7.3 I need a list of colleges!
"Help! It's September, and I don't even know where I'm applying to college!" Are you fretting over composing a definitive list of colleges to which you (or your teenager) will apply this fall? Are you stuck thinking, "I can't make any progress/don't want to waste any time on applications until I know for sure where I'll be applying. I need that list!"
No, you don't
You need a place to begin. Students usually have a wish list of two or three colleges. Start right there.You might be amazed to see how your list changes over the coming weeks. A liberal-arts college you thought must be perfect for you because your older brother's girlfriend loves it there will turn out to be her dream school, but not yours. A college whose campus you found charming will turn out to be an academic sinkhole for you. The big-city university to which you'd love to escape will seem, when you visit, demanding and heartless. Or you may find yourself so excited about undergraduate research that you cast aside your shyness and take the plunge into a high-powered research university.Most importantly, you will discover that the nitty-gritty details about the curriculum in general, and the requirements and opportunities of your proposed major, in particular, will be key factors in your decision.And dare I mention that, unless you ended eleventh grade triumphantly brandishing a full set of excellent standardized test scores--ACT, SAT, SAT Subject tests, TOEFL, LNAT, or whatever you need--you may find yourself revising your list as your test scores arrive.So what should you do next?
Athena Advises
Start writing.Most universities, whether in the U.S., U.K., Canada or even, increasingly, in Europe, require application essays in addition to your basic Personal Statement. The essay prompts are designed to elicit something about you as a person, as well as your suitability for the programs/institutions to which you are applying.In order to write persuasively, you need to thoroughly research the programs/institutions in question. It's not enough to feel drawn to dreaming spires, or love New England winters.The admissions committee of a particular institution wants to know that you are a match for what they teach and how they teach it. In order to write such essays, you will need to thoroughly research each institution and program.This is particularly true of what in the U.S. are called "supplements," as well as the program essays required by many programs in the U.K. and Europe. No matter what the prompt is, the real question is, "Why us?" That is: "Why do you think you are a match for our program/institution?"Many students are taken aback by the amount of time and energy it takes to answer the question, "Why us?" But by doing the research and really coming to grips with the school-specific essays, you will come to understand what you really want in a college, and for which schools you are a match.
But wait! Aren't there schools that don't require additional essays?
Yes, there are. Nevertheless, the practice you get in writing the essays for other schools will show you how to research a school, so that you know whether it's the right place for you.By doing it this way, you will develop criteria for adding to—or subtracting from—your list.Don't procrastinate! Jump in today!Dr. Marlena CorcoranFounder and CEOAuthor of Year by Year to College, on amazon.com, amazon.de and many national amazon sites