…rather it should be about creating an awesome college experience that will help propel you into the life you want to live. So ditch the rankings and the need to find a college that everyone has heard of. Instead, find the colleges who will fit you academically, socially and financially.
While high school seniors are celebrating their acceptances, it’s time for the juniors to step up to the plate. Its college list time and that means it’s time to really start getting into what makes a college interesting to you. It’s all well and good to like a college because you’ve been a fan of their basketball team or because one or more of your parents graduated from there, but it’s another to thing to understand just what makes a college a good option for you.
Here’s a few things to pay attention to as you work on building a great college list:
1. Don’t get hung up on location
Not until you’ve really investigated a college, at least. If you’re willing to be open-minded, sometimes a great school might be just around the corner from what you think is your comfort zone.
2. Be realistic
Especially when it comes to gauging your chances of admission. When you see ranges of test scores for colleges and your scores fall in the lower 25th percentile of who gets admitted, your chances really aren’t that great, even you really, really hope they will be.
3. Merit money goes to the top students
Don’t think a college is going to give you a merit scholarship just because you’ve worked hard. Often, your GPA and test scores BOTH need to be in the top 25th percentile of who gets admitted for you to be considered for merit.
4. Find your WHY
Why you like a college is important. And it will never be more important than when you have to explain your reasons in an interview or supplemental essay.
5. Majors are not created equal
If you’re looking for a major in advertising, you will find it at some schools. You will also find it as a concentration under a communications major at other schools. Don’t be so quick to discard a school just because you don’t find something listed exactly how you hoped you would.
The bottom line? You have to research and turn over all the rocks to make sure you find what you’re looking for. You have nothing but time right now so put it to good use developing your college list. When you visit college campuses this spring, you will have a more informed idea of who they are and what you need to find out before you submit your applications this fall.
There’s a lot to like about that.
If you want some help and guidance on your college application and financial aid process, check out what other families are saying about Dobler College Consulting and then contact me today to set up an appointment for a free consultation.
You can also come out to one of my FREE college planning workshops this spring. So far, dates in March and April have been announced with additional ones for May being planned.
…Most students apply to the same schools as their classmates. There are over 3,000 colleges and universities in the US – find the ones that are great for you.
If you’re happy with your scores, good for you! If not, you still have several opportunities to test again before early applications go out in November. If you’re self-motivated, start taking some practice tests, score them and then go back and figure out what you got wrong. If you need a little more guidance and support (aka a kick in the pants) hook up with a good test prep tutor.
You could end up hating a school for the very same reason that someone else loves it. Be your own thinker and know what matters the most to you.
