Collegewise

Unannounced Visitors

A lot of families tell us how hard it is for them to make time to travel and see colleges.  And we bet a lot of our blog readers read the entries about our own college visits and think to themselves, "Well, of course these Collegewise guys visits schools all the time.  It’s their job!”

And those readers would be right.

We make the time to visit schools because it’s our job—well, that and the fact that we are huge college nerds who desperately need more productive social lives.

But one thing you might not notice from our posts is that a lot of our visits weren’t planned for the sake of visiting the colleges.  Christina toured Vanderbilt after her brother’s graduation, checked out UOP during a visit to see her best friend in Stockton, and traversed the natural campus of UC Santa Cruz while visiting her cousin.  When we visit family or friends, we make at least one college visit part of the itinerary.  It’s not just part of our job—it’s part of our (nerdy) nature.

Where is your family planning to travel this year?  Where will you be going to visit friends or family?  And what colleges could you see while you’re there?

Make the most of the college opportunities when you visit friends or family.  Take a tour of a nearby college.  Buy a sweatshirt and a mug while you are there.  Take pictures and send them to us at info@getcollegewise.com. We might even post them on our blog! 

You'll learn more about that college and what kind of environment will eventually be right (or wrong) for you.  And you’ll have done so without having to spend additional time or expense.

It’s not just a good idea to get out there and learn more about colleges; if you’re a high school junior who wants to eventually find the right college for you (or if you're that junior’s parent), it’s your job, too.

Virtually Amazing!

While the other Collegewise counselors were spending their two week holiday break sleeping in until noon and stuffing their faces as they watched football, I was forcing my mom to take me on a campus tour of Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.

Convincing my family members to indulge me with campus tours is pretty common for me.  Just take a look at the University of California at Santa Cruz virtual visit.  This school makes its home in the surf town of Santa Cruz, CA.  Thank goodness my cousin Bekah still speaks to me after I invaded her college with my digital camera!

Luckily I work at a place where my college nerdiness is an expected trait.  Just before the holidays, the Collegewise - Irvine crew zipped down to Point Loma Nazarene University just north of San Diego, CA together.  Check out our tour of this sunny campus.

5 New Year's Resolutions for High School Kids

It’s that time of year when we make our New Year’s resolutions, and we’ve got a few recommendations for high school kids to help them enjoy the ride to college a little more.  So, here are our Collegewise “Top Five New Year’s Resolutions” that might not be so obvious, but will definitely help you get accepted to college. 

1. Set a goal to actively participate in at least one class this semester. 

Colleges don’t just care about the grades you get; they especially appreciate students who actively participate in class.  So raise your hand.  Answer questions.  Show the teacher you’re interested and engaged.  Doing so will go along way towards showing the colleges you can succeed in their classrooms.

2. Get more involved in a current activity.

Before you add more activities to your plate, ask yourself if you would enjoy being even more involved with something you already do.  Can you take a leadership position, take on a project, or make an impact in some way?  Remember, a long list of activities isn’t as impressive to colleges as is a significant commitment to the things you really enjoy. 

 

3. Find a way to pursue a subject you like.

Colleges are always impressed by a sincere interest in learning.  So ask yourself what you really want to learn about, and then find a way to do it.  Do an extra project.  Take an extra class or attend a summer program.  The subject could be anything from calculus to civil war history to sports medicine.  What’s important is to show colleges that you do have intellectual interests and you don’t mind going the extra mile pursuing them.

 

4. Be yourself.

It’s not necessary to mold yourself into something you’re not just to please the colleges.  For example, a lot of students worry that their lack of athletic talent will hurt them in college admissions.  It won’t.  If you don’t like sports, but you love math, embrace your love of numbers, join the math club and become its fearless leader.  Colleges appreciate individuality a lot more than they do efforts to conform into something you’re not.

5. Spend more time looking for the right colleges.

A lot of students talk about wanting to get into the “best” schools.  But don’t forget to look for the right schools--the ones where you will be happy and successful for four years.  This year, resolve to do some college soul-searching to determine what you really hope or expect to gain from your college experience.  Investigate a variety of schools and try to find the right match.  Doing so will make your life easier, your high school years more productive, and your college applications more successful.