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 inding
and applying to the best colleges for you is
not supposed to be easy, but it can be fun. Parents, guidance counselors, and teachers
are there to help you, so don’t struggle
alone. Keep your sense of humor and a smile
on your face as you go about researching,
exploring, and discovering your ideal
college.
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Caliber of School Programs: Is the
college known for its English department
or chemistry department? What are its
strengths?
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Selectivity of Admissions: Is the
college Most Competitive, Highly
Competitive, Very Competitive,
Competitive, Less Competitive or
Noncompetitive?
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Chances of Admission: Be
realistic. What are your chances of
getting in? How far can you reach?
Listen when you are given advice.
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Location of the School:
Is the
school near home, one hour away, 300
miles away, or across the United States?
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Rural, Suburban, Urban Campus: Is
the school in the city or in rural area?
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Size of the School: Can you spend
four years at a small liberal arts
college of 800 undergraduates? Do you
need the larger atmosphere of a
university? Do not equate size with
social life.
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Public vs. Private:
Is the college
a large state university with most of
the student population from the state
where it’s located? Is it one of the
public “Ivies”? Will your growth as a
student and mature adult be better in a
small private college?
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Geographical Diversity: Is the
college a regional one attracting
students from the same state or region?
Or is it a college, regardless of its
size, which attracts students from all
over the United States, or the world at
large?
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Cost of College: What is the
tuition? What are the living costs?
What are the travel costs are there from
home to campus? Are there hidden costs?
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Financial Aid: With a great
percentage of undergraduates at many
private colleges on financial aid of
some type, where do you fit?
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Living Conditions: Is housing on
campus guaranteed for all four years?
Are the dorms coed? Are there
single-sex dorms?
Are alternatives in
housing available?
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Socialization: Is it a grind school
– all work, work, work? Is it
fraternity and sorority oriented? What
are the on-campus facilities for
socialization?
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Safety on Campus: Are the dorms
secure and locked? What’s the safety
system on campus?
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Core Curriculum:
Distribution
Credits: Does the college require (for
graduation) a specific number of credits
in different academic disciplines? For
example, does the student have to take
six credits in philosophy before
graduating? Is a self-designed
curriculum possible?
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Sophomore Standing: Does the
college accept AP credits? Does it
offer advanced standing for an AP
course, or just a credit toward
graduation?
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16.
Junior Year Abroad: Are there
opportunities to study in Italy, Japan,
or Australia, for example, while you are
an undergraduate?
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17.
Internships: Are there
opportunities for hands-on experience
while in college? Which departments
have formal internship opportunities?
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18.
Graduate School After College: What
percentage of its graduates go on to
graduate school immediately upon
graduation, or within five years? What
is the record of those who successfully
get into the law, medical, or business
school of their choice?
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Placement After Graduation:
Is
there an office for job placement after
college? Is there an alumni network
that helps in job placement?
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Weekend College: Do the students
remain on campus on weekends, or is it a
suitcase college?
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Minorities: What percentage of the
students are minorities? Reflect on the
racial, ethnic and religious minority
roles in the college you are
considering. How would you feel being
Jewish at a Roman Catholic college, for
example – or Catholic at a Jewish
college?
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Sports Facilities: Is there a
swimming pool? Are there horse
stables? Is there an ice hockey rink on
campus?
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Library Facilities: How many books
are in the library? Is the campus
library tied into a larger network?
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Athletic Programs: Is the ice
hockey team a varsity sport? Does the
lacrosse team play Division I and III?
Is basketball strong? Do they have a
women’s squash team?
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Honors Programs: Are honors
programs available? What are they? Who
is eligible?
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Student Body:
Are the students
politically active? Are they
professional in orientation?
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Faculty:
Are all classes taught by
full professors? Or are TAs (teaching
assistants) the norm? Is the faculty
available through office hours and/or
the internet?
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Computer: Are computers required of
incoming freshmen? What are the
facilities on campus? What hours are
the computer labs open? Is the campus
wireless?
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Campus Visits: If possible, make a
visit to the campus. Spend some time
talking to students for a feel of the
campus.
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Special Talents: Recognize your
special talents and discover where
they’ll fit best.
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Special Family Circumstances: Talk
with your parents about their
expectations. Discuss your needs as
well as their thoughts.
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Legacy: Does your family have a
history at a specific school? Are you
interested in continuing the tradition?
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Note Well – Final List: Be sure
that the final list is a realistic one.
It should include “reaches,” “targets,”
and “safeties.” No matter which one
admits you – it must fit.
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Last but not least is the Parent Credo:
The right college is the one where your
child will fit in scholastically and
socially. Be realistic in your
aspirations and support the child’s
choice!
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