By Sara Cronin - Senior Admissions Consultant
Former Providence and University of Connecticut
Admissions
Second semester junior year is an excellent time to begin to
think about, investigate and plan for the college search process. Many juniors
have received their PSAT score reports and with that comes the discussion about
what lies ahead following graduation from high school. Many students wonder,
where do I begin and how do I know what to look for? Below is a guide to help
you begin this exciting and sometimes challenging journey.
I. Know
yourself
Think about what it is you like to do, study, read, discuss, and
contemplate. Conversely, it is also important to consider what you don't like
to study or if there are particular subjects in school that do not hold your
interest. It is your interests, abilities, values, goals and ambitions that
will help drive your college search in a particular direction. As you begin to
contemplate potential areas of study it is often difficult to consider all the
possible options. An interest inventory, career inventory or personality
assessment can be good tools to help you get a handle on your strengths and
weaknesses. Road To College offers a great way to begin this exploration via
our High School Planning or Admission Revue- you can find them here:
https://www.roadtocollege.com/Shop/AllProducts
II. Begin
the process early and keep an open mind
School break during February and March is an excellent time to
begin the search in person; however, there is a great deal to be seen via the
internet. Set time aside to do some surfing on the web. Colleges have their own
individual websites and there are many college exploration sites as well. If
your family is traveling during school vacation try to make a point to visit
colleges that may be on your travel route. Begin to consider what may play a
factor in your decision: size, distance from home, location, public vs.
private, and school philosophy. Just as important when thinking about these
factors is to keep an open mind. There are over 3,000 undergraduate colleges
and universities across the country and many of these schools can provide the
right fit for your college needs. A few great school websites to explore:
UVA provides an interactive and interesting site: http://admission.virginia.edu/
GWU offers the opportunity to closely navigate what it is like
to be in the city: https://undergraduate.admissions.gwu.edu/
The University of Chicago offers an website that is easy to
navigate: http://www.uchicago.edu/admissions/
Brown University shares many great images to view: https://www.brown.edu/admission/undergraduate/
III. Do
your research
Attend college fairs, presentations and panels. Talk to people
such as guidance counselors, college students on break, parents, and friends.
Once you have taken the PSAT and as you proceed to take the SAT or ACT,
colleges will begin to send you various pieces of information. Read the
literature and collect information that is important to you: are you interested
in attending a large university that offers unique research opportunities; are
you interested in a small college experience where you get to know all your
professors; are you considering going to school a distance from home? One place
to begin to gather information is at a college fair. Often high schools
will host small fairs; however, there are also national college fairs that attract
a large and diverse groups of colleges and universities. Find one in your area
this late winter/ early spring:
https://www.nacacfairs.org/attend/national-college-fairs/ These College
Fairs are often a great place to begin to gather information and to speak with
someone from the admissions office.
Road To College is here to help. Questions that arise can
be answered by calling 888-835-4620.