5 TIPS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN LOOKING AT COLLEGES

nts and families throughout the application process.

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Start The Process Early (12-18 months ahead)

“The college admissions process can be stressful and can elicit anxiety in both students and parents. This feeling is compounded when students make a choice to wait late into the fall of their senior year to start their research and applications.

The application season now opens for almost  all colleges on August 1st each year.  Start the process as early as you can and do not procrastinate.  See the big picture and make a calendar that includes your final due date and work backwards. Give yourself mini goals that can be accomplished in small intervals. This will help  prevent the fatigue that comes with the college admissions process.”

Get To Know Your Guidance And/Or College Counselor!

Your biggest advocate in the college admissions process is going to be your school counselor. If you are not familiar with your counselor, make time to get to know them. More importantly, make sure they know you. These counselors will be providing a letter of recommendation,  and your counselor can help you devise an admissions calendar and help keep you accountable as you work through the process.” 

If you feel you need more assistance than your counselor can assist ou will,  college admissions consultants can also assist you.  These people usually travel around the country and tour colleges and universities.  There consultants can give you an inside look to a college that might help you with your decision.

Ignore Your Boyfriend/Girlfriend, Cousin, and Best Friend.

These people may be close to you,  but they are not you.  In my 12 years of experience meeting with students and parents, there is a very interesting barriers that can stand in the way of real progress.  

Without fail, every student has a brother, sister, parent or cousin that has attended an Ivy League school, scored 2400 on their SATs, has received a full ride fencing scholarship, has been published in a peer reviewed journal, etc. In addition, your parents or your aunt, is an expert in college planning and pretty much has your future planned. She knows the best major and and career for you and has created a spreadsheet to make sure each Ivy League school application is submitted in a timely matter.

You are not your brother, your sister,  you parent or your cousin. You are YOU! . What is good for someone else may not be good for you. Keep this in mind as you work through the college admissions process. Your parents or aunt willl eventually forgive you.”

Focus On Relationships, Not Rankings

Rankings are about how many books are in the library or the grants theiir scientist have recieved.  It has  nothing to do with what your life will be like at the school.  

“Students should focus on colleges in which they can create solid and lasting relationships. Rankings can help consumers find colleges that have strong quantitative qualities (number of academic programs, faculty/student ratio, number of teaching faculty, etc.), but what these rankings don’t take into account is the institution’s ability to assist students in creating relationships and contacts that will benefit them in their future careers.

It is important that students take responsibility for this aspect of their college life, but certain colleges do a better job making this a priority. In my experience, alumni are more likely to attribute success to the quality and quantity of relationships formed during their undergraduate years. Students with poor ‘relational capital’ can certainly find success, but it is unlikely that they will have the same experience as a student who focuses on, and knows the value of, developing relationships.”

While a college consultant can look expensive up front,  a college consultant can help you streamline this process, saving you money, time,  and lost credits in the future.  Transferring from a school that is a wrong choose can be very expensive,  and also effect your financial aid.

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Treat Your College List Like A Financial Portfolio

“Unfortunately, college admissions standards have become more competitive than any time in our nation’s history. For this reason, it is more important than ever to be smart when devising your final list.  Treat your list like a financial portfolio. It would be unwise to put all of your money into high-risk stocks, but also too conservative to put all of your money into low-yield mutual funds. Your college list should include safety, 50/50 and  stretch colleges. Your school counselor or college consultant can use their experience to help you determine which colleges fit into the appropriate category, taking into consideration your academic profile. Keep in mind that the goal of the admissions process is to eventually have options. If you keep this perspective in mind, you will be just fine.” 

REMEMBER: Pick the best school for you...  the money WILL follow!