Taking the Intimidation out of the College Search Process

Aside from May Day, do you know what May 1st is?  For those of us with high school seniors and for those who have already been through the college search and acceptance process, we all know well!  May 1st is National College Acceptance Day. It’s the day in the cycle when high school seniors across the nation must decide where they will attend college the following August, and it’s the day when the deposit must be paid to indicate a student’s commitment to attending.

My daughter’s high school commemorates this day with “College T-shirt Day.”  All the seniors wear their college T-shirts to school so everyone can see where they have chosen to attend. My daughter and her friends added the special touch of a before school breakfast and photo session. This was a big and exciting day for them – a real right of passage.  And it was a similar right of passage day for the juniors behind them, for as one class completes the cycle of the college search process, the next class begins anew.

As with the beginning of any new process, it can seem overwhelming at first.  How do we begin? What do we do? How do we choose?

I do college search counseling for a living, so I understand the anxiety.  It IS an overwhelming process. There is so much information out there. There is guidance to be had, for sure, but even that guidance can seem overwhelming at first.  My first words of advice to all of you beginning the process in earnest now is “Relax.”  This is not a sprint. It’s not even a marathon. It’s more like a journey through a forest of beautiful trees and flowers. Stop and savor each moment along the way. Trust me, you don’t want to ruin your student’s last year at home with anxiety, insecurity and fighting. The answers will become more apparent as the journey goes on, and eventually you will reach a pasture and it will all be clear.

 

When beginning the search process, there are a handful of foundational considerations to keep in the forefront of your minds as a family. Today is a good day to start the conversations.

What are the financial considerations of the family?  Is money a major issue for the family or is it a lesser factor? Will the family have multiple students attending college at the same time? Is financial aid an option? Does the family have funds saved for college?

Does the student know what he or she wants to study? How firm is that academic interest? Is the academic interest something that can only be found at a large institution? Is the academic interest something that can only be found at a specialized institution? What is the backup plan if the student changes his/her mind during college?

Does the student enjoy an urban, suburban, or rural atmosphere? Starting college visits early can help to narrow this down, and college visits do not have to be made across the country to start this discussion.  Begin with visits in your own state just to get this conversation going.

What kind of social environment does your student think they want? Is your student interested in a sorority or fraternity? Does your student look forward to an atmosphere different from the high school they attended (more diverse perhaps?) Does your student want a more serious and studious atmosphere or does your student enjoy a “party school” atmosphere? It’s time for some honest conversations.

Does your student hope to play Intercollegiate Athletics? This is a process all unto itself. Division I, II or III? Do you need the assistance of a recruiting company? Do your student’s coaches have a good network?

Do you have the resources you need to make this decision? How comprehensive is your student’s high school counseling department? Do you need to hire a private counselor to augment the work of your school’s counselors? Does your student need help writing the college essay? Will your student need ACT/SAT Prep work? Do you need a third party to mediate the expectations within the family unit?

So, take a deep breath and relax. I can promise you that the year ahead will be an adventure for both you and your student, but it can be fulfilling and even fun.

Sue O’Connell, J.D., College Search Counseling and Success Coaching sue.oconnell@comcast.net