May 1st Deadline - College Decisions Due
If you are planning to attend college this Fall then you know that May 1st is the big day in the college admissions process. Students must decide within the next few days whether to accept or reject an offer of admission and what college they will be attending. Maybe you got into your first-choice college and have no decision to make at all and already have started packing your bags. But, maybe your college choice is a little tougher than that. You could have been wait listed, received more than one acceptance letter or didn't get the scholarship you had hoped for to help pay for the private university tuition. Or maybe, like so many others, you just don't know what school you should choose.
This decision is a difficult one for many. The next four years are an investment in your future and how do you know if you are making the right choice. Should you go where you feel most comfortable? Should you choose the school where your friends are going? Should you choose your parents alma mater? Below are some factors you should consider when deciding if a school is a good fit for you. Take a look at these characteristics in order of importance to you and see how well each college matches up to each other:
• Academic
o Take a look at the professors at the school, their research, awards and backgrounds
o Review the course catalog online to get an idea of the types of courses and major programs offered and if they match your academic pursuits
o Sit in on classes - how big or small are they and do they teachers know the students on a first name basis?
o Talk to alumni regarding life after graduation - did they feel prepared in their chosen careers?
• Social
o Go visit the school in-person if you have not done so already - some schools will even let you stay overnight or for the weekend with another student. Can you picture yourself there - do you and the school click?
o Meet the current students to get a real sense of the school - where are they from and what are their backgrounds?
o Look at the extracurricular activities, sports, Greek life - does this school offer everything you are interested in?
o Look at the school's Facebook or twitter pages, read the college newspaper online - see what the admissions counselors aren't telling you
•Financial
o Can you, or your parents, really afford this school?
o Review not only the tuition, but the costs for housing, meal plans and transportation. Will you need to fly, take the train/bus or drive home on breaks?
o Compare the financial aid packages, scholarships, loans, gifts, grants and any work-study opportunities
This week you'll make one of the biggest decisions of your life. If you still have questions, talk to your guidance counselor, a favorite teacher or your parents who know you both academically and personally. They might be able to help you evaluate the pros and cons. This decision is a personal one and the final choice should be made yours, but it never hurts to ask for advice from people who know you well and care about your future.
-- Lara Cohn, Examville Blog Contributor
Questions and Answers
Article Tags:
attend college
,best colleges
,college admissions
,college application
,college decisions due
,college life
,online test prep
,sat
Deciding which undergraduate college or university to attend is one of the biggest decisions of a high school students' life. Should I stay close to home or go far away? What do I want to study? Do I want to be in an urban, city setting or on a park-like campus? What entrance exams and standardized tests do I need to take? How do I choose between attending a private or public college?
A College Preparation Guide for Parents and Students. From High School to University, Time Moves Faster Than You Think. Prepare Now!
The competition among students with their marks is becoming tougher and tougher to get admission in the best colleges of Delhi. Delhi university cut off marks seems to be unrealistic as it has touched the pinnacle in last few years.
Textbooks are your major expenses of every semester, and they can be very, very expensive. But there's good news here: you can buy them at discounted prices from 40% - 85%. And what do you need to do?
If you are considering studying in Australia, get ready for the adventure of a lifetime. Australia boasts a wide selection of great universities with quality educational courses and facilities. Students are able to immerse themselves in Australia's welcoming and laidback lifestyle. Also of course you may have the opportunity to further explore this great nation once your studies are complete or while you're on a term break.
It comes a time when every person's life that they must determine their calling and then take the necessary steps to achieve it. We are taught as a child to be the best we can be at whatever endeavor that we choose to take on. One of the most popular types of schools that many people consider enrolling in are engineering schools.
Students interested in pursuing careers in the field of engineering would do well to consider Colorado as a setting to pursue their higher education. Colorado engineering schools are highly ranked on the national stage and offer a wealth of career and networking opportunities for graduates in many different fields of engineering.
The U.S. federal government is allocating $350 million in Race to the Top money for states that come together to create tougher state-wide standardized testing for students to stay globally competitive. In applying for this Race to the Top fund, a consortia of states can create tougher annual standardized tests in math and reading for third through eighth grade students or rigorous exams for high school students.
Are you an aspiring lawyer? Prepping for the LSAT to get into your dream law school? The Law School Admission Tests (LSAT) is a crucial part of the application process and it is a major factor in a school's admission decision for every candidate. You need to decide not only when and where to take the test, but how to prepare for it. Pre-Law students often report that LSAT preparation is one of the most stressful experiences in their academic lives. Adequate preparation is key.
Thinking about advancing your career? How about learning a new language? Want to read a classic or finish that master's degree you put on hold to have children? As spring temps have hit a staggering 90 degrees on the East Coast this week, many people are donning flip flops and shorts, counting down the days until their summer vacations. But for adult learners, summer means back-to-school and now is the time to register for class.
College today is more expensive than ever. If you could save money by graduating early, earning your degree in three years, rather than the average four, would you do it? A three-year degree could mean that a student accrues less unnecessary debt and can enter the workforce or graduate school months before their peers.
Discuss this Article
