Four Ways To Make Your College Search Easier - Focusing on what’s important simplifies finding the right school
August 10th, 2006
When it comes to high school . you have enough things to worry about, yes? Peer pressure, grades, popularity, teachers, etcetera. What you should REALLY be worried about is college! Face it . from the nanosecond you set foot in your respective high school, it’s possible to feel overwhelmed about the who/what/when/where/why of choosing COLLEGE X.
If the college search process seems overwhelming, you’re right .. it is. Some students manage to make it next to impossible by letting the research, applications forms and deadlines boggle the mind. But in the end, the objective of your search is to find the school that is right for you. You get to choose. And, you also get to choose how you GO ABOUT finding a school, so why freak out?
Before things start to spiral out of control, remembering the following four principles will make your search process a lot easier.
1) BUDGET SCHMUDGET
The four ugliest words any college advisor can hear is: “I can’t afford college.” But in this day and age . you can’t afford NOT to go to college. Do you really want to work in a job you hate for 40 years? Uh, no. Start researching your budget NOW! Just because you can’t AFFORD Harvard doesn’t mean you can’t ATTEND Harvard. Apply for any and all applicable scholarships. There’s a reason why scholarships were created . use ‘em! And while I’m not sure who created student loans - they are there if you need them. Always see which college can give you the most bang for your buck.
2) LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Throw a dart at any map and, chances are, there’s a college nearby. But ask yourself this . do I want to 1) be close to Mommy & Daddy, 2) be as far away from Mommy & Daddy as possible, 3) like where I’m going to live for the next four years or 4) find a school that has the curricula I want AND cool surroundings? These are important things to consider! Keep in mind, homesickness usually subsides. (And thanks to your cell phone, computer or the US postal service - you can always call, click or carrier pigeon the mother ship.) If you choose to tour a campus . take the time to TOUR THE CITY, TOO. Figure out what’s best for you and then settle in. It’s called progress and it’s usually a good thing.
3) HELP ME HELP YOU!
Once you get to college, your little part of the world will suddenly go SUPERNOVA! You now have crazy-stupid freedom to do what you want . when you want. Uh, not so fast! Why set yourself up for potential failure? Maybe it’s best to find out your strengths and weaknesses now! Who better to point that out than your good friends? Do you have time management issues? Poor study-habits? Teen angst? These are things that need to be considered ahead of time. Is COLLEGE X going to help you or hinder you? And don’t come crying to me when you have a 4.0 G.P.A., but you’ve put on the dreaded Freshman 15!
4) ABC’s and WWW’s
The internet has been around for more than a decade! And, while you may have been in diapers when it started, you’ve probably learned a thing or two since then. When checking out colleges, USE THE INTERNET TO YOUR ADVANTAGE! Why rely on word of mouth from your sister’s friend’s boss’ nephew who went there to COLLEGE X in 1981? Now you can easily surf through class schedules, visit campuses via virtual tours, and get the dirt on your college of choice. And thanks to the web, you can check out endless lists of lists about which college boasts the best placement rate or has the most sororities. True story — I typed in “College Rankings” in my search engine and it came up with 58 million hits.
58 million.
It would seem a lot more high school students are doing a lot more research when it comes to picking colleges. So do your homework, so to speak. And start early. And keep researching. It’s kind of like the lottery . because you can’t win, if you don’t play.
October 31st, 2008 at 9:05 am
Finding the right college for yourself is one of the most difficult yet one of the most important decision of your life. It can make or break your career. Of course your own capabilities also do count , I’m not denying that but college plays a very crucial role too.
I agree with the writer on the 4 factors he has listed down for choosing the correct destination;
Budget of course is the consideration. If you cannot afford it then no point even thinking about it. But nowadays almost all colleges have started giving financial aids for the benefit of the students. So, if you really like the college and you have got the desired course too, try for aid options. Might work for you.
Location. Well location plays a role but not that much i guess. If the college is good and highly ranked then location doesn’t matter that much. You should give more importance to college in comparison to the location. Location wont be considered when an employer will interview you.
Friends, oh yes, they do play a role too. Your good friends advice always comes handy for decisions like these. But be aware of who really is your friend and who is making a fool of yours. But yes talk to friends who have relatives, friend or acquaintances in that college.
Lastly, yes why talk to your sister’s friend’s boss’s nephew…..??? What qualifications he has to give you the correct advice. Also he doesn’t even know you. He is just doing a favor for you. Might as well say something not true. Instead go to http://www. Type the world after these three alphabets and you will get a to z of any info you are searching for. Rely on Internet in comparison to far fledged acquaintances.
Now, though i will not know all the people who will read this, but you can take my suggestion. Its not an advice but just a suggestion. Go try it on Internet find about it and if you like it, then go ahead.
I am talking about Vista college in Utah. They offer courses in Medical Assisting, Medical Office Specialist, Dental assisting, Business Administration, Website/Graphic Design, Massage Therapy and Network Administration.
Vista College has campuses in Clearfield and Salt Lake City. Their curriculum is always up to date with the recent practices in the industry. They give more emphasis on the combination of both practical and theoretical knowledge instead of only theoretical skill set like many other colleges. Vista College offers placement assistance too, so you can be rest assured that your career will be in flying colors after you pass from Vista College.
I guess making a correct decision is of utmost importance in this area. Before going any further, try visiting http://www.vistacollege.com
It might be the right calling for you.