"Water, water every where

Nor any drop to drink"

"Culturally, we place so much emphasis on how to get into colleges that we do little to prepare students to choose from among the schools that admit them. What makes criteria for choosing a college good or bad? Should you trust your gut feelings? And what if you don't have strong feelings?"

--From the article, I'm Not in Love. Courtesy of AdmissionsWise Consulting 2013  

So, today's article is how to decide where to attend when offers are abounding. The five top factors are location, costs, reputation, region, size. Developing a five-star system can alleviate some of the stress and narrow one's selection.

Just like Angie's List, there are multiple inside scoops on the inner machinations of any college or university. These secondary sources are often sour grapes experiences, but if one reads enough of them, it becomes apparent that some credibility can be assigned to their meanderings.

One of the basic tenets of decision time is the overwhelming sticker shock of what the actual costs are and then sizing up the opportunity costs: e.g., do I not incur significant debt so that I may parlay financial viability for graduate school? Another significant tipping point is the location and flight costs to and from Tucson. It ain't cheap flying in and out of Denver!

I would suggest that the initial overtures of commitment include a deep analysis of how these universities facilitate the administrative aspects of your enrollment. In other words, how have they treated you up front? Is that orientation or summer bridge program going to include a vine-swing to an advisor who will be with you through the transitions?

You need that. You don't know it yet but you need a tried-and-true contact who has your back. That person will help cobble together a schedule, will ask you the correct questions about AP exam scores, will be available to negotiate a few telephone calls to Res. Life or Financial Aid when you get in a pinch. Have you met that person yet? Have you sought out how exactly academic advising looks at your schools? Usually this aspect is departmental and not general but you will not want to be a lost sheep among 2,000 other first-year students seeking out one simple answer.

Remember, if you blow through critical way stations in college, they have overly punitive responses, frequently financial but sometimes entailing an extra year in college for even a small gaff. For example, if your academic department is on a cohort system and you neglect to register for a class that comes along once in a blue moon, now you are scrambling. You will need that advisor to ensure compliance, before the proverbial mud hits the fan.

Pima Community College is hosting their grand High School New Student Orientation on Friday, April 26th from 1-3pm at the lovely Northwest Campus. Students will enjoy the benefit of a brief presentation, followed by a student panel ("Wish I knew then What I know now!) and Q&A. Then they'll have CHOICES: campus tours (small group or self-led/scavenger hunt style), prescribed adventure tours through our activities (color-coded paths for students who are SURE about University transferring, UNsure about their program major/options, or concerned about paying for school), choosing their own individual path through the activities/info booths listed below, and/or REGISTRATION! They'll have fun goodies for give-aways and incentives (inflatable water bottles, Frisbees, carabiners with compasses, thumb drives, etc)! They hope to see all incoming PCC students there! Questions? Contact 206-2200 or StudentLifeNWC@pima.edu.