STUDIES I know what I WANT to study. Definitely___ Maybe___ General Idea ___ Clueless___
My area of study “Definitely” will be_______________________________ (can be more than one major)
I know what I DON’T want to study. For Sure___ Not Necessarily___
No way will I find myself studying________________________________________________ Conclusion 4 Within the circle(s) I have drawn on the map, I will find the schools that can meet my academic goals because they offer ________________________________________________ (be as specific or general as you want to be). Do you have a specific idea of what you want to study? A strong idea: “I want to be a veterinarian who specializes in small animal care,” or “I have to be an actor?” Well, congratulations. You have made life a lot easier for your anxious parents as well as for yourself. You now can go get sodas, pop some popcorn in the microwave, and take a seat at your computer or in front of one of those huge guides to colleges and universities and find those schools that offer what you think are appropriate majors and are within your circle(s) on the map. If, as I dare say in most cases, you don’t have a clue, or at best have some idea, e.g., “I want to do something in the sciences, or engineering, teaching, or business,” or “I never want to take another math course as long as I live,” you still should take a snack and stretch break. Let’s deal first with the student who really has NO idea of a field of study. If you answered “Clueless” to the first question in this chapter, pay close attention. I am going to offer some advice that comes from being a parent who has seen three children through this adventure and from having worked with admissions folks at the high school and university levels. Please consider comprehensive universities that offer not only a variety of majors but also house more than one college. These schools are universities because a student can earn an undergraduate degree in the Business School, or in the Engineering College, or in the College of Arts and Sciences, for example. Most school with the word “college” in their names, on the other hand, offer degrees in only Arts and Sciences, or Engineering, or Business, etc. Choose universities if your interests lie in the Humanities, for example, but you also have a strong interest in Engineering. At universities students can start a program in one college, then change to another or choose to double-major without having to change institutions. Heads Up! In some cases, because a school is named a “College” or “University,” it doesn’t mean that the “College” has only one school giving degrees and the “University” gives multiple degrees. Boston College, for example, grants Bachelors Degrees in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Wallace E. Carroll School of Management, the School of Education, the School of Nursing, and the College of Advancing Studies. Likewise Dartmouth College has undergraduate programs in the Humanities, Sciences, and Social Sciences as well as in the Thayer School of Engineering. Other institutions, like Colgate University, offer undergraduate degrees in only one college. So don’t assume without investigating if you have an interest in a particular school. Look at the example of a young woman who decides upon entering her chosen university that she wants to study theatre. But during her first year she discovers that she is excited by the intricacy of theatre sets including the wonderful state-of-the-art lighting facilities, the likes of which she never saw in her small-town high school. Her natural ability in math as well as her passion for interpretation of plays lead her to explore the possibility of studying electrical or civil engineering along with her theatre. Voilà! Lucky young lady is she who initially chose a university that offers majors and degrees in BOTH Theatre in the College of Arts and Sciences and Electrical or Civil Engineering in the College of Engineering! So if you chose “Clueless” as your answer to the first question, it is important that you identify those UNIVERSITIES, or COLLEGES offering multiple Bachelors Degrees, within your geographic circle(s). If you KNOW what you wish to study, or even if you don’t, have you considered whether or not you would like to study in a foreign country? If this question gets you to consider foreign study for your entire college career, STOP! This workbook is geared toward college and university choices in the U.S. However, there are fine opportunities for foreign study, and I suggest you investigate them through your high school college office and over the internet. However, there are many opportunities for study abroad that can occur during your years at a U.S. college or university. Programs for a year or semester abroad that interest you may be available in English speaking countries (Australia, New Zealand, etc.) or in the Far East or Africa as well as in Europe. These programs are becoming more and more accessible to students in a variety of disciplines. No longer are study-abroad programs limited to students in language, history, art, or other studies in the humanities. Science, management, and engineering students are finding their way to foreign lands for a period of time during their undergraduate years. STUDY ABROAD Until now I hadn’t considered foreign study for a semester or a year during my college career, but I want to keep that option open. Yes___ No___
I have studied ___________ (language) and would like to spend a semester, or year, in _______________
