Attend orientation. Orientation not only helps you learn what the school expects of you, but also offers many opportunities to meet other new students looking to make new friends. Take advantage of any freshmen lunches or dances offered to meet new people.

Do not go home for at least a month. Go to parties, ballgames and hang out at the student union to meet new friends. If you do decide to stay on campus to meet people, call your mom to find out how to do laundry. You might not make a very good impression if all of your clothes are pink.

Join groups and clubs. While many new students join clubs related to their major, joining unrelated groups allows you to meet more people and expand your interests. If your school does not have a group that you like, start your own.

Attend functions by yourself. In the first few weeks of school, most students will be going to activities by themselves. Typically, you can meet more people if you do not have someone with you that you can talk with.

Open your door. Students see an open door as an invitation to come in and talk. Leave your door open when possible to encourage visitors. Walk around your dorm looking for rooms that you can visit. While you may find some people that you do not want to socialize with, you will find some that will become best buddies.

Study in common areas when possible. Reading your assignments in a public place encourages others to come talk to you. However, if you are studying for a big exam, you should find a quiet place with few interruptions.

Look up your school`s Facebook or other social media website. The internet allows you to find activities that you might not hear about otherwise. Send friend requests to other students and grow your own personal network.

Talk to people. This may sound simple, but all of the parties and clubs will not help you make friends if you stay in a corner and don`t talk to people. Even if you are not typically an outgoing person, college is a time to become the person you want to be. New people will not know that you were the class geek or the most unpopular person in high school unless you tell them. New friends will only know the new you.

Find a job. Colleges offer work-study jobs that limit your hours but enable you to earn some money. An additional advantage of working on campus is meeting people. Usually, your co-workers will be other students that understand what you are going through. Use the extra spending money to go to the local coffee house or another place where you can meet even more people.

Join an intramural sports team. You don`t have to be an exceptional athlete to join a team and have fun. The time spent with your teammates can help them become your family away from home. If you don`t want to play sports, attend games and join booster clubs to widen your circle of friends.

Even if you choose one of the online colleges, you can make friends through online study groups and web classes. The main thing to remember when making friends is that you must reach out to others rather than wait on them to reach out to you.

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Generally speaking, a Bachelor of Arts has more liberal arts classes and you may have to take foreign language. Courses in BA programs are generally humanities courses like Psychology, Art, History, Sociology, History, Public Administration, etc. A Bachelor of Arts allows you to study other disciplines.

Generally speaking, a Bachelor of Science will involve more science and math courses. Courses in BS programs are generally science and technology courses like Chemistry, Engineering, Physic, Math, Biology, etc.

Not on or the other is necessarily better it just depends on your major, interests, abilities, etc.  Again, look at your undergrad catalog or contact your advisor.

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-Do not wait until the last minute to start the application process.

-Read the application instructions carefully.

-Take advanced courses and do well in them.

-Attend college fairs, use college resource books like Ultime College Guide and use college planning websites like College Board and CompareACollege.

-Develop a list of colleges you want to attend that meet your criteria.

-Work with family, friends, guidance counselors, and other people important to you to narrow down your list of colleges.

-Research each college on your list to determine entrance requirements, fees, and deadlines.

-Consider making campus visits.

-Apply to one or two dream schools, two or more schools they have a good chance of getting into, and one safety school.

-Plan on taking the ACT or SAT again if you didn’t perform as well as you wanted to.

-Take the time to write, edit, and re-write college essays and have them proofread.

-Don’t allow yourself to catch “senioritis,” falling into the senior slump.

-Stay involved in volunteering and community service.

-Review each application packet before you send it in.

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Money

Americans with college degrees make $1.6 million more in their lifetime than people with high school diplomas.  That is $29,000 more annually.  College is well worth the money and truly a good investment.  Plus, with scholarships and financial aid there are plenty of ways to lower the costs.

Better quality of life

Studies show that people with college educations have longer life spans, better access to healthcare, great economic stability and security, great job satisfaction, and more self confidence.

Knowledge is power

Honestly.  College continues to be among the best places to cultivate social change.

Your education will benefit your children

Research shows that children of college educated parents are healthier, smarter, and more likely to attend college.

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College visits are a good way to distinguish college websites and brochures from reality.

Have an idea of what you’re looking for

Have questions prepared in advance.  Arrive early. Stay late.  Consider an overnight visit.  Make a list of all the places you want to see while you are there.

Ask current students

What a great way to find out how the college really is.

See as much as you can

Visit the dorms. Eat the food. Sit in on a class or two.

Check out the surround areas

Get a feel for the town you will be spending the next four or more years of your life in.  Does it have good restaurants, parks, beaches, golf courses, national attractions, etc.?

Good luck!

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Admissions commonly list the following as what they look for in college applicants.

High Standardized Tests

Admissions look for ACT or SAT scores that are equal to or greater than their current students. Colleges usually have a range of test scores from recently accepted students. Standardized test scores are usually seen as the most objective measure of your potential at a college.

High GPA

Obviously, grades are a really important part of your application as well. Again, the college wants applicants’ grades to meet or exceed current students. Colleges usually have a range of grades for recently admitted students. You will need to submit an official transcript.

College-Prep Courses Taken

An A in an advanced or honors class looks better than an A in a regular class. Most colleges put more weight on the college-prep classes.

Top Percentage in Class

Class rank is becoming less important because it loses its meaning in schools that are at the extremes-horrible or exceptional. Grades obviously drive your class rank so focus on getting high grades.

