Narrowing Your Choice

In the early stages of college choice, most students have a large number of potential choices on their list and are somewhat confused about their priorities. Those who have worked hard on self-examination will find the narrowing process easier, but a decision this complex is never really easy. Some of the following suggestions may help, though each person will find his or her unique way to reach decisions.

Career Center: use the myriad of resources available to learn more about your choices.

Review: Look back over your credentials and your career-exploration results. A little perspective at this point will help you decide what factors are most important to you.

Read: A wealth of information is available on colleges: catalogues, factual and narrative guides, video presentations and computerized data bases are all in the Career Center along with help and advice on how to use them.

Consult With Others: Sometimes you are the person least able to evaluate yourself. Talk to people who know you well: friends, parents, teachers, counselors, coaches, clergy and employers. Most people are eager to help others and are pleased when you ask their advice. Of course, you have to sort it out at the end.

Visit Schools: The initial visit will probably include a campus tour and a chance to speak with either an admissions counselor or a student representative. If possible, ask to see areas of the college that you might frequent, such as classrooms in your major department and facilities for activities that interest you. Select questions from the following list to ask counselors or student guides, but avoid questions that can be easily answered by doing basic research in advance of your visit.

It is ideal to make a second visit to a college, which impressed you favorably in your initial visit. This may be combined with a formal interview after you have applied, where this is applicable, but if possible should include an overnight stay in a dormitory, visit(s) to class(es) and experiencing at least part of a weekend.

Trust Your Instincts and Feelings: If you have strong feelings that something is right (or wrong) for you, go with those feelings. Chances are excellent that they will lead you in the best direction.

COLLEGE VISITS

A few hints that will make things go more smoothly for you:

Be certain your parents notify the high school attendance office regarding your absence.

• Write or telephone the office of admissions requesting an appointment to visit. The opportunity of talking to an admissions officer can be mutually helpful. You can ask questions that are not answered in the catalogue, and the admissions officer will get to know you as an individual. In some colleges, group interviews are conducted; these, too, can be helpful, since opportunities are provided to ask questions.
• Bring an unofficial transcript which you can present to the interviewer. Have a separate copy for each college you plan to visit. On the basis of this information, the interviewer can usually tell you whether an application to the institution is reasonable.
• In planning your trip, allow at least three hours for a campus tour and questions.
• Have background information about each school you plan to visit. Consult the catalogue for that college.
• Carry a small notebook in which you can list the questions you have and also record your own observations.
• In your class visits, observe the size of classes. Try to determine whether large lectures are later broken into discussion groups and whether teaching assistants or professors teach freshman courses.
• Talk with students on campus. What do they like about the college and what do they not like? There may be graduates from Pomperaug High School attending the college who could answer many of your questions. (A directory is available in the Career Center listing the names and telephone numbers of graduates who would be glad to host your visit to their campus. Our counselors will be happy to share this information with you.)
• Attempt to find out both from students and the admissions counselor what the academic pressures are on campus.
• Take a camera with you. A few pictures from each college will help you remember the visit.
• Your parents will probably accompany you on your initial visit to colleges, but you may talk to an admissions person alone at some point. In a follow-up visit, try to go alone or spend most of the time there without your parents.
• Dress appropriately. Do not wear jeans or sneakers.
• After your visit, write a brief thank you note to the admissions person you spoke to. Be sure to get his/her full name and title from someone in the admissions office. This note should be written promptly and neatly handwritten or typed on plain white or personal stationery.
• Your counselor will be glad to meet with you prior to any campus visit to help your prepare for your visit and perhaps conduct a rehearsal interview.
• Your first interview should not be at the college of your first choice. Select another of your choices as a warm-up to help you gain experience and confidence in the interviewing process. Perhaps it would be helpful to speak with a friend who has had an interview.
• When you return home, review your notes with your parents and make some judgments. It would be wise to discuss these with your counselor. Your parents and counselor can help you evaluate your observations and opinions so that you can make a good final decision. (You may wish to view the Guidance Department's film on College Interview as preparation.)

Questions to Consider...

• What are the strongest departments at the college?
• What sizes are classes generally? For first-year students? For upperclass students?
• How do I compare academically with students already attending this school?
• What do students do after they graduate? Do they go on to postgraduate studies? What percentage is employed upon graduation?
• What kinds of cultural, sports, literary activities are offered on campus?
• How important are fraternities and sororities on campus?
• What is the social life like here?
• What percentage of students remain on campus during weekends?
• What kinds of living accommodations are there? Dorms? Foreign language houses? Private apartments? What percentage of students live in each?
• Are sports available for the average player? Ask about specific activities that interest you.
• What kind of student is generally the most successful/happy at this college?
• What percentage of the students receives financial aid?
• How much importance is placed on social activities and other extracurricular activities?
• How safe is the campus? How does the institution respond to security incidents?
• How large is the library? Is it open-stack to first-year students? Is it open-stack to any undergraduates? What are its special features or resources?
• What support services are available to students? Post-graduate planning? Free health care? Tutoring if needed? Help finding off-campus employment during the school year and during the summer? Junior year abroad or at another U.S. institution?
• What is the institutional policy and commitment to ethnic/cultural diversity?

Questions That Students Often Are Asked at a College Interview

• How did you first hear about X college?
• What are your career goals---long-range and short-range?
• What are you interested in majoring in?
• What kinds of things do you do outside of school?
• What accomplishments have you achieved or activities have you participated in that have had a particular effect on your life?
• What might you be interested in as a future profession?
• What are your academic strengths and weaknesses?
• How familiar are you with this college and its programs?
• Which one of your activities has given you the most satisfaction?
• If you had high school to do over again, would you do anything differently?
• What particular "life goals" are you seeking to achieve or pursue?
• What are your priorities in selecting a college?
• How would you describe your high school and how would you change it?
• Where do you see yourself in four years?
• Discuss your most stimulating intellectual experience.
• Tell me something you have really wanted which you had to go after on your own.
• What is the most significant contribution you have made to your school?
• What books or articles have made a lasting impression on your way of thinking? Have you read deeply into any one author or field?
• Have you ever thought of not going to college? What would you do?