Visiting Colleges
Jul 13th, 2009 by Admissions Counselor
We’ve welcomed hundreds of visitors onto campus this summer, all of them excited - and many of them nervous - about the college search. We asked one of our summer tour guides, Arreon H., for his tips on the college search:
First, I think that before you delve too far into your college search, you should compile a list of what is important for you to have in a college. Things that could be included on this list are: possible majors, sports (check to make sure that your prospective school has your sport), clubs, religious life, social environment, location, etc. Just figure out what you want from a school. (Please notice that I left finances off that list. I will explain that later.) Once you have your list of things that are important to you, make that your checklist for the schools that you will research. If a school does not have one of the things on your list, that’s OK, but do take note of it.
My next piece of advice is for you to truly narrow down the schools that you think you would like to apply to and/or visit. Narrowing your list down early will relieve a lot of stress when it comes down to visiting schools and ultimately making your decision. Applying to fifteen schools and having to choose between them is stressful! The most important part of researching schools is VISITING the school. Visiting the school will give you a feel for the campus, the area where the campus is located, the students, the professors and how classes are taught. No matter how much you look at a school’s website, the best way to get a sense of a school is to visit. Take a tour of the school, ask questions. If there is something on your checklist that is not offered, bring that up when you talk to your tour guide or admissions counselor. After you have done all of your research, decide which schools you want to apply to. Try not to apply to too many schools as it can be overwhelming. Make sure you keep track of the various application deadlines, not only for admissions but also for financial aid.
So, let’s talk about financing your education. To be considered for financial aid at Goucher, you’ll need to submit a few different documents, and you should be in touch with the Office of Student Financial Aid if you have any questions about filling out those forms. The Admissions Office also awards merit-based scholarships every year. There are also many outside scholarships available, through various organizations or programs. Apply for as many scholarships as possible and see what turns up. In the end, you will choose a school that you feel is the right fit and that is affordable. I have to say though, it is better to take out a few loans than to go to a school where you know you won’t be as happy. The entire college search can be confusing, scary and downright ugly! Just stay organized and keep track of deadlines and you will be just fine.
Arreon H. is a senior from Columbia, MD