By: Allison B.
High
School can be a difficult time for any teen. There are so many new things that
you have to learn, and people you have to get along with, that it can be really
stressful. But possibly the most dreaded year is Junior year. Everyone is taking
some of the toughest classes; ACTs and SATs are being nervously prepared for,
and we’re all just under A LOT of stress. Because at this stage of Junior or Senior
year, there’s that one thing lingering in the backs of our minds, “Oh no! I
have to start thinking about college! What do I do?” Preparing for college can
be a very difficult for a lot of teens. Whether you think “But my GPA’s not
good enough to get into……” or “But……is just so expensive” or even “Things are too
competitive these days. I’ll never get into the college I want,” that’s where
you can take a deep breath and calm down, because college isn’t all about those
things. College entrance isn’t just based on grades and scores. It has to fit
you. Before the college can choose you, YOU have to choose the college! And
there are a few things you’ll want to consider first.
· Make sure the
college is a good fit for you by researching about the school you’re interested
in online
· Check to see if the
college offers your major or has a lot of major options if you are undecided
· Schedule a group or
private college tour to see for yourself what the college campus, location,
people, and buildings are like
· Make sure you like
the college’s atmosphere
Since
Junior year is the year you should really start to think about your college
options, a good way to start is to make a list of everything you want in your
college. Cambridge High School Counselor and former Girl Scout Kellen Kuglar
says that “when choosing a college, you need to find the one that’s the best
fit for you, considering everything from academics, to campus size and
location, to student life.” Take the time to research your college to see if it
has the kinds of things you might want it to have. Here are some really good
websites to help get you started:
I know it’s a hard
thing to think about, and many of us have no idea what we want to do, but
another important thing to consider is academics and major. Don’t apply to a
liberal arts school if you really want to become an engineer. 2015 graduate of
Northview High School and former Girl Scout Lindsey Moon, now a freshman at Georgia
College & State University, said, “One of the reasons I chose Georgia
College and State University was because of my major. I want to major in Early
Childhood Education, so I had to choose a college that offered that as a
major.” And it’s totally normal to not know what you want to do in life yet.
Kuglar reminds us “when looking for a college, you should choose one with lots
of options if you are undecided. That way when you pick your major, you won’t
necessarily have to transfer.” And you can always go to a college that has
something you’re really passionate about, like music or a sport, where you can
turn it into a major if you want.
Now after you’ve
thought about what your college should offer, one of the most important things
to do is go on college tours, in-state as well as out-of-state. Spring Break of
Junior year is a good time to do it, though college tours can fill up quickly
and get pretty crowded at this time, so it’s good to start even earlier. Don’t
forget that a college tour doesn’t just have to be a group tour. If you know
your major, or at least what you’re passionate about, you can call the office
of that major department or college and ask for a private tour. It’s good to
get a tour from a student AND an adult if possible to get both perspectives.
And when you go, be sure to eat in a student cafeteria, take a look at the
dorms, tour the buildings with the majors that interest you most, and ride the
bus. College tours allow you to see so many great and important things within
the college. Kuglar says “a lot of students make the mistake of not visiting
colleges, causing them to miss out on the chance to really dig deeper into the
feel and layout of the college.” This is where you’ll actually see what student
life is all about, get a feel for the size of the campus and population, and,
possibly most importantly, be able to experience the college atmosphere. When I
took a tour of the University of Georgia, it was a lot of fun to eat in the
cafeteria and learn my way around the campus on the bus. I also enjoyed getting
to see for myself how nice the students were and how friendly the atmosphere
felt.
The college
atmosphere, campus, and academics have to fit what you want, not what everyone
else says is great. Gail Polizzi, the Atlanta Area Representative for Purdue
University and a former Girl Scout leader, says “The most common mistake
students make when choosing a college is going to a college because their
friends are going there, or choosing to go or not go to a certain college based
upon what they've heard about it, rather than visiting it and experiencing the
atmosphere for themselves.” It’s important to feel welcomed and that you’d
actually enjoy going there. Don’t feel pressed to go somewhere just because a
tour guide talks about how “truly fantastic” the college is, or that “it would
be so much better if you went here!” GCSU Freshman Lindsey Moon says “I chose
Georgia College because it felt like home. When I stepped on the campus, I
immediately felt a sense of home and acceptance.” When you get a feeling like
this from a college campus, it can be so much more powerful than just what you
hear other people say they might have felt, or what the Internet claims. If you
feel right about the college you tour, you may want to consider applying if
everything you’ve looked for in the college adds up.
Once you’ve done
all your tours and have taken all your major tests, Senior year has probably
rolled around. And don’t get scared if you’re behind! It’s totally fine to find
a college you truly would want to attend last minute. But when filling out your
applications, don’t forget this: you probably want to consider backups. If you
apply to a backup college, they’re not going to turn you away just because it’s
not your first pick. Backups are backups for a reason. They are places where you
wouldn’t mind going. They live up to the things you’ve been looking for, but
maybe don’t have one or two things, or as good of something, as your first few college
choices. Polizzi says “students may not choose reach schools to apply to
because of the fear of not getting into them. They also make the mistake of not
applying to colleges that they can fall back upon in case they don't get into
their reach schools.” So it’s important to apply to a wide range of schools,
with some being easier to get into and some being a lot more challenging.
Looking for the
right college can be a long and stressful process, but once you find the ones
that fit your needs and emotions most, you’re set! All that’s left to do after
applying to the colleges you want is to say “yes” to the one you want to go to
most, once you’ve been accepted into it. And no need to fear! Colleges don’t
base every little thing on grades. Polizzi reminds us that “there are far more
factors that are considered than just strict GPA or SAT/ACT scores when
colleges are looking at the applications.” Being well-rounded and a leader in
the community are just two of things they consider. With essays, grades, and
resumes, colleges really try to dig deep into you and your personality. Because
remember: You are not a number, grade, nor score. You are neither a denial nor
a waitlist. And you are certainly not “unworthy” or “unsmart”. You are YOU!
This is your choice, your college, YOUR FUTURE! And sometimes knowing where to
start can be the hardest part, so hopefully you’ve found something in this you
hadn’t thought about before. Because when it comes to college, the real choice
is up to you!
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