ComputerHunter.org

 

Five Steps To Choosing A College


My name is Debbie Ross. The information I have about my journey in finding a college can help both parents and students alike. Going back a few years, I was at the turning point of my life. Graduation from high school was just around the corner and I had no clue which college I was going to attend. My parents had their list of colleges that I could attend, and most of my friends were already being accepted to their college or university. With deadlines for applications approaching, I knew that I had to begin finding a college. Choosing the right college is such an important decision, and so I came up with a game plan to find a college. Here are the steps I took in choosing a college.

1. Choosing my future career

The first step I took was to determine what I liked and what I did not like. I quickly ruled out being a doctor, a lawyer or a dentist. In addition, I knew there were career choices that were out of my league, such as being an architect or engineer. My high school grades proved this! Therefore after a lengthy thought process, I narrowed down my choices to Communications, Journalism, Business Management and Information Technology.

My school counselor also helped me by giving me a Career Assessment Test. This revealed many of my strengths and tendencies. From this, I discovered that I was best suited for Business Management related studies. I highly recommend this. Career Assessment Surveys are not very expensive and can be found through an internet search.

2. Matching courses with colleges

The next thing I did was to list the colleges and universities that offered Business Management studies and had a good track record. I used The Fiske Guide to Colleges. Within a short span of time I came up with a list of 20 colleges that I could see myself in for the next 4 years. All of these colleges had multiple specializations within my field of study, were fully accredited, and had good graduation rates with good reputations. I further narrowed my list down to 14 by selecting those universities which were located near a larger city, one of the criteria that I was looking for in my college.

3. Narrowing it down to my top five

I had above average SAT scores (nothing to take me to Harvard though) and therefore had a wider selection of options for myself. Therefore, my final decision would largely be determined by the funds from my parents, any scholarships or grants, and the money I could earn through on-campus work study. I visited the web sites of each college and took virtual tours of the facilities they offered. Each had its strengths -huge libraries, modern student housing, student body size, a variety of extra curricular activities and sports, and more.

I was able to narrow the list from fourteen to five based on the following criteria: going to college within 4 hours of home, my budget for college, and a smaller student body to offer a more personal approach to my education.

4. Parents and Applications

Next, I got my parents involved in my decision. They had been helping me all along the way, but I needed their help in making the final, important decisions. I showed them the list of 5 colleges that I had, including details, locations, and costs. Together, we narrowed the list to three possible colleges that I could attend. They wanted a college or university which would be easy for them to visit, but would also have excellent teaching and housing facilities. The following weekend I filled out all 3 applications and mailed out them to these colleges and universities. Now it was time to wait for the response.

5. Making the final choice

Within a few weeks, I had received acceptance letters from all the colleges where I sent my applications. In the end, my parents and I decided the best way to make the final decision was to visit the campuses. We took two days to visit all three campuses. Visiting the actual university was vastly different from the virtual tours. My final choice was actually rather easy. I decided on the University of Texas at Austin.

The most important steps along the way for me were to take the Career Assessment Test, researching my college choices online through virtual tours, and sitting down with my parents to discuss which colleges to send applications to. This helped make my final decision easier. I hope these steps can help you in finding a college or university as you make career choices.

Rich Niccolls has been a college recruiter and professor for 12 years. Read his 7 key factors for choosing the right college for you. Visit the Find A College website.







Google News - Top Stories

China Daily

Ford Makes Concessions in Effort to Get Government Help
Washington Post - 50 minutes ago
By William Branigin Ford Motor Co., unveiling a business plan demanded by Congress before it approves aid for the Big Three US automakers, disclosed today that it is seeking a bridge loan of up to $9 billion and that it expects to break even or become ...
UPDATE: Ford Asks For $9 Billion Backstop Loan; Aims For '11 Profit CNNMoney.com
UPDATE 1-Ford seeks insurance should recession worsen:CEO Reuters
New York Times - Houston Chronicle - Detroit Free Press - BusinessWeek
all 1,091 news articles


Reuters South Africa

Governors urge Obama to help the poor, boost economy
Reuters - 35 minutes ago
By Jeff Mason and Jon Hurdle PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - US state governors urged President-elect Barack Obama on Tuesday to pump money into infrastructure and help support the poor as a sinking economy hits state budgets hard.
Obama Promises Quick Relief for Governors New York Times
Obama Asks Governors for Input on Stimulus Proposals Wall Street Journal
CNN - The Associated Press - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com
all 1,300 news articles


Washington Post

Obama gambles on Hillary Clinton
Financial Times - 1 hour ago
Barack Obama’s foreign policy and national security appointments - Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, Robert Gates as defence secretary and James Jones as national security adviser - have won praise from the moderate centre of the Democratic party ...
Video: Obama Picks Gates, Clinton for Foreign Policy AssociatedPress
Success of Clinton Choice Hinges on Rapport Washington Post
Buffalo News - MilitarySpot - San Francisco Chronicle - International Herald Tribune
all 2,945 news articles


ABC News

Israelis mourn losses in Mumbai attacks
Christian Science Monitor - 42 minutes ago
Funeral of Rabbi Holtzberg and his wife, Rivka, brings vows to fight back - with 'light and goodness.' By Ilene R. Prusher | Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor KFAR CHABAD, ISRAEL - Thousands of Israeli mourners on Tuesday thronged the ...
Pained but resolute, Chabad buries emissaries in Israel Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Thousands in Israel mourn Jews killed in Mumbai The Associated Press
CNN - Voice of America - Ha'aretz - Times Online
all 2,485 news articles


BBC News

UPDATE 1-Georgia votes in key US Senate run-off election
Reuters - 29 minutes ago
By Matthew Bigg DULUTH, Ga., Dec 2 (Reuters) - The state of Georgia voted in a run-off election for US Senate on Tuesday that will help decide whether Democrats gain a big enough majority in the chamber to more easily pass their legislation agenda.
Presidential Race Is Still Alive in Georgia Runoff New York Times
US Senate run-off vote in Georgia BBC News
Washington Post - Voice of America - The Associated Press - Daily Mail - Charleston
all 1,644 news articles

Google
 

Copyright © 2006 Computer Hunter - A Division of Arthur´s Job Base