How Three Students Found Their College Match - selecting a college - Brief Article

Three students. Three stories. Find out how their experiences can help you make your college choice.

"Ask advice from everyone, but act with your own mind." So says an old Yiddish proverb. And that's pretty much the first advice most college graduates offer to students considering their college options. Knowing yourself well will help you determine what criteria are important to you in choosing a college. The other key to finding a good college match is doing research to find out what school fits you best.

Students select colleges for a variety of reasons. There are no right or wrong colleges, only good and bad fits! What's important to some doesn't fill the bill for others. Some people just "know"; others struggle with indecision.

Sandra

For some people, the choice is easy. Sandra Morgenthaler, from the Chicago suburb of Prospect Heights, was one of those people. Sandra wanted to pursue a career in visual communications. Her first choice was DePaul University in Chicago, but she applied to two other Midwestern schools--just in case. Being accepted at DePaul made Sandra a very happy camper.

"DePaul appealed to me because it was in the city, not in the middle of a cornfield. It also had small class sizes (an average of 30 students) and I wanted that. Even though I lived on campus at DePaul, it was only a 30-minute drive from home--a comfortable distance. It was nice not to live at home, but I knew that I was able to visit home anytime I wanted."

Helena

Helena Pasieka, from Arlington Heights, Illinois, had no trouble deciding she wanted to be a doctor. Choosing a college proved more difficult. "I had the hardest time trying to decide where to go to school," she said. She visited eight of the 15 or so schools she applied to. After her school visits, she was able to narrow her list down to two choices. She was torn between the University of Missouri and the University of Washington. She even attended both orientations because she couldn't decide which she liked better. Both met most of the criteria on her "wish" list. Helena wanted to attend a bigger school because she believed it would offer her "a really broad variety of options for majors." Living on campus was important to her, as was attending a co-ed school. More important, she wanted to be able to work in a research hospital.

"I eventually chose the University of Washington because its medical school (my end goal) has a better research reputation, and I wanted to get involved in research as an undergraduate. Originally I thought I wanted to go to Missouri because it was closer to home. But the distance between home and the University of Missouri turned out to be an eight-hour drive. I figured I would be home just as often if I moved to Seattle."

Helena is very glad she chose the University of Washington. "I'm very happy here and I've had many opportunities that I didn't think would be open to me."

Christopher

Christopher Collins is a sociology major at Pepperdine University. He hopes to work with the Peace Corps when he's finished his bachelor's degree. Down the road, he can see himself completing his master's or even a doctorate in sociology. But sociology wasn't Christopher's first choice.

The plan, originally, was to be an actor. "When I was in high school, I thought I knew exactly where I was going and what I was doing." Christopher was very involved in the theater program at his Texas high school. He even attended a national theater convention in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he auditioned approximately 40 schools. The theater programs of more than half of them offered scholarships. Pepperdine University was the one he chose.

Location, location, location. That was one of the main reasons Christopher chose Pepperdine. "Pepperdine is a good school, on the beach, and close to Los Angeles." As any aspiring actor knows, it helps to be where the work is.

But location wasn't his only criteria. "I wanted a school that would give me the ability to change. What I mean by that is a liberal arts program." And it's a good thing Christopher kept his options open, because he did decide to change his major to sociology. College opened Christopher's mind to new possibilities.

Money Matters

Money was a concern for all the students we interviewed. If Helena had done anything differently, it probably would have been to apply for more scholarships. "The money is out there; you just have to apply," she says.

"Cost was a huge factor," agrees Christopher. He originally received a theater scholarship. As his interest changed, it was replaced by a student leadership scholarship. (He is president of the student body.)

As for Sandra, the one thing that concerned her was the affordability of DePaul. Fortunately, she found that funding was available.

Finding Your Match

All of our students suggested visting colleges and talking to students and faculty. Christopher says visits are the key: "My college visits played a big role in my selection. When I visited a campus, sometimes I wouldn't feel anything. When I walked onto the Pepperdine campus, I could feel something. It's almost like you click with it."

And that's what you are looking for. A connection, a match. With a little research and a little footwork, you'll find the right college for you.

What Kind of College Do You Want?

A little self-analysis will go a long way in helping you figure out what colleges are right for you Above all, be honest with yourself. Consider the following criteria and honestly assess their importance to you. Write your answers in the space provided.

Location Do you want to be close to the beach, a ski hill, a big city, a small town, or home?

Class Size Do you want to be on a first-name basis with your professors?

Do you work best with personalized attention?

Extracurricular Activities What interests and hobbies might draw you to a school?

Do you want social clubs, a chess club, a swim team, a meteorology station, a music department?

Specialized or Broad-based Education Do your career plans require a specialized curriculum or do you want a broad-based education?

Student Body Do you prefer a diverse student body, an all-male or all-female school?

Prestige If the prestige of a school matters to you, be honest about it,

Cost Do you need a scholarship from a school in order to attend it?

Do you prefer a less expensive public school?

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COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group