Finding the Best School for You

I've blogged about this before, that there isn't one best school for everyone, but it's worth saying again.  And this time, I don't even have to write it all out!  One of the counselors from NMMI (New Mexico Military Institute) wrote an incredibly thoughtful post, including questions students should ask themselves when they are selecting colleges to apply to, and eventually attend.  Here's a great quote from the post:

"By helping many students through decisions on their future education, I have found that emotions take over if there isn’t a written list. This works wonders to help clarify and somewhat quantify your choice of school or the whole decision can end up being very emotionally driven. There is certainly a part of the equation that is ‘feel’, and that is included here, but that can’t be the whole equation."  (Author:  LTC Kalith Smith)

So, if you would appreciate some helpful guidance, read the entire blog post  It's worth your time (and money and future) to work through the questions.  Remember, make sure you find your best fit.

(Want to read more about finding your best fit?  Read Where You Go Isn't Who You'll Be  and  Where You Go Isn't Who You'll Be, Part II )


***I am not paid by the author of the NMMI blog or the book to share these resources.  This blog "To and Through College" is simply a blog to share tips for students to get TO and THROUGH college--with no payment to myself from any link I share.  I'm sharing them because they are the most helpful things a future college student (and their parents) could read!

Shopping Around at a College Fair

This, my friends, is a college fair.  Tons of booths (close to 100!), with College Admission Reps from around the country.

And these are some of the awesome students that gave up an 6 hours on a Saturday to come to the RMACAC College Fair.  But really, when you think about it, you're going to spend 2-4 years at college.  It's smart to spend time finding a few places you would really be successful and happy.  

I felt SO proud of our students.  They attended the workshops, asked great questions, and visited the booths on their own.  I made the crazy goal to get through at least half of the booths--my awesome parent chaperone, Stacey Whitford--took the other half.  At every table, I would introduce myself as the College Prep Advisor for DaVinci Academy.  The response was always, "Oh, I've already met some of your students!"  I was so happy that our students not only took time out of their busy lives to go to a college trip, but once they were there, they used all the time they could to gather as much information about possible colleges they could attend.

These students saw what I hope all students see--that there are hundreds, literally thousands--of colleges throughout the country.  There are so many options that a student should never feel like they can't find a good fit.  In fact, after attending a college fair, a student usually is overcome with the sheer number of possibilities!  There are multiple "good fits" for each student--based on a number of factors, including academic preparedness, college programs, social and athletic involvement, surrounding area of the college,  financial cost, etc.  So yes, shop around.  Take time to attend college fairs, read brochures, scan through university websites, and figure out your own multiple "best fits"!  

Some cool things that happen at college fairs:

• You might discover a college you have never heard of--go to tables that may not be on your "list", and explore the possibilities
• A College Fair includes all types of colleges:  4-year universities, liberal-arts colleges, tech-schools, community colleges, junior colleges, Culinary Arts Institutes, Art Schools, and other options to check out  
• You grab information not only about the college as a whole, but about individual programs or about things that are unique to that college, that you wouldn't find out any other way
• They expect you to hit multiple colleges--so don't be nervous as you are talking to a representative from Utah State that you are holding a brochure from Dixie State.  They applaud a student that is shopping around, comparing all the aspects of the college to be sure that when they arrive at college--they are there for all 4 years.

Next time there is a college fair, jump on the bus and join us!