guide in this regard is to compare your credentials with those of students who are already enrolled at the college you are considering. You can do this by looking at the Admission Profile for that school’s most recent entering class. If your scores and GPA fall within the top quartile of those reported on the school’s Profile, it’s a safe bet you will be a competitive candidate for admission to that school. While not a guarantee of admission, it is reassurance that you are looking in the right place. Your chances diminish incrementally, though, as your credentials fall below the top quartile.
You need to be honest in assessing this part of the picture especially if you are considering schools that can be highly selective. A lot of students get in over their heads competitively when they fail to consider the odds of gaining admission. While you might feel you are a viable candidate at schools that can be choosy, the reality is you are probably a statistical long shot to be admitted. Those schools don’t have to take you—and probably won’t—just because you are “good enough.” By the way, you don’t increase your chances of getting into at least one such school by applying to a dozen of them!
Be smart about choosing where to apply. A key to success in any competition is making sure you are competing at the right level. You know this from your own life experiences. Whether you compete in the pool or on the stage or in the classroom, you have the best chance of finding success when your skills are competitive with those around you. Simply having knowledge of the fundamentals and a passion for the event will not advance you very far in the competition. Put yourself into competition where you fit best and see what happens.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Chris Penn of FinancialAidPodcast.com recently interviewed me about finding the best college fit. The interview was posted on June 4. To listen to the interview, go to:
http://www.financialaidpodcast.com/2008/06/04/fap811-winning-the-college-admission-game
Posted in College Planning | 1 Comment »
May 29th, 2008
Myth: All colleges and universities are alike.
Reality: This country boasts a rich array of more than 3,000 colleges and universities dedicated to providing post-secondary educational opportunities. Their personalities, curricula and institutional cultures vary, though, as greatly as 3,000 sets of fingerprints! While they teach essentially the same stuff, they do it very differently.
Think about what this means for you. While your educational needs can be met in many places, you can’t assume they will be met in the same manner—or, more importantly, in a manner that is well suited to your learning style. If you and your family are going to invest in a four-year college education, it only makes sense that you put yourself in situation that is most likely to support a successful learning experience.
Finding a good college fit begins with identifying places that provide not only the program you need, but also a style of instruction that is most comfortable for you. Just as students possess unique learning styles—they each process information differently—colleges offer different styles of instruction. For example, let’s suppose you want to study Biology. Some colleges will teach Biology in seminars that include 25-30 students while others teach it in lecture halls of five hundred! Yet others will attach labs to the instruction or offer research opportunities. In each case, the material is the basically same—bio is bio—but the experience is different. How would you function in these different environments? What sort of interaction do you want to have with the information that is being presented?
The objective, then, is to find a style of instruction that compliments the way you like to learn. As you begin looking for a good college “fit,” take stock of your learning style. How do you like to be engaged with learning? Who or what inspires you? Under what circumstances are you most likely to produce your best work? The more you know about how you like to learn, the easier it will be to make critical distinctions among the learning environments of different colleges.
Consider the following questions as you try to get your arms around your learning style. Be particularly attentive to the “why” part of each question.
- Who is your favorite teacher—and why?
- What is your favorite class right now—and why?
- In which type of classroom setting, i.e., large group lectures, seminars, etc., are you most comfortable—and why?
- With what kinds of people and personalities do you enjoy exchanging ideas—and why?
As you reflect on your answers—especially the “whys”—you come to better understand the characteristics of a learning environment that would be the most appropriate for you in college. The next step is to look for colleges that mirror these characteristics. They will be the best fits for you.
If, for example, your approach to learning is to take good notes, read diligently and prepare carefully—all in the relative anonymity of the large lecture hall, then you are more likely to function comfortably in a larger, more expansive instructional setting. On the other hand, if you like the engagement of a small classroom where you can ask questions—where you can challenge and be challenged—then the seminar format will be more productive for you.
Now, let’s take a quick look at what can happen if you are not attentive to the information you are gleaning about your learning style. If you do prefer the large lecture hall experience—but you’ve chosen a college where most of your classes put you front and center around the seminar table, won’t you fell like the proverbial “fish out of water?” On the other hand, if really like the engagement of the small classroom but find yourself in a setting that features lectures of 300 or more students—all the time—will that learning environment bring out the best in you? In the final analysis, you are more likely to get the most out of your ability when you find yourself in an environment that is well suited to the way you learn.
