| to college is one of the biggest investments a family | | | | 5. What kinds of activities have you participated in at |
| will make. Yet, too often not enough time or | | | | your high school or in your community and are these |
| research goes into the college search. Students | | | | things you wish to pursue in college? Do you want to |
| should use the college search experience as an | | | | be a student athlete or would you just as soon |
| opportunity to get to know themselves better and | | | | participate in intramural sports? What kind of school |
| discover what is important to them and where they | | | | would give you a chance to gain leadership skills |
| would like to spend four important years of their | | | | which can be invaluable to your future? |
| lives. | | | | 6. Is there any particular course of study that |
| Too often, well intentioned adults ask a junior or | | | | interests you or are you undecided as to what you |
| senior in high school,” Where are you going to | | | | would like to do? Most students have no idea what |
| college?” Rarely, does anyone ask, | | | | they want to pursue and many change their minds |
| “Why are you going to college?” | | | | after they start college. Do you feel the liberal arts |
| Perhaps, if students asked this question more often | | | | would provide a good educational background or are |
| of themselves, they would have more focus as they | | | | you thinking more of a pre-professional course of |
| begin their college search. | | | | study? |
| Here are some things to consider before beginning a | | | | 7. Will you need financial aid and scholarships? Even if |
| successful college search: | | | | you do, do not rule out more expensive private |
| 1. First, decide whether you would like to go to | | | | schools in your college search because sometimes |
| college in-state or out-of-state,closer to home or are | | | | they actually cost less than public schools. Again, |
| you ready to experience something new? | | | | don’t limit your college search until you have |
| Don’t limit your college choices when you first | | | | the answers and the reasons to decide that a |
| begin. You can always narrow your schools down | | | | particular school may not be right for you. |
| later in the process after you have had plenty of | | | | Utilize all of the resources available to you in your |
| time to research all of them. | | | | college search. This should include your parents, |
| 2. Next, decide whether a small or larger school is | | | | teachers, high school counselor, the internet, and |
| better for your learning style. Are small classes where | | | | books that objectively describe many colleges. |
| discussion is involved appealing to you or would a | | | | College websites can also be helpful. No one resource |
| professor lecturing a group of 350 students suit you | | | | has all the answers. |
| better? Do you like knowing your teachers personally | | | | Many families are turning to an educational consultant |
| or do you prefer being anonymous? | | | | who has the expertise and time to provide individual |
| 3. Do you like the outdoors and enjoy a more rural | | | | attention and assist you in your college search. They |
| setting or would you enjoy being in a city and taking | | | | have visited many colleges and universities and know |
| advantage of its many attractions? Is the weather a | | | | what makes each one unique. They also understand |
| factor and do you need a change of seasons to be | | | | the college admission process and why it is so |
| content? | | | | important to help you find schools that are the right |
| 4. Do you have learning disabilities and need to make | | | | fit. To find qualified educational consultants in your |
| sure that colleges are able to offer the support | | | | state, go to |
| services that will help you be successful? Or perhaps | | | | College searches on the internet can only provide |
| you are looking for a good honors program. These | | | | limited information. You need to take the time and do |
| are things that require time and research to get the | | | | the research to find schools that that are the right |
| right answers and make sure the program is a good | | | | match for you. |
| fit for you. | | | | |