What School Is Right for You?
Advice from experts on the college search
Look at the retention rate at a given school. This is a good indicator that students like--or dislike--the place and that you might be equally happy--or unhappy--there. Find out if the school requires every student to take certain core courses to graduate. Are courses taught by professors or instructors? What is the average class size? You get the gist.
Attend college fairs, where you can meet admissions representatives from a number of schools. If you have Internet access, try looking at college home pages, where you may be able to examine required reading lists in a given course or virtually tour the campus.
Be sure to read college view books, mission statements and catalogs. Do the courses that are offered ring your intellectual bell? Does the school seem to have livable dorms? A good arts center? Music practice rooms? A great field house? Are the computer center and science laboratories state of the art? You will probably not be concerned with all of these things, but you should check out those that are important to you.
Should I trust my counselor to come up with a list of schools for me? Even if you develop your own list initially, your high school counselor will often be able to help you narrow it down. He or she will be impressed if you have taken the time to do some exploring on your own. Some counselors will be able to help you identify the best schools for you and provide advice on whether your choices are realistic given your academic record.
I attend a large public school where my counselor doesn't know me well. Will I be at a disadvantage because this person couldn't possibly write anything insightful about me? Gary Ripple, now director of admissions at Pennsylvania's Lafayette College, was asked this question when he was admissions dean at Virginia's College of William and Mary. He said to the student questioner: "I wonder why your counselor doesn't know you. Your counselor probably has over 300 students he or she is responsible for. You should take the initiative to get to know your counselor. At William and Mary, we look for students who take charge of their lives." The student sank slowly into his seat, Ripple recalls. The point of this story is that it is important to get to know your counselor. You are also likely to have the option of submitting one or two teacher recommendations. Ask teachers who are most excited about you as a student. Strong teacher recommendations carry a lot of weight.
How can I be sure I am using the right criteria in picking schools? Make certain you know why you are choosing a particular school. Be especially honest about the prestige factor. If attending a high-profile college is very important to you, admit that. If you are not honest with yourself, you may end up at a prestigious school for all the wrong reasons, such as ego or family or peer pressure. And chances are that because of how you got there, you will not be happy.
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