I asked these questions of my daughter as she was looking at colleges. After some reflection, she concluded that, “choosing a college is one of the most important decisions I will make in my life. In order to make a good choice, I need to know myself a little better.” Take the time to get to know yourself—and how you enjoy learning—in order to make good choices that reflect your interests and needs. Doing so will put you in a better position to find and get into colleges that fit you well.
Posted in College Planning | No Comments »
May 23rd, 2008
In my last posting, I talked about the importance of staying “student-centered” as you begin your college selection process. Focus on what is most important to you as think about where and how you will spend your years in college. Students who are truly reflective as they enter the process are more inclined to make decisions based on a set of core priorities that guide them in the discovery of colleges that fit them best.
In this first installment of “the good fit” series, I would like to discuss the importance of finding an academic program that meets your needs. Students often enter the college search process with specific academic programs or career interests in mind. And why not? If you know what you want to study in college, it makes sense to target places that will accommodate your interests and support your strengths. For example, if you want to pursue chemical engineering, focus on schools that offer it. The same is true whether your interests lie in business, elementary education, or graphic design.
Follow your passion. If your passion happens to be film studies but a college you are considering doesn’t offer a very substantive program in that area, then you need to recognize early that it is not a good fit. Look into colleges that offer strong programs that meet your needs.
Be careful not to let emotional interests override your academic priorities. Embracing a college or university simply on the merit of its overall ranking or reputation, or because it has a great athletic program or is in a location you like, on the assumption you’ll be able to figure out the academic piece later, is not wise. When you do that, you become “destination-centered” and set yourself up for frustration down the line. Think about it. How often do you hear about students transferring because the colleges they have chosen don’t offer the programs they want to study?
If, on the other hand, you are still searching for that passion and you don’t feel drawn to a particular career interest or academic direction, don’t worry. You’re normal. It’s difficult to know at any age what you’ll do for the rest of your life, so relax. You’ve got a lot of time to figure it out. And here is the good news: hundreds of institutions across the country–liberal arts colleges as well as universities with robust general studies programs–are eager to embrace the undecided student. If you are not sure about your future directions, look for places that will allow, if not encourage, you to explore. Whatever you do, don’t succumb to the notion that there is something wrong if your future plans are not laid out in great detail. You’ll be fine–you just need to plan accordingly to give yourself options.
Whenever I present to groups of students and parents, I like to ask the parents the following question: “How many of you are now doing in your careers what you knew you would do when you were 17 years old?” When I asked this of my audience last night only six of nearly 100 parents present indicated that was true for them. Interestingly, that response is pretty typical of most parent groups around the country. Despite their many achievements in life, most of them have arrived at their current positions by pathways they couldn’t have imagined when they were your age. You, too, need to be flexible in finding and following your path. A good college fit is one that will encourage you in this direction.
For more insight into dealing with indecision, check out my January 28, 2008 blog, “Seize the Opportunity in Indecision.” (http://www.TheAdmissionGame.com/blog/archives/46)
In summary, go into the college selection process with your eyes wide open! Be true to your passions. Be careful about adding schools to your list that don’t offer academic flexibility if indeed what you need is the opportunity to explore. If you are undecided about your future academic directions yet find yourself looking at an application for admission that requires you to declare a major as you apply for admission, you are looking at an institution that is not a good fit for you. Don’t abandon your academic needs in favor of factors that will have little or no impact on your learning experience.
Did You Know?
- You will probably change your major in college? Most college students do at least once.
- Most students enter college “undeclared” with regard to a major?
- The odds are that you will change jobs at least four times and change careers twice?
- Many colleges report that 80-90% of the people who graduated more than 25 years ago are now in careers that did not exist when they graduated?
For help in finding colleges and universities that fit well given your academic interests, check out the following websites:
http://www.petersons.com/ugchannel/code/searches/srchCrit1.asp
http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/adv_typeofschool.jsp
http://www.collegeview.com/collegesearch/index.jsp
Posted in College Planning | No Comments »
