|
Have you ever bought a pair of jeans online? If the answer is "no" then you probably already appreciate the importance of checking out the fit before making a purchase. If your answer is "yes", I am wondering if you had the opportunity to learn the importance of a good fit the hard way.
Choosing a college is all about finding the right fit, and just like with jeans, one size does not fit all. However, unlike finding the right pair of jeans in a fun-filled day of shopping, finding the right college requires intense personal reflection and lengthy research. There are thousands of colleges so picking the right school requires determining what criteria to use when narrowing the choices.
The first step in a successful college search involves the student looking at herself to determine what type of educational environment will offer her the greatest opportunity for growth and learning. The most common pitfalls in the college search process are outlined by Loren Pope in his book, Colleges That Change Lives.
Common misconceptions:
• Your college should be bigger than your high school (5000 is the figure usually mentioned by girls, especially those from small private schools).
• A name-brand college will give you a better education and assure your success.
• A university will offer you more than a good small college.
• You should go where your friends are going.
• You don't need to examine yourself or the college.
It is important that you, as students and parents begin thinking and talking about college in general terms early. Instead of considering specific schools, discuss what is working in your SMS classes now and the type of academic environment that has already excited and challenged you and provided successful learning experiences. Then, look beyond the classroom: athletic involvement, clubs, research opportunities, and the potential for travel and internships are all examples of opportunities waiting for you at college.
|
 |
Willis Blair visited Sweet Briar College during the
Next Steps mini-mester class and knew it was the
right school for her. She applied and was accepted
to
Sweet Briar through their early decision program. Congratulations Willis!.
A selection of recent college acceptances for SMS graduates.
|
The college process becomes more focused during the junior year when opportunities such as the Next Steps mini-mester program and individual meetings with your college counselor, Mrs. Gross, encourage and guide the development of a list of schools for further exploration. General college search engines like those found at www.collegeboard.com, www.petersons.com provide an opportunity to generate a broad list of colleges based on your criteria of geography, size, selectivity and program of studies. However, this is only the beginning. The next level of research is more intense, taking into consideration class sizes, opportunities for student/teacher interaction, campus diversity, academic support services, dormitory living options, and even how attractive a campus is to you. Much of this research can be done online at the college web sites, by talking to colleges‚ current and former students, looking at other college focused web sites like www.ecampustours.com and using the St. Margaret‚s online college guidance program that is personalized and available to juniors and seniors.
Still, as the jeans analogy indicates, the best way to find the right fit is to actually try on each college. Visit as many schools as possible. Use long weekends and breaks as well as the junior and senior college visit days for college overnights, interviews and tours in order to get to know each school you are seriously considering. No one can tell you which school is right for you; you will know it when you experience it.
Wishing each of you the best possible "Next Step" after SMS,
Mrs. Sheri Gross, Director of College Guidance
|
