10 Tips for Starting Your College Search

Great site, like the topics you write about and how your site is set up.

pandora bead of AL 10:06PM December 10, 2010

Dear PG Team,

I have a few questions regarding my future career.

I'm a 26-year-old girl and I come from Serbia, Eastern Europe.

I have graduated from The Faculty of Economics, a public faculty ( more appreciated than the private ones in this part of the world ),and my narrow specialty is Marketing.

After graduating from lycee ( the department of natural and mathematical sciencies ), I have been accepted to The Medical Faculty ( also public ), ranked as one of the top 20 applicants.

Due to unpredicted misfortunate circumstances, I had to quit Medical Faculty, as a freshman. Next year I started my economics studies.

All my life, I knew I was going to be a doctor, as my mother is. And all of the time spent studing economics, I've felt quite nostalgic for medical science.

My intention is to apply to several US Medical Schools, aiming for the best ones.

My prior education has always been a great success, regardless of the field of science. Anything can be learnt, but I am sure that I would learn Medical Sciences with outmost joy and involvement.

Please be kind and help me choose and prepare myself adequately.

These are my questions :

1) Which tests do I need to pass and which scores to achieve?

2) Where is the nearest place that I can take these tests?

3) Which scholarships would you recommend?

4) Can you please suggest other forms of preparation for a successful future studing?

5) Please, be free to point out any other important aspect that I might have left out.

My greatest concearn is regarding my age, although I honestly believe that this shouldn't be an obstacle.

Thank you very much.

Dragana 8:41PM February 20, 2010

Often families and students choose the college, then try to retrofit a college major decision based on what is offered there.

We have it all backwards -- it is far better to choose the career direction, then understand what majors best prepare you for that career, and then use that insight as criteria when looking at colleges. It's always unfortunate to have a student start at a liberal arts college only to decide they want to major in engineering -- and then have to transfer and hope that all their credits transfer as well. They may also have go extra semesters or years to complete the required coursework.

A better strategy is to have high school students participate in a comprehensive career assessment (last half of soph yr is not too early). This would include an aptitude battery (like the Ball Aptitude Battery), an interest survey, values survey and personality assessment. When a credentialed career consultant interprets the results, creates a personalized list of 6-10 career recommendations (with related college majors), the student can learn about the profile of their natural talents, etc. and how they bridge to tasks, jobs, careers and work environments.

Next, parents can assist in learning more about the careers on their list, setting up informational intervies (see book What Color Is Your Parachute by Richard Bolles) and job shadow opportunities for the student to get a reality check on the career. By doing this for several careers on their list, students, with the help of parents, can use criteria to narrow the list. Even if there are 2 or 3 left in the race, families can look for colleges that have the majors related to those careers and a final decision can be made a little later.

For an article "7 Ways to Make College Visits More Cost-Effective" go to http://www.careervision.org/About/Cost_Effective_College_Visits.htm

Paula Kosin of IL 10:48PM January 04, 2010

I am actually a high school junior myself, and I must say, this is really helpful advice when it comes to choosing even where to go visit! It's halfway through junior year, and I have only a vague idea of where i want to visit, but I will surely keep this advice in mind. Thanks!

Kaitlyn of OH 3:33PM January 03, 2010