college search

Ben Stein of Ferris Bueller’s Day Off fame and from the Comcast commercials is giving advice on colleges now. His advice is actually right on target. His main point is that there is a school for everyone. Don’t get caught up in the elite school hunt, because ultimately is just doesn’t matter. What you do once you’re at school and beyond is the important thing.

There are many factors to picking a college. One big one is geography. One third of all students pick a college that is less than 50 miles from home. It is certainly understandable why kids like to stay close to home, and, maybe more to the point, why parents like their kids close. The fact that so many kids choose to stay close to home can give you a big advantage if you’re willing to travel. All colleges like to boast about their geographic diversity. If you’re from New York and applying to school in Oregon, you are instantly more attractive to that school. Being more attractive to a school usually amounts to a better chance of getting in, as well as a more generous FinAid package. I can talk about this from my own experience. I went to Colorado College and travelled from suburban Boston. In retrospect it was a great chance to go out and explore while still being somewhat sheltered. There are many pros and cons to travelling far away to school, but in my opinion the pros outweigh the cons. That being said, I hope my daughter decides to stay in New England for college

Spring is coming (we know this because it hasn’t snowed in DC in over a week). So what does that mean if you’re a high school junior? Well, a lot of things actually, but most importantly the end of high school is in sight. With the end in sight, the abstract notion of applying to college is becoming very real. One of the best ways to get started on the road ahead is to attend a college fair. There are many throughout the nation, and it a great way to kick start the process of finding the right school for you. Below is a brief video from the NACAC as to what to expect, and also a good article on what to do once you’re there. So get crack'n!

There is an interesting article in the New York Times today about a college night at a local High School. Basically the story is about alumni returning to their old high school to share what they learned about the college search process now that they are on the other side. It’s a good article with some nice tips: Start early. That particular tip keeps coming up. Another thing mentioned by a lot of the alumni was the importance of the college visit and interviews. Several recommended spending an overnight at the school before you decide to attend. In general, they were optimistic that there was a good fit for everyone. The best piece of advice I gleaned from the article is that if you have a chance to attend one of the back to school nights, by all means go.

As the father of a thirteen year old daughter, my favorite (and oft quoted) phrase is, “Hurry Up! You’re Late!” This phrase came to mind when I found a couple of articles asking college freshman to look back at their college applying days. The freshmen were asked what they would do differently, having finished the process. Almost universally the answer was that they wished they had started the process earlier.
If you’re in your junior year, you’re not really late yet… but you’re not too early either. This Spring you should really be looking at where you want to go. When considering colleges, what type of environment would fit you best? Urban? Country? Big? Small? Go visit some schools to begin to get a feel for the options. Decide what you like and what you don’t. Do you want to stay close to home or are you looking to get away? Are your expectations realistic?
These are all question you should be asking yourself NOW as a Junior. Also now is the time to start your scholarship search. All of these tasks will take way more time than you think.
So get going. It’s getting late.