Collegewise

A great way to prepare for the "Why this college?" question

A lot of students struggle when faced with the popular college prompt, "Tell us why you've decided to apply here."  Colleges are looking for students who have done some thoughtful college soul-searching, who've really considered what they want their college experiences to be like.  That's why a long description of facts and features you got from the college's website won't be any stronger of an answer than a general mention of a great reputation and a pretty campus will.

To help his student think thoughtfully about what they want from their future colleges, my business partner, Arun, has his students fill out portions of the NSSE ("National Survey of Student Engagement"). It's intended for college students to help evaluate their experiences at their respective schools.  But high school students can get a clearer picture of their college futures when you consider things like:

• How often you want to contribute to class discussions
• How many papers you want to write each semester
• How challenging you want your exams to be
• How many serious conversations you hope to have with other students who are very different from you
• Whether you want to study abroad, do a research project, have an internship, etc.

It would be a great exercise for any prospective college student.  But if you have hopes of attending a highly selective college, I'd consider this mandatory, as you won't get in if you haven't considered these kinds of questions.

The people you'll meet along the way

Ask most college students what they like best about their schools, and most of them will tell you "The people."

The people are the friends college kids stay up late talking and laughing with.  When they cram for a biology final, take a road trip, or paint their faces for the big game, those friends are there.  They nurse college kids back from break-ups, invite them to Thanksgiving dinner with their families and go with them to check out the meeting of that club that looks interesting.  While you're learning, growing and discovering what you're really good at, those friends help define your college experience.   

Their influence never goes away.  Ask most college grads what they enjoyed most about their college days, whether they've been out of school for 2 years or 20 years, and they're likely to tell you, "The people."  It's the people who were there when you met the love of your life and then came back to toast you at your wedding.  They were there when you found the internship that turned into a post-college career, or encouraged you when you were sure you'd never get accepted to medical school after organic chemistry got the best of you, or moved with you to a new city to start life after graduation.  When you move on from college, their influence and legacy move on with you.   

Later this morning, I'm announcing a new partnership (the link will be live at 8 a.m. PST) at Collegewise.  And while I didn't meet the people behind it while I was in college, I would never have found my calling, started this company, and had the chance to do what I'm doing with them today were it not for the experiences I had in college and the people I met along the way.  

When you start your college search for the right place to spend the next four years, remember that no matter where you go, whether or not your school is famous or has ever been mentioned on the US News college rankings, those future friends are going to be there waiting to help shape your experience with you.  Today, you can't measure the influence of the people you'll meet along the way.  But you will someday. 

When colleges ask you where else you are applying

Some colleges will ask you on their applications or during interviews to name the other colleges you're applying to.  Sometimes they'll even ask why you've decided to apply to each of those other schools.  This can feel a little bit like a potential date asking you who else you're interested in and why.  You don't want to lie but it feels like you're doing something wrong by keeping your options open.

But don't worry about it (for the colleges, I mean--you're on your own for the dating scenario.)

Unlike a potential date, no reasonable college will ever hold it against you if you aren't ready to pledge your love to them only.  They know that most students apply to more than one college.  As long as you aren't leading them on and pretending to be interested when you're not, they won't take it personally that they're not necessarily the only one for you. 

So when a college asks, tell the truth.  Be proud of where else you're applying and share your real reasons why you're doing so.  Telling a college which other schools are on your list along with a good description about why you think you'd love attending each of them is the sign of a mature, savvy college shopper.  It shows them that you're excited about your college future and that you know there are plenty of great schools out there where you could be happy and successful. 

It won't make you seem any less interested in this particular school.  In fact, being confident and excited about all your options will probably make them all that much more interested in you.

College planning simplified

There's a lot to consider when planning for college today.  But if you want to...

1. Have more college options...
2. Get more financial aid and scholarship money...
3. Enjoy the ride to college with less stress and more excitement...
4. Be more successful during (and after) college...
5. Have an amazing four years of learning, growth and fun...

Start by picking the right colleges.

