As high schoolers return to the classroom this Fall, they will gear up to worry about the college selection and application process. They will be led to believe that in order to get into their dream college they must get straight A’s, ace the SAT, and apply to an average of nine colleges, ideally while engaging (and excelling) in several extracurricular activities.
In It’s the Student, Not the College, Kristin White demystifies the college application process and tells soon-to-be college students what they really need to know to ensure their academic and professional success.
The book lays out the “College Success Profile”: a set of qualities—such as perseverance, curiosity, and strong study habits—shared by students who thrive in school and their careers. Research shows that students with these qualities who attend public colleges tend to experience the same career success as do their Ivy League counterparts.
It’s the Student, Not the College is a must-have for every student pursuing higher education, as Kristin shares invaluable insight. Check out just a few of her tips about college selection:
With more than 2,700 four-year colleges and universities in the United States, it is hard to know where to start when selecting a college. Rather than reviewing the rankings, investigating the familiar big names, or considering the colleges that your friends are going to, start by looking inward. Investigate your own interests, learning style, and preferences for campus life before you turn your attention to the colleges themselves. You will be more effective in critically evaluating colleges and making a well-reasoned decision if you use this framework for decision-making.
Academic interests
It’s not unusual for a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old to be undecided about what he wants to study in college. In fact, one of the benefits of a traditional liberal-arts curriculum is that it leaves room to explore different subjects before deciding on a major. Students who are unsure about what they would like to study can think about possible career goals or about areas that will build their future job skills. Many benefit from taking a Strong Interest Inventory test, which helps students to evaluate careers and areas of interest. Christina is a high school junior who told me that she only wanted to apply to undergraduate business programs, since she was excited to work for an international company someday.
When asked what she liked about business or where she saw herself in the future, she mentioned interests in marketing, developing business plans, attending meetings, and working with people from all over the world. She took the Strong Interest Inventory, and the results said that she was Artistic and Social, which she agreed with. I showed her the typical undergraduate business curriculum, which includes classes in accounting, statistics, finance, and calculus, with few opportunities for creative or artistic classes. Christina decided that while she still wants a career in international business, she hasn’t decided if an undergraduate business program is right for her. She is intrigued by classes in international relations and communications, so she has decided to stay open to different possibilities and not enroll in a structured undergraduate business program.
Other students have a clear goal for what they would like to study in college. Michael always loved English and writing and knew that college would be incomplete for him without a focus on literature, creative writing, and class discussions. Arpita knew that she wanted to study engineering because it was a good way to combine her interests in math and design. While it’s not important that students have decided on a major or an area of academic interest, they should at least start considering their strengths, interests, and future career options in relation to the course of study they will pursue in college.
Financial means
It’s never too early to start thinking about college financing. Parents and students should talk about available resources, their tolerance level for loans, and the amount of money they have available for college tuition before the student falls in love with an unaffordable option.
Lifestyle and Campus Culture
The lifestyle consideration goes beyond whether you want a large or small college and how far away from home you’re willing to go. Is your religion important enough to you that you want a campus environment that has religious traditions or a certain percentage of students who share your religious beliefs and customs? Do you want to attend a traditional university with Greek life, football games, and tailgating, or would you prefer a campus culture that de-emphasizes sports, or one that’s somewhere in between? Many students have preferences for particular types of weather, and some need to be in the city, others in the country, and still others somewhere in between. If you have the luxury of leaving home for college, it’s important to find a campus culture and environment that will help you thrive and be happy.
