10 Biggest College Search Mistakes (& How to Avoid Them)
by Debbie Arp
October 03, 2007
10. The Parent Trap - Be the point person in your college search, but don’t keep your parents in the dark. They will want to have input and, whether you admit it or not, chances are you will want to hear their opinion.
9. Don’t Wait for Senior Prom – Starting your college search too late can limit your choices and create a lot of anxiety. Your sophomore or junior year is not too early to begin your search. Request materials, attend college fairs, and surf the net.
8. Thinking You Can’t (or Must) Go the Distance – What’s the perfect distance from home? That’s different for each person, but try not to write off any college just because of location alone. The best fit for you might be a mile down the road, or it might be two time zones away.
7. Confusing Your Choice with Someone Else’s – Everyone likes to stay in touch with friends, but that’s not the best reason for choosing a college. Ask any college graduate who their five best friends are and where they met them. Most will have a college connection.
6. Selling Yourself Short – Colleges like a diverse and multi-talented student body so share your interests, skills and dreams with college personnel. You may be a perfect fit.
5. Best Campus Visit in the World – Plan the visit through the Admissions Office…you’ll get to see everything. Visit other schools…you can make better comparisons. If you can, go back a second or third time….you’ll always see something new.
4. You came here because…..? Nobody knows a school better than the current students, and nobody will give you straighter answers. Just ask!
3. Good Plan, No Money – Financial aid deadlines are important. Don’t let them slip by. Most colleges are affordable if you do the leg work early!
2. “They don’t offer skydiving!” – Many schools offer your major, but might lack other things you can’t live without. OK, skydiving may not be your thing, but you may want to work on the student newspaper (as a freshman!), play sports, volunteer in the community, or join the jazz band.
1. Ignoring the Big Picture – Look at the total package. College is a lot more than attending class and turning in term papers. The activities you choose, the organizations you join, the friends you make, the faculty you get to know…all are part of your education. Take the time to look.