Even though I do not know the language, I would love to spend some time in ____________________. Conclusion 5: Since I would (not) __________ like to learn more about foreign study opportunities, I will (not) __________ limit my list to those schools that provide foreign study. SPORTS I participate in a sport and wish to continue doing so. Yes____ No____ I have an interest in playing in a particular Division or Conference? Yes____ No____ I want to attend a school where I will be a:
Varsity player? Yes____ No____
Club player? Yes___ No___
Intramural player? Yes___ No____ Regardless of whether or not I play, my schools (need, do not need) ___________ to have _________________________ (field hockey, football, golf, e.g.) for (men and/or women) ________________ so I can be a “Super Fan” at a Division _______ school. Other activities outside of academics include political and social organizations such as ski and other outing clubs, vocal and instrumental musical groups, theatre, and newspaper, magazine, and creative writing publications. Extracurricular activities in which I wish to participate include _____________________________________________ Conclusion 7: I am getting somewhere! Perhaps I will wish to continue developing my interests and skills at the college level by participating in ___________________________________________ SIZE Universities and Colleges come in all sizes. To get a reference point, think about your graduating class. Whether you attend a small private secondary school or small public high school located in a rural area and have a class size of 40 students, or you are a member of a high school class with up to one thousand students, you will have an idea of what the number of undergraduate students means. Feel free to answer “yes” to more than one of the following questions. For this first list, it is best to be inclusive rather than exclusive. I would be happy attending a large, state university (over 8,000 , and maybe even over 20,000 students). Yes___ No___ Not Matter____
I would be happy attending a midsize private comprehensive university (say, 3,000 - 8,000 students). Yes___ No___ Not Matter___
I would be happy attending a small to midsize Liberal Arts or Technical College or
University (5,000 students or so) Yes___ No___ Not Matter___
I’d like a Liberal Arts College or Technical College where most of the faces become familiar, yet there are always more people for me to meet.
(2,000-5,000 students). Yes___ No___ Not Matter___
Give me small, where I can be acquainted with all the other students (2,000 or fewer). Yes___ No___ Not Matter___ Conclusion 8: Wow! I am so pleased with myself! Look how much I have accomplished! Besides location and setting for my post-high school education I am narrowing the field by investigating my interests and now by picturing myself as a member of an undergraduate community of ___________ (number) students. You are almost ready to wander through those college guides, some of which are quite large, or sit down in your high school college office and check out the college/university search software available to you. Using the parameters you have established so far, you can create your VERY FIRST LONG LIST OF POSSIBLE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. You will see just how far you have come in this process when you see all the results of the questions you have answered. You really are moving along very well. Good job so far! Before you proceed, though: Break Time!! While you are up, sharpen that pencil and go get those guides you have. You’re back? So take your pencil, turn to the two pages at the end of this section, rip them out, and sit down with the guide material you have gathered. Remember, I told you at the end of Chapter I that this exercise was coming. Start by making a list of the eight conclusions you reached from the first two chapters. Then take your marked-up map (you probably will want to move to the kitchen table or spread out on the floor) and sit down with the college guide(s) you have chosen. Listed at the end of this book are several college guides that are available at local bookstores or in your high school guidance office. Some are huge and list colleges and universities alphabetically by state. They also organize schools in various ways such as by majors that are offered. They all contain information for each school including statistics on the most recently accepted freshman class, types of clubs or activities, sports opportunities, and addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses so you can obtain information on their admissions process. Other college guides, for example, focus on schools selected according to their competitiveness (based partly on the percent of students accepted from their applicant pool) or cost and quality (best buy). At the end of this chapter, you will find a page titled MY VERY FIRST LONG LIST OF POSSIBLE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. Write down ALL those schools that sound interesting using the seven conclusions you’ve reached up to now. Please keep in mind as you read the printed or software guide material that all of the information you wish to find about the different schools may not be available. Don’t worry. You’ll come back to these wishes and questions later when you look at what to ask when you have a chance either to visit schools or to speak to college or university representatives. You know, as you discover more about yourself and about different schools your mind may change several times. That’s great! Both Part I and Part II of this adventure book are a process. Nothing is final until you send in your deposit to the school of your choice. So here let me stress your using a pencil as you answer questions and make your lists so you can change or modify your thoughts at any time.
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