Leadership Positions in a Couple Organizations

Make yourself stand out by holding a leadership position in one or two organizations.  Joining as many organizations as possible isn’t as good as being committed to one or two.

Involvement in Community Service

Colleges do not require community service however it seems most college bound students jump on the bandwagon and get involved in community service.  Whether or not volunteering for your community helps with college admission experts agree that if you give to your community your community will give to you.

Well-Written Essays

Depending on the college, the essay could be the most important or the least important.  Not all colleges require an essay.  If they do you can use it to show your personality and distinguish yourself from other applicants.  Make sure to avoid spelling and grammar errors.

Recommendations from Teachers and Guidance Counselors

A good letter of recommendation can be another way to make you stand out. Ask teachers that have got to know you over the years.  Ask teachers that can not only talk about your academics but also your personal qualities. You should ask early enough to give the teacher enough time to make a quality letter.

Recommendations from Professionals

A letter of recommendation from professionals like a former/current boss or a community service supervisor is another way to improve your application. If the letter is written by an alumni or college donor it looks even better.

Work Experience

Having work experience is not a requirement for the college application but it can make a really good topic for you admissions essay. It can also show you have good time management skills and work ethic.  Do not be afraid to tell a story about babysitting, mowing lawns, washing cars, painting, or any other job that can show good work ethic or is interesting.

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There are five key steps of applying to and getting accepted to colleges.  Each step is as important as the next and if one is ignored or done poorly then the chance of getting accepted decreases significantly.

1. Grades

The bottom line is that grades matter.  Many colleges have a range of grades for recently admitted students.  Grades in advanced, college prep classes outweigh grades in general classes.

2.  Standardized Test Scores

You need to well on the SAT or ACT.  Again colleges usually have a range of scores from recently admitted students.  Be prepared for the tests by buying a book, taking practice tests, getting a tutor, and/or taking prep courses.  If you do not do well the first time remember you can always retake it.

3. Activities/Experience

Colleges like to see you that you are involved in volunteer and extracurricular activities.  Show commitments to one or two activities but do not join as many as possible.  It is a good idea to take on a leadership position.  Join activities that relate to a field of interest.

4.  Application Essay

This can give you chance to stand out from everyone else.  Colleges oftentimes use it as a tie breaker. Be sure to avoid typos, spelling errors, and grammar errors.

5.  Recommendations

Persuasive letters of recommendation is another good way to separate yourself from everyone else.  Choose people that really know you and your potential.  Choose people that have good credentials.

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Don’t panic!  For most people choosing a major is a process.  This article is designed to give you some tips to get that process started.

Use the Resources at the College

Take advantage of your student advisor and your college’s career center.  They can give you self-assessment tools and books.  They can also hook you up with important contacts in prospective departments. 

Self Assessment

What subjects do you enjoy?  What subjects interest you?  What careers appeal to you?  What do you like and dislike about your part-time/summer jobs? Try these self assessment tests: College Major Quiz and My Majors

Strengths and Weaknesses

What subjects come easy to you but are difficult for others? What job duties are you good at/not so good at?  If you’re not good in math you probably would not want to major in actuarial sciences.

Values

Do you want to work for a small business or a Fortune 500 company?  Do you want to work for a non-for-profit organization or the local government?  How important is status, pace of work, working with others, and salary?

Research

Learn all you can about majors that interest you.  There are many “What Can I Do With A Major In” documents provided by colleges.  Google a major you’re interested in.

Test Drive

Sit in on a few classes. Job shadow or take an internship in a field that interests you.

Conclusion

Remember, a major gets you started but it doesn’t define your career.  Studies show most people switch careers 4-5 times in their life.  Best regards!

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Choosing a college is a very important and oftentimes stressful decision that many teens and their families face.  How do you figure out where you want to spend the next four or more years of your life? This article provides a framework to get started.   You should start planning your junior year at the latest!

1.  Develop a list of colleges that meets your criteria by considering:

Majors/minors –It has become common for a lot of students to be undecided.  However, it is good to have an idea of what major you’re interested in because it can make finding a college easier.  Some colleges have nationally ranked major programs.  If you have a declared major you may start you prerequisite classes right away.  You may want to pick a broad major and then pin point it later.  For example, if you like business, then choose business administration as your major and later you can switch it to marketing, management, accounting, etc.  The first couple years for any business major are the same.

Location-How far away from home do you want to be?  Do you want to be in an urban, suburban, or rural area?

Size-Do you want to be 1 of 20,000 students or 1 of 1,000 students?

Public/Private-Public schools cost a lot less but may have fewer resources.

Cost/financial aid-You CAN afford college! It is one of the best investments you can make. There are programs designed to help you! The interest rate on student loans is awesome!  Check out FAFSA for more information on financial aid.

Reputation

Social life- Consider the night life, extracurricular activities, student organizations, fraternities/sororities.

Housing-Are the dorms nice?  Is the food good?  How long do you have to stay in the dorms?  Do the apartments have good locations?  Are they nice?

Chances of Getting Accepted

2. Do research to narrow your list down to a manageable number of colleges that you can visit.

These sites can help you: College Board and College Reviews.

3. Visit the colleges

Learn everything you can, sit in on a class, talk to students, and try the food.

4. Apply to the colleges that are a fit for you.

Most students apply to one or two dream schools, two or more schools they have a good chance of getting into, and one safety school.  Cost is a factor since there are fees to apply.

5. Trust your gut and make the decision. 

I haven’t met one person that regretted going to the college they chose. Best regards!

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