Narrowing the Search

By Deborah L. Carter

If you’re a high school sophomore or junior, or the parent of one, chances are you’ve already experienced episodes of anxiety, avoidance or amnesia caused by the overwhelming reality that it’s time to think about college. And rightfully so. Where do I want to go? What do I want to study? How do I get in? If you answer any of these questions with, “I have absolutely no earthly idea,” you are not alone. As you are reading this, millions of college-bound students and their parents are virtually immobilized at the thought beginning the college search and application process.

So, what do you do? You simply procrastinate. You’ll think about it tomorrow. Or you self-righteously purchase a recommended college guide book, look at the first few pages and promptly decide to go to Starbucks instead. Or you initiate your college research on the Web, but end up IM-ing a few friends, and suddenly realize that it’s time for The O.C.

Unfortunately, procrastination actually minimizes your options and results in missed opportunities. Statistics demonstrate that students who begin the college search during their junior year or earlier tend to increase their chances for admission. Starting early also allows you to plan ahead, adjust your curriculum and create a standardized testing strategy that will accommodate the admissions requirements of your colleges of interest, if only you knew who they were. While decidedly complex, time consuming and stressful, the college search and application process can be manageable, rewarding and successful. It is a journey, and the first step in the journey is: narrowing the search.

OK, it’s a journey. So, in order to figure out where this journey will take you, start with a personal assessment.

• What do I like? What don’t I like?
• What am I good at?
• What are my interests? My passions?
• How do I want to spend my productive time? My downtime?
• What do I want to study? Can I make a living at that?
• What kind of environment do I prefer? What kind of personality?
• What are my strengths and weaknesses?
• Do I like the city or wide open spaces?
• Do I like crowds, intimacy or something in between?
• Do I prefer T-shirts and flip-flops or parkas and snow boots?
• Do I want to stay close to home, revisit a favorite place or venture out into unfamiliar territory?
• Do I want to be anonymous or known by name?
• What can I afford?

Certainly, more questions will come to you as you begin planning your journey, but these will get you started. And you are not allowed to answer more than half of the questions with: “I have absolutely no earthly idea.” None of your answers will be etched in stone for eternity, and most of the questions will continue to be asked and re-answered over a lifetime. But for now, make a concerted effort at a personal assessment. Next, you’ll need to know what to do with this new-found understanding of yourself. In order to decide what places would be good potential fits, you need to know what’s out there. Rather than being overwhelmed by the sheer volume of available resources, you can begin to focus your research based upon your personal assessment criteria.

Depending upon how brave you are, your matrix can have one, two or multiple elements. This will serve as a template for your first round of research. The simplest matrix will have only one or two elements, such as: intimate school + located in Ohio. You’ll soon discover that even this targeted matrix will yield a sizeable number of “hits”, and you’ll just have to roll up your sleeves and dig in. Of course, the more elements you include in your matrix, the more focused your research will become. However, your research techniques will require more sophistication with a more complex matrix.

Based upon your personal assessment, matrix, initial research results, and extent of “unknowns”, the next step in your journey will be to make a second assessment. Evaluate your available time, personal or family capabilities, and access to useful and informed resources. This will help you decide whether to pursue the process alone, to seek the assistance of others, or to employ some combination of all of the above.

Some of the best resources to help narrow the search are the people around you. Parents, family, friends, teachers and high school counselors all can provide useful information, guidance and advice. If you are contemplating a particular course of study or career path, you can also talk to experts or professionals in your community as part of your research activities. Hiring a private college consultant is an option that requires a financial investment in your college search activities. Early campus visits to nearby schools can help you determine your likes and dislikes. In most cases, admissions officers, alums, and, in some cases, even professors, are happy to talk with you. Be sure to inquire about setting up appropriate appointments in advance.

If you’ve ever even considered starting the college search process, you know that there is a staggering number of books and websites out there, all promising to be the “best”, “most comprehensive”, or “complete” source of information. Some even entice you with offers of insider information, tricks and secrets. The truth is that while many of the books and compilations in print or on the Web are useful resources, much of the information is common sense, inapplicable to your particular situation, or in some cases, misinformed. So, beware and be cautious. Make sure you independently verify all “facts”. That said, this process cannot be undertaken without some degree of reliance on source materials. Some books are written to educate, inform and even entertain you along the way. Others are hefty compilations that include detailed information about individual schools. Some of these are written from the students’ perspective, others by critics and rating entities, and still others by the schools’ PR firms. So make sure that you consult more than one source before relying on any fact, number or assertion.

Much useful research can be accomplished by surfing the Web. A number of the more sophisticated websites include search capabilities that enable you to enter certain of the criteria you developed for your matrix, and come up with a list of schools that arguably fit those criteria. Some of these programs are better than others, but all are only as good as the limitations of the included database. And always consult the current printed materials or websites of individual colleges as the best source of accurate information and requirements regarding that particular school. You can find a list of some useful “Resources in Print” and “Resources on the Web” to help you narrow your search at www.collegeconnection.cc/Resources/index.htm

Narrowing the search doesn’t mean narrowing your mind. Be open-minded, creative, patient and committed. Don’t expect to find the one “perfect” school, be ready to part with pre-conceived notions, and don’t be surprised if you are continually surprised by what you learn, not only about colleges, but also about yourself. If you expect to get immediate results, you either will be disappointed or transferring after your first semester. This is a process that demands time and effort. Ask for help and guidance when you need it, but remember, this is your journey. Enjoy the ride!

Deborah Carter is Director of CollegeConnection, LLC, a company specializing in student-centered college search and application consulting services. Contact Deborah at info@CollegeConnection.cc