Tips for the college-bound

by TIM HONSINGER

Where do you want to go to college? What career do you want to pursue? These are major life decisions - and often sources of stress and confusion for students and their families.

Here are some tips to simplify the process:

• Get to know your counselor. Your counselor can help you match your skills and interests to possible careers and/or colleges. (If you're still unsure about a career, meet with your counselor to find out what you don't want to do!) Inform your counselor of your future plans, because they often receive scholarship information with specific criteria. If you do not have a relationship with your counselor, you may miss out on these opportunities.

• Narrow down your college search. At this point, you should have a pretty solid understanding of who you are and what you would like to do as a career. Narrowing down your list of colleges can be a daunting task, however.

After figuring out what size school you'd like, how much you can afford and how far away from home you feel comfortable living, try the following:

• Visit each school on your list. You wouldn't buy a car online without a test-drive; visiting colleges on your list also allows you to be better informed. Speak with students, the admissions department and professors. If you leave a campus feeling uncomfortable, it may not be the school for you - and that's okay.

• Look at the return on your investment (ROI): What exactly are you getting for your tuition? What internships are available for your major? Internships are a great way to get your foot in the door with an organization. What's the job placement rate for students pursuing your career? How does that measure up to other schools? Look into study abroad programs if that interests you.

• Get involved or volunteer to build your high school resume. Colleges are looking for well-rounded individuals. You cannot imagine the valuable leadership skills you receive when getting involved, or how rewarding volunteer work can be. This is a good time to put down the video games; while you're wasting away in front of the television, someone else is beefing up his or her resume and becoming more desirable to your college of choice.

• Hopefully, by May or June of your junior year, you have already taken the SAT or ACT at least once. If you take them again in the beginning of your senior year, you will have more than one score-set to reference when applying to college. Visit www. collegeboard.com and www.actstudent.org for information.

• Take enrichment courses over the summer. Visit www.summeroncampus.com to search specific colleges and their summer programs, or to search specific summer programs at numerous colleges. These programs may be a bit expensive, but the learning and experiences can have a tremendous impact.

• Keep track of your accomplishments - awards, clubs, volunteer work, employment and areas of leadership - to create a "brag sheet." A file folder cataloging all of your accomplishments will make it easier when filling out college applications.

• Ask a teacher, coach or employer if they would write you a letter of recommendation. It's best to contact these individuals far in advance (even the summer before senior year), as they receive multiple requests from students and put a lot of time and energy into the letters. Always follow up with a thank-you note. As with anything in life, if someone does something nice for you, send a note of appreciation.

• Search for scholarships. This may take a little effort, but remember, it's free money. Try www.fastweb.com for starters. (By the way, you should never have to pay for a scholarship search.) Check with your guidance office, your employer, your parents' employers and your church. Every little bit helps: That extra $500 in scholarship money can pay for a college book or two.

(Tim Honsinger is director of guidance at Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons School in Schenectady. He invites students with questions to see their school counselors or contact him at 393-3131, ext. 155, or honsinger @nd-bg.org.)

(05/13/10)