SPECIAL PROGRAMS: Investigate what kind of special programs the colleges may offer. For example, some colleges offer co-op programs in which students are able to spend a semester gaining hands-on work experience with a company while earning credits. Most schools have study-abroad programs that allow some students to study internationally, but they vary in their size and scope. Special programs like these may appeal to you and may be just what you need to get motivated.
POSSIBLE AND POPULAR MAJORS: As you look through colleges listed in this book, take special note of the majors listed with each one. These are the most popular majors associated with the particular school. Why is it important to choose a college that features your major? It is just like going shopping. If you really want a pair of boot-cut jeans, you aren’t going to go to a shoe store. You want to go where the clerks know what you are talking about and can lead you directly to many choices that fit your needs, right? It’s the same thing with a college. If you want to be in computer tech, a college that specializes in art may not be the best choice. You want the school that is familiar with your major and can offer a strong faculty and curriculum in your choice.
You also want to check with a college rep for a school that interests you and ask if you can have a double major at that college (and not just CAN YOU, but will you get the support and guidance you need if you choose to) or can you create your own major. The more options you have, the better the chance of having a college education tailored to your unique needs and the stronger the possibility of overall success.
What if you are undecided about your major when you start your college search? Relax—you are far from being the only one. Make a list of the most likely areas you’d like to explore and then look to see which colleges offer them. It is a first step and that’s where every journey begins.
Where to Find Out More about Colleges
College fairs. Dozens or even hundreds of college representatives will come to your town for college fairs. This is your opportunity to ask questions and get a personal perspective from those associated with these colleges without leaving the city limits. Get a list of upcoming college fairs from your counselor or at http://www.nacacnet.org/EventsTraining/CollegeFairs/.
College representatives at your school. Be sure to meet representatives from colleges when they come to your school! You may be tempted to spend the time doing something else, but these events are designed to give you an opportunity to learn a lot about various colleges. You may also be meeting people who will eventually review your application, should you decide to submit one to any of the schools involved. If you make a good impression, your chances of admission may improve.
College catalogs/view books. These may vary from a simple, colorful tri-fold pamphlet to a 40-page catalog, complete with DVD and/or CD, business cards with contact names, testimonials from students and dozens of photographs. Read them through carefully because they can answer many of your questions.
College websites. Whether you look online at home, in the library or at school, take the time to look over the websites of some of the colleges you are interested in. They almost always have an FYI/FAQ section that will provide answers to basic questions. You also get a chance to see what the campus looks like, what some students have to say about the place (all glowing, of course!) and much more.
College alumni. For great suggestions and insight into a college, see if you can get in touch with someone who actually attended it. It might be your cousin, your father’s co-worker, someone your guidance counselor suggested or a person the college itself refers to you. Make a list of questions for that person ahead of time so you are sure to cover what you most want to know. If the person graduated more than a few years ago, some information might not be as current as you need, but you can still learn some important facts.
My biggest piece of advice is that there IS a school for everyone and you WILL be accepted. Remember, you have power over your own life. Get connected with knowledgeable people, invest in books like this one and in the Fiske’s Guide and Princeton Review’s 361 Best Colleges. Check out U.S. News & World Report’s “A+ Schools for B Students.”
In your junior year, start making plans. Use the summer before your senior year the best way you can. Look for opportunities that open doors and windows for you—think big. If you can’t find something, start your own. My son and his friends started a driveway sealing business and did great. Paint, mow lawns—show initiative. It will be a great topic for the essay you should be working on before summer ends.
When school starts again, take the most challenging curriculum you are capable of handling. If your school is small and does not offer the more advanced courses, look elsewhere: go online, take distance learning classes or check out the community college.
— Shirley Bloomquist, MA, College and Educational Counselor
College visits and tours. While this topic will be discussed in greater depth later in this book, it is important to say at this point that college visits must be given the value that they deserve. Nothing makes a place come alive as much as visiting it. You can read about a university in every possible source, but you can’t really know it until you visit it. That’s when you can personally taste the cafeteria creations, hear the conversations in the student union and see the layout of the dorms in some of the residence halls. Go on a tour with your class, counselor, friends or family. The information you will gather is immeasurable.
College online virtual tours. While going to a college in person is the best option, it is not always possible for a variety of reasons. In that case, be sure to at least go to a college’s website and check out its virtual tour. You can get a better idea of whether this is the kind of place that calls to you — or not.
Guidance counselors. These wonderful people can give you a lot of helpful information about individual colleges. They may have printed material, website suggestions, contact names and more. Just ask!
The school or local community library. While this book is a great source for finding out about schools that welcome B and C students, there are tons more books out there that list college options. Check them out and look up the schools in which you are most interested. You’ll find out useful information that can help you in your decision making. Spend some time just browsing through these books. You may encounter some colleges that you have not heard of before but that are intriguing possibilities.
Current college students. Are there any students in your neighborhood or community already going to a college that interests you? Ask if you can meet for a snack and a chat and have all those questions you haven’t been able to ask anyone else ready. Currently enrolled students are the real “been-there-done-that” experts. They will tell you the real truth about college life, not just what the writers of the college’s marketing materials want you to know. If you can’t find a college student in your area, go to the college and dialog with the students there. Can’t get to the campus? Give the place a call and ask the admissions officer to connect you with some students.
Decoding college lingo 101. When you are reading college literature (and believe me, you will get a TON of it), look for key words that will tell you more about how they evaluate applications. For example, they may say that they do a “comprehensive” review of a student’s application. Typically, this means they will look beyond the numbers to things like background, extracurricular activities, essays, interviews, recommendations and more. Check online to see if the colleges you are interested in list information about their admissions process online; it might give you some great insight into how they make their decisions.
Right from admissions itself. Skip the middle men and the media and go straight to the college’s admissions office. Call and ask to speak with an admissions officer. Be honest. Explain your situation and ask what your chances of admission are or what you might be able to do to improve those chances.