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Seniors: Do You Know Where You’re Going?
Are you a high school senior trying to make the decision of where to go to college and what to do with your life? This problem is impacting you now, at this moment. Your friends are being accepted, know exactly what to study and where to go, you….you have no idea. Your teacher is concerned with your future and you haven’t even asked for letters of recommendations. Your parents are just a little short tempered because you haven’t even taken your SAT’s. Meanwhile you’re holding down a job, taking a full courseload and trying to balance this whole college search thing.
How and when to begin the college search is the question I am most asked. My answer is simple, don’t put off the inevitable….if you wait, the more chaotic and stressed-out everyone involved will be. The ideal situation is to begin the process as early as freshman year; what you should be doing is planning your high school curriculum and learning the college requirements. For example, if you’re the least bit interested in Physical Therapy, you should know 4 years of Math and 2 Lab Sciences are minimum requirements.
Secondly, you should consider volunteering or participating in sports or activities that are important to you. The key here is is not to be over-involved where your giving 10% to 10 activities. Instead give 100% to two or three activities.
The third recommendation is to take a self-assessment test every couple years to determine strengths, weaknesses and interests. Remember they will change.
The junior year is often considered to be most critical…somewhat of a myth because colleges want transcripts (official high school record) from all 4 years. Please remember if your not doing well academically your first two years of high school, college admission officers really do look for improvements.
The summer prior to junior year is when you should schedule visits. In the Capital Region alone there are 10-12 two and four year colleges. Simply participating in a college tour will give you the feel of the campus, what types of programs they offer, campus safety and the food! Without a campus visit you are taking an extreme risk!
Juniors, you should be gearing up for the SAT’s in the Spring and make sure you are enrolled in the right classes, meet with your School Counselor and begin the visits.
Sophomores and freshman should involve themselves with activities and take self-assessment tests such as the Herrington O’Shea, Campbells Interest Inventory or the Myers Briggs.
Remember seniors, it’s never too late! Begin today; with thousands of colleges and universities within the United States alone, it is definitely a buyers market. Parents, you want the best college for the best buy and, let’s face it, students do actually care about the academic integrity of the college they ultimately attend. But, no matter how you begin the grueling task of choosing and selecting, don’t put off the inevitable, start now!
“The Wait”
Most of the applications are sealed and have been sent. The FAFSA forms, along with your taxes are complete. The only thing left to do is wait. The wait is often the most stressful and taxing. Students are often short-tempered and anxious, creating hostile relations at home, short-tempers at school and over-schedule themselves at part-time jobs. As parents, I recommend being patient, like you never have before, right. Not getting into the college of choice is hurtful and lonely and a worse fear. Friends are being accepted, parents are bragging and you continue waiting. Encourage your son/daughter to remain focused on their schoolwork and academics. If they are involved in sports or community service keep everything as scheduled. CELEBRATE….something! A terrific test score, a team victory, a volunteer commitment or simply helping around the yard. The college application process is long, often painful and anxiety provoking. After all your hardwork and encouragement you deserve a toast too! Most students don’t realize that things in life happen for a reason… a lesson I learned while being lost in the Rocky Mountains, but that’s another story. The school your student ultimately attends is where he/she will make friends for life, engage in challenging coursework, develop social skills and hopefully have fun. So, even though tension is high, the wait is worth it.
10 Questions to Ask
As junior parents and students gear up for spring open houses and visits, there are specific areas you should address. Make sure you understand the registration process, housing requirements, safety on campus and declaring a major. If your son/daughter is planning to spend four years on this particular campus you want to have accurate information and facts in order to make an informed decision. The question that I am asked frequently is what are some questions that we can ask. The following are critical questions that will assist you in a successful college visit.
1. What is the retention rate?
2. Who does the teaching?
3. How accessible are professors?
4. How easy is it to register for classes?
5. When do you declare a major? Is the program accredited?
6. What percentage of financial aid are we guaranteed for 4 years?
7. Will I lose financial aid if my son/daughter receives outside scholarships?
8. Are students required to live on campus?
9. What percentage of students leave campus on the weekends?
10. Are internships/co-ops/study abroad encouraged and available?
What do You Mean, a Girls’ School?
What If?
If I raise my hand and I’m right, he’ll think I’m smarter than he is , therefore he won’t ask me out. If I am right all the time, than my friends won’t associate with me because I’m one of the smart ones. How can I begin to compete with the popular students? I am definitely not pretty enough, my hair is the wrong color and I don’t have the right clothes? I can’t play sports because I don’t have anything in common with the other players and math…just forget it.
I recall my high school years, as being a challenge, trying to find my niche was difficult to say the least. Don’t get me wrong I had friends and participated in activities, but I didn’t fit in. It’s easy for parents and teachers to arm chair quarterback and talk about what it was like when they were in school. Girls love to hear your stories and how you met your boyfriend, wore his ring, letterman's jacket and married shortly after high school. 50 years later, this just doesn’t happen! Divorce rates are higher, family dinners are few and far between and church doesn’t seem to be as important as it once was. Ladies, you have more opportunities than ever, and you should take advantage of what is available to you. Don’t let the competition knock you down, play ball!
The number of women's colleges within the United States are not as prevalent as they once were, however, the ones that are still around aren’t leaving anytime soon. Russell Sage College (my alma mater), the school that gave me confidence to speak in front of 10 and most recently 300 parents and students. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t set out to attend a same sex college, no way! I learned, almost to late what a valuable resource and education Sage and similar colleges can offer young women. I was on a plane heading to California when a woman noticed my ring…she is an alumnus of 1952. I was working at a church dinner and a young lady asked where I bought that great ring, Sage I replied. A woman’s college provides young women with a positive learning environment where taking risks is the expectation, creating a new club or class is appreciated and wearing pajamas to your 8:00 class is okay. You will also be connected for life.
The advantages of attending a Woman’s College include confidence, risk taking, self-esteem, answering questions, research, volunteering, working with professors and most of all being in a community that cares about each student unconditionally. It doesn’t matter where you come from, what you look like and how much money you have…a Woman’s College is a good thing and Russell Sage is in the Collar City! What If…
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