Getting Started on the College Search
What questions should parents ask as they begin to think about the college application process? The answer is to start with big categories and begin to build a personal profile based on what’s desirable and practical for your family.
When to start
Timing is important because, on the one hand, there is much to do and learn. On the other hand, parents should not create undue pressure by emphasizing the college issue before it is useful. Most students begin the process by taking the PSAT and SAT during junior year. At this time, it is appropriate to make plans for campus visits, to schedule interviews for the spring or summer, and to sort through the wealth of information available to narrow options.
Standardized Tests
The PSAT test is a practice test that has no absolute value beyond familiarizing students with the SAT format and the kinds of difficulties children face on it. While a very small percentage of students can use it to qualify for a national merit scholarship the only major function of the PSAT is to serve as a diagnostic tool for students identifying areas of strength and weakness for the SAT. It is not appropriate for students to engage test preparation services for the PSAT. Students may also choose to take the ACT test. If families are interested in test preparation, it should be directed at the SAT/ACT and not the practice version. Later in the process, students take SAT 2 or subject tests and can also sign up for Advanced Placement exams for which some colleges offer college credit.
Big vs. Small
Does your child want to immerse himself in a large university setting or in a small, liberal arts environment? While each has its strong points, it is important to visit both settings to determine which elements are right for your child. Obviously, some large institutions seem like towns unto themselves and it is likely that students will feel less comfortable in such an environment. Other students love the anonymity provided by a large university setting and gravitate toward such atmospheres. Small (often bucolic) campuses offer better access to professors and more of a tight sense of a campus community. But large schools offer more diversity and certain kinds of resources. Look at both types of schools.
Urban Vs Rural
Where does your child see himself? On Commonwealth Ave in Boston or, perhaps, in Middlebury, Vermont? Location can play a key role in the quality of a college experience. What may be exciting for one student can prove overwhelming and terrifying for another. The concept of a closed off campus changes the way students experience a school and many urban settings offer little distinction between the life of the city and that of the campus.
Liberal Arts Vs Professional School
What are your child’s interests? Is he already focused on a specific career direction such as medicine or engineering? The answers to such question can greatly aid in narrowing the search. A liberal arts college with few requirements – like Brown University – provides a very different sort of education than a school with specific slant and heavy requirements, like RPI or Babson College. Thinking about these considerations in advance may save time and trouble later.
Financial Aid
Every school offers some sort of financial aid – even at the level of the admissions process. Do not let financial considerations dissuade you from examining any school. Some schools even use aid packages as a way to attract top-ranked students. Between loan, scholarships, and debt forgiveness programs, there are various ways to pay for a college education.
Where to apply
Students should apply to any school that seems desirable. However, it is wise to move beyond wishful thinking and apply to schools across a broad range of categories, including reach, middle, and safety schools. Top-twenty schools with famous Ivy and sub-Ivy names are very popular in the Northeast and extremely hard to get in to. There are many other great schools throughout the USA, though, and students should be encouraged to go on line, talk to school officials, and generally try to discover the range of great options available in this country.
The Essay
Every student should be prepared to write an in-depth personal essay citing an experience, person, challenge, or idea that has had some impact. The colleges use the essay as a way to get to know the applicant and to see the person behind the scores, grades, awards, and recommendations that accompany the college applications. While many students receive coaching on the essay, it should represent a sincere reflection of the student’s own ideas and writing so that the admissions people really know who is actually applying.
There are many more elements that make up the college application process but the considerations identified here will help families get started so that they can begin to ask there own specific questions. The selection process is, essentially, a long administrative path and many initial points of concern are answered in the course of taking it. Good luck!