Spend less time worrying about how to get into just the prestigious schools.  Spend more time finding those that are most likely to appreciate who you really are and what you've done.  Move beyond name-brand recognition and find colleges that fit you.  And if you need help finding those schools, visit your high school counselor and just ask...

"What colleges do you think would be right for me?"

Advice for senior families weighing college options

For senior families who are trying to decide between college options (or what to do if if you don't have enough of them), here are five old posts I hope might help.

Five tips to help seniors pick their colleges

How to handle college rejections

What to do if you were rejected by all your colleges

Thinking about placing deposits at more than one school?

How to compare financial aid awards

Start your college search with the end in mind

One great way to identify what you're looking for in a college is to ask yourself this--when you graduate from college, what do you want to be able to say about the four years you just spent there?

Yes, you'll want a degree and you'll hopefully want to be able to get a job next.  But those are the rewards you earn for going.  What do you want to be able to say about your college experience when you look back on it?

If you're willing to be honest with yourself, you probably won't mention things about prestige, a beautiful campus or a small student-faculty ratio.  You'll want to look back on great friends, learning, living in a dorm, taking classes you want to take, discovering your talents, living independently, taking road trips, going to football games, having fun, and being proud of what you've accomplished.

Every student will have different answers.  But starting your college search with the end in mind won't just help you figure out what qualities you're looking for.  It will also help you realize just how many places you could find them, even if the colleges aren't famous.

Nobody ever regrets having college choices

I've never heard a student say, "I wish I didn't have this many college options."

But I have heard students without those options say, "I wish I hadn't applied to so many reach schools."

I'm not saying you should aim consistently low.  Take shots at your dream schools so you'll never have to wonder.  But make sure you apply to 4-5 schools where your chances of admission are strong.  And the only way to know your chances are strong is to talk to a professional in the know, like an admissions officer, your high school counselor or a private counselor. 

Where you apply to college is totally your decision.  When you make it, remember that nobody ever feels bad when a college says, "Yes."

A physics professor's take on his place of work

A lot of colleges sound the same.  Small classes.  Dedicated professors.  A library with 2 million volumes you can check out.  Not many of them can--or are willing to--come out and tell prospective students what makes their school unique and how that benefits their graduates.  

But Scott Calvin, a physics professor at Sarah Lawrence College (SLC), gives one of the best answers I've ever seen to those questions in his open letter to SLC students,  Why Haven't Sarah Lawrence College Students Taken Over The World?  Sarah Lawrence students interview professors before selecting classes.  Calvin explains exactly how that changes a student over four years, and how it helps their students become successful when they leave.  It's not the same marketing-speak you see on so many colleges' websites.  It's direct, honest, and frankly, totally refreshing.

Even if you have absolutely no interest in Sarah Lawrence, I'd still read the piece for two reasons:

1.  It will give you some idea of the kind of impact a college can have on you if you choose the right one.

2. If you like what he says, you should know that you can interview professors before you select classes at virtually all colleges.  Sarah Lawrence just happens to require it.

What college rankings really tell us

From Malcolm Gladwell's (author of "Blink" and "The Tipping Point") most recent New Yorker piece, "What College Rankings Really Tell Us..."

There’s no direct way to measure the quality of an institution—how well a college manages to inform, inspire, and challenge its students.  So the U.S. News algorithm relies instead on proxies for quality—and the proxies for educational quality turn out to be flimsy at best."

 

Learn about colleges from people who are already there

If you have older friends who are in college at schools you'd like to know more about, here's a suggestion.  Ask them if they'd let you take them out for lunch or coffee when they're home for spring break so you can ask them some questions about their experiences.

If you ask your average college student, "How's college?" in person or over email, but do so in passing, you're going to hear a brief answer, usually very positive without any details.  But over lunch or coffee when it's just the two and you have more time, a college student can spend some time telling you what he or she really thinks.  And you can ask as many specific questions as you'd like. 

And offer to pay for their coffee or turkey club.  They deserve it for taking the time to help you out.