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College Success
(Admitted to USC) |
"Without a doubt, the improvements you made to my essay made the difference. I was accepted to every school I applied to and feel that because my scores and GPA were not at the high end of the scale, my essay was the defining moment. Thanks again for your help. And yes I have recommended your services over and over again to many of my friends."
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Factors to Consider
When Researching Schools:
The first, and most important, question to ask is: Do you know what you want?
This section presents a series of issues to consider and is designed to help you
determine the most important factors for you. Remember that although you are
going to college to learn, you are also going there to live. Think about what
will make the next four years comfortable and fun-this is just as important as
what that degree will get you once you have graduated. Every year, hundreds of
students get into Ivy League schools and turn them down. They opt instead for
schools with less prestigious names that, for whatever personal reasons, seemed
to suit them better.
Now get ready to ask
yourself some questions. In the following, you will find just a few of the
things worth considering when researching schools.
Location and Size
How far away from home are
you willing to go? Consider that if you go too far, you will not be able to
visit home very often. Do not neglect to take into account the cost of
transportation. Nothing is more depressing than being stuck on an empty campus
during a major holiday because you cannot afford to go home. Lastly, what part
of the country is the school in, and how much do you know about it? Can you
handle a climate change?
Also think about the
environment the school is in, whether big city, suburbs, or rural farmland.
Small, rural schools mean smaller classes and more personal attention. Big
schools mean more activities and cultural opportunities. However, big schools
also require you to take more responsibility for your education and living
arrangements.
Outside Influences
Obvious pros and cons come
with attending the same school as your high school friends. Some students look
forward to getting a fresh start with a clean slate in a place where no one
knows where they came from or who they were in high school. Going to college is
truly a chance to reinvent yourself. On the other hand, going to a strange place
where you know no one can be intimidating. Familiar faces can make the
transition more comfortable.
Also-and we hope this is
obvious -- don't fail to apply to a college simply because your parents want you
to, and don't apply to a school you have no interest in because they do want you
to. Subject the colleges that your parents suggest to the same scrutiny as any
other college on your list. The same goes for your guidance counselor. The
quality of counselors varies widely. Many are terrific and can be excellent
resources. Others are seriously overworked and recommend the same schools over
and over. If the counselor does not know you by sight, take the guidance with a
grain of salt. When heeding advice, always consider the source.
The Serious Stuff
You can use the overall
reputation of the school, in addition to the average S.A.T.s and G.P.A.s, to get
an idea of academic rigor. Do you want to be the academic star on campus? Do you
instead want to be challenged in an environment where most of your peers have
scored better than you? You probably want a stimulating environment with
students whose academic skills and abilities are equal to, but do not
significantly exceed, your own.
Also look at things like
class size, student-teacher ratios, and faculty prestige. Think of how amazing
it would be to take classes taught by your favorite author. Also try to find out
if a school places heavy emphasis on faculty research. This can mean that while
the faculty is enormously prestigious, you will never see them because you will
be taking classes taught by their graduate assistants.
Cost
Ideally, cost would not be
an overriding consideration when choosing where to apply, but we all know that
reality can be very different. Luckily, most competitive colleges offer generous
financial aid packages, including loans, grants, and work-study programs, to
students who cannot afford to pay the full tuition price. Remember, though, that
tuition is a jumping-off point for other financial discussions. Do you mind
juggling several outside jobs or graduating with a heavy debt? Would it bother
you to go to a school where everyone has more money than you do?
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