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Several students say that they couldn't really imagine themselves at a school until they were accepted. Once they knew that they had a real option of going to a school they were able to decide if that was where they wanted to be for the next four years. Use spring break to visit schools to which you've been accepted and if possible go to the admitted student days.
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You are in the driver's seat, so use this opportunity to look at schools with much more precision and focus. Your needs should be very clear by now and you will know what lingering questions still need to be answered. If possible, focus again on the key areas specific to your needs.
Academics: Sit in on a class, speak with a student or professor in your intended major to get a feel for what you want. Review a course catalog and see if there are classes that excite you.
Student Life: See if you can do an overnight. Go to a party or event. Do you feel comfortable with the kids? Sit in the cafeteria or student center and observe the interactions.
Campus: Pretend you are a student and take the transportation available. Walk to town. Drive to the nearest city. Figure out where the stores that you will be shopping at are located. Visit the the student center, the gym, the dorms, and any other common areas.
Athletics: How easy will it be for you to participate in sports at the level you desire? If possible, can you attend a game? How much school spirit is there? Does it match your criteria?
Financial: How much does it cost for tuition, room and board? Is the cost within your budget? The numbers are real now. Did you get any merit or financial aid? Take this opportunity to visit the Financial Aid office and speak with a financial aid counselor to see if you can make it work.
Learning/Mental Health Support: If you need learning support or counseling, make sure to visit the LD office and Counseling office to see how comfortable you feel there.
After your visit, write down how the school made you feel and start to eliminate the possibilities. Create a Yes and No pile so you can narrow your choices.
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Juniors: Imagine the Possibilites
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This is the time to explore schools that match your needs and also to adjust your criteria as you gather more information. You should target schools that seem like they would be a good fit and focus on the following areas.
Academics: How are the majority of classes taught? Are they lectures or class discussions? How intense is the work load? Is there a core curriculum that all students are required to take? How difficult is it to meet these required classes? Does the college have a strong program in your intended field of study? How much time do students spend studying?
Student life: What are the students like? Do they seem like people you would be friends with? What do the students do for fun? Are they more
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artsy or athletic? More studious or more interested in partying? Are there fraternities and sororities? How much do they dominate the social scene? What percentage of kids stays on campus over the weekend? What percentages of kids participate in sports? Theater? The Newspaper? You fill in the blank for your passion.
Campus: How does the campus make you feel? Can you see yourself here for the next four years? What are the dorms like? How easy is it to get to town or a nearby city? What amenities does the campus offer kids in terms of a gym, theaters, transportation to town or local attractions? What is nearby and are they things you enjoy doing? General learning environment: What is the general feel of the campus in terms of learning and community? Are professors accessible? How so? What is the political climate, and are all the views accepted or does the campus lean more towards conservative or liberal views? Is the curriculum more focused on liberal arts, hands-on learning, pre-professional programs, etc.? How does this type of learning style match your own? Financial: How much does it cost for tuition, room and board? What percentage of students receives aid? Is it needs based or merit based aid? Are there merit based scholarships available? How many students receive them and do you think you would qualify? After your visit write down your overall impression of the school in about 2-3 sentences and determine if you want to keep it on your list. Also, make sure you sign in with admissions, so that they can note that you have visited the school. |
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Freshmen / Sophomores:
Understanding your Options
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The first stage is to help you determine which type of school is best for you in terms of size, location and curriculum. We recommend you visit 2-3 schools that are close to where you live including one large state school and one smaller liberal arts college. If you are on vacation, visit a school informally to get a sense of schools in a different area. At this stage you are just trying to understand what is out there so you have some idea when you have to determine your needs.
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Seniors: We are keeping our fingers crossed for those of you waiting to hear back from regular decision schools.
Juniors: Hang in there. You are more than halfway through junior year.
Sophomores and Freshmen:
If we haven't already, let's meet to plan your courses and activities for the summer and next year.
We are eager to hear about all of your visits.
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Sincerely,
Lisa and Beth
College Bound Mentor, LLC
Lisa@collegeboundmentor.com
908-789-8566
www.collegeboundmentor.com
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