| When you venture into college admissions, you hear | | | | ____ I would like to be near my family. |
| a lot about "fit" and "match". Lots of times, | | | | ____ I have a particular state/region that I am |
| counselors will say -- "don't look at the brand name, | | | | interested in: ________________ |
| look for your right match." (We agree with that, by | | | | ____ I need to have a Nordstrom or equivalent |
| the way.) You will also hear college admissions | | | | department store within a 25 mile radius. (just |
| staffers talk about "fit" and "match" as well -- as in | | | | checking to see if you are paying attention, but if it's |
| "we are looking for students who are a right fit in | | | | true, check it.) |
| our community." All this talk can sound like | | | | 3. ACADEMICS: |
| mumbo-jumbo, and the concept of "fit" can get lost | | | | ____ I want to go where students learn for |
| in the whole hurricane of college admissions marketing | | | | learning's sake. I'm so sick of high school grade |
| efforts. But you know what? It's really one of the | | | | grubbing. |
| most important factors when selecting a college. | | | | ____ I want to go where students are excited |
| Here's a brief questionnaire to help encourage high | | | | about discussing new ideas – I want some real |
| school students to begin the process of thinking | | | | intellectual discourse! |
| about college. This is designed to be a (gentle) | | | | ____ I want to go where students know how to |
| starting point in the college search process. Here's | | | | have fun in college while they are young! |
| how it works: grab a kid and ask her to fill out this | | | | ____ I want to go where students play hard and |
| questionnaire. She might roll her eyes and look at | | | | work hard. |
| you with disgust. Give her some chocolate and a | | | | ____ I like being around students who can challenge |
| pen. If she fills out 50% of it -- you can consider | | | | me to do my best. |
| that a success. If it gets her thinking about her | | | | ____ I like being one of the smartest in my class. |
| future, her learning style, and/or her college | | | | ____ I want to get a scholarship based on my |
| aspirations for longer than 20 seconds after she sulks | | | | academic record. |
| away to her room, that earns you an A+. Low | | | | 4. STUDENT BODY CHARACTERISTICS: |
| standards, you say? Yeah. What can we say? | | | | ____ I want to go to a school with an ethnically |
| Grade inflation runs rampant. Remember -- it's just a | | | | diverse student body. |
| low stress exercise to get the ball rolling and the | | | | ____ I am interested in joining a sorority/fraternity. |
| conversation started. As you will see, we (tragically) | | | | ____ I want to go to a school with a religious |
| used a tried and true metaphor for college fit....we | | | | affiliation. |
| (wince) liken it to finding the right pair of | | | | ____ I want to go to a historically black college |
| jeans...(groan). Sometimes you have to reach into | | | | university. |
| your bag of cliches to get your point across. Hope | | | | ____ I am looking for a college with many socially |
| this is useful to you and your bottom line... (sorry -- | | | | conservative students. |
| that one was bad.) | | | | ____ I want to go to a school with students who |
| DESIGNER SKINNY | | | | are career-minded. |
| JEANS OR WRANGLERS?: Choosing a College | | | | ____ I want to go to a college where no one from |
| What's the difference between a $200 pair of jeans | | | | home knows me so I can reinvent myself. |
| and a pair of $40 Levi's? Are you wearing the jeans | | | | ____ I want to go to a school where there are |
| or are the jeans wearing you? Think about the | | | | undergraduate research opportunities. |
| differences and whether the differences really | | | | ____ I want to go to a school that offers its |
| matter to you. There's nothing wrong with $200 | | | | students internships with potential employers. |
| jeans or $40 jeans per se. The question is which pair | | | | ____ I want to go to a school with many |
| of jeans makes you look and feel your best! Keep | | | | established study abroad programs. |
| that in mind while you think about colleges. | | | | 5. FINANCIAL AID: |
| Sometimes even name brand jeans will give you the | | | | ____ I have talked to my parents about finances |
| dreaded muffin top, and name brands don't always | | | | for college. |
| guarantee quality. The little known brand with a | | | | ____ Cost is one of the main factors in choosing a |
| discreet label on the inside might just be the pair | | | | college. |
| you've been looking for! | | | | ____ Cost is not a factor at all. |
| Like the search for the perfect pair of jeans, finding | | | | ____ My parents cannot help me with college |
| the right college for you requires a lot of fittings and | | | | expenses. |
| knowing your measurements, your likes and dislikes. | | | | ____ I don't have a clue. I haven't talked to my |
| What's right for you may not be right for your | | | | parents about this yet. |
| friends or classmates or siblings. What's right for you | | | | 6. THINGS I'M WORRIED ABOUT |
| may even surprise you! So try out many schools for | | | | ____ Cost. I don't want to bankrupt my parents! |
| size, fit and match during your search – even the | | | | ____ My parents went to great colleges, and I'm |
| ones that you never considered before. | | | | worried that I won't be able to get in anywhere like |
| Ready? Please check all statements that apply to | | | | that, and I will disappoint them. |
| you. | | | | ____ My parents did not go to college, and they do |
| 1. SIZE: | | | | not see the point. I wish I could get some more |
| ____ I enjoy being able to choose from many | | | | support at home. |
| different activities and clubs. | | | | ____ I will have problems academically in college. |
| ____ I like having leadership positions. | | | | ____ I will have problems socially in college. |
| ____ I like speaking with my teachers often. | | | | ____ I have a learning disability. |
| ____ I like participating in class discussions. | | | | ____ I have health concerns. |
| ____ I like standing out in the crowd. | | | | ____ I won't be able to get in anywhere. |
| ____ I like being able to do my own thing. | | | | ____ I want to go to school with my boy/girl friend. |
| ____ I like being anonymous in my classes. | | | | ____ I don't think that I'm ready for college or that |
| 2. LOCATION: | | | | I even want to go. |
| ____ The setting and/or climate doesn't matter to | | | | ____ I want to go to a brand name school, and I'm |
| me. | | | | sick and tired of those Admissions Mavens telling me |
| ____ I would like to be near the ocean. | | | | not to be seduced by names. |
| ____ I would like to be near the mountains. | | | | ____ Other: |
| ____ I would like to be in the city. | | | | ______________ |
| ____ I would like to be near the city. | | | | 7. |
| ____ I would like to be in a rural setting. | | | | |