After you've sealed the deal Here are 5 tips for stress-free waiting 01/13/2012

 

You've been accepted to college and the selection process is over: you’ve mailed the check and signed the dotted lines. But instead of relief, you’re more anxious than ever, and questions plague your mind: Did you make the right choice? Will you miss your best friend? Will you fit in?

Don’t ruin the fun of senior year and summer vacation with unnecessary stress.  Here are five common pre-college jitters.

Did I pick the right school?
You were ecstatic when your acceptance letter arrived. Now, that you are accepted to college that college is looking large and looming. Was that really the right choice for you?

It’s natural to feel stressed before stepping into the unknown, says Major General Henry M. Hobgood, USAF Ret., president of the Randolph-Macon Academy (www.rma.edu) in Front Royal, Va.

Banish that worry by looking beyond the first few days. “Focus on the goal…going to college and doing well,” says Hobgood. “Do not start changing things…professors, courses, roommates, etc. These issues will arise and be solved in due time. Don’t out-guess yourself before you have the experience.”

Am I smart enough to survive at college?
You had it all under control in high school. But now that you have been accepted to college will it all come together in a new environment?

Mary K. Sadler of Front Royal, Va., recalls this anxiety the summer before she attended Roanoke College (www.roanoke.edu). “I stressed that I may not be as smart as the other students, whether or not people were going to like me and more,” she recalls.

She reeled herself in by thinking rationally. “I just came to the conclusion that I had to be smart because I got in and got scholarships…I just had to take the knowledge I had and learn how to apply it properly.”

Am I going to gain weight?
Everyone hears about the dreaded freshman 15—pounds that creep on as a result of cafeteria food, late night pizzas and too much junk food.

Over the summer, get more involved in making your own food choices: prepare a meal at home, or do the shopping.

Plus, fitness is a sure way to fend off the freshman 15 and burn off steam. Find out what resources are available at your future school such as the pool, weight room and indoor track.

Will I miss my best friends?
Changes to some of your current relationships are inevitable, so talk about the topic early, rather than letting anxiety ruin your summer.

“Facebook, e-mail and cell phones have made it easier to stay connected to friends and family,” says Sadler.

Did I choose the wrong major?
“Deciding on a major is a big decision, and many students do not realize the time and self reflection needed,” says Dr. Sarah David, director of Career & Transition Services at Lone Star College System in The Woodlands, Texas.

Do what you can to become familiar with your career choice, but don’t worry if you continue to feel unsure. You’ll likely spend the first year taking core courses which apply to most majors, meaning you can easily shift your major later.”

The summer before college will be a time of stress and impending change.  Don’t let that overshadow your vacation. Do things you enjoy and go off to college well rested and relaxed.

Debbie Swanson has published more than 100 articles in national and regional magazines, including Dog Fancy, The Christian Science Monitor and Highlights. Visit her website at swansonwriting.com.

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Questions to ask about support for students with disabilities Know your rights at the college of your choice 11/01/2010

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) students with disabilities are entitled to accommodations. The majority of the time, the parents advocate for the reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. 

 

After high school, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) insures that a person with a disability who is “otherwise qualified” is not precluded from any of the benefits a university has to offer because of their disability. But it is your responsibility during the college admissions process to be your own advocate. Mom or Dad cannot do this for you at the college level. Work with the college during admissions to find out how to get reasonable accommodations, such as a separate and quiet testing location, time and a half on tests and Power Point slides of the lecture. 

 

Most colleges have a disabled student services (DSS) office to insure compliance with the ADA, but the interpretation of what reasonable accommodations are varies from college to college. To insure a good fit between your needs and what the college offers, ask someone who works at the DSS office how the college uses technology to support students with disabilities. Ask what kinds of support services the college offers, or ask to meet students with disabilities to hear about their experiences at the college. 

 

Here are a few more questions to help you decide: 

1. What are the percentages of the different types of disabilities on campus? If the person you are speaking to does not know the answer, then this might be an indicator that serving students with disabilities is not a priority. 

2. How is your DSS office organized? This will give you an indicator of how much importance the college places upon serving students with disabilities. If the person who is the head of counseling services also doubles as the person in charge of handling disabled student services, then this college may not be the best choice. 

3. What is the average number of students a DSS counselor works with? The higher the case load, the less individualized attention and support a student is likely to receive. 

4. What kinds of reasonable accommodations do you typically offer? Listen for the accommodations you need. If the person does not mention the accommodations you need, ask them if they are willing to provide them. 

5. What has the college done to promote universal access? Look for ramping, lifts, automatic door openers, etc. How much of the campus, including residence halls and student activity centers are accessible to all of the students?

 

Finally, a student should ask themselves during the college admissions process, “How do I feel in this environment?” and “Can I picture myself going here with these other students?” Selecting a college is a personal decision that relies upon answering some questions and how good the fit feels. 

 

Dr. Ernst VanBergeijk is associate dean and executive director of New York Institute of Technology’s Vocational Independence Program. He has been a research associate at the Yale Child Study Center’s Developmental Disabilities Clinic and was assigned to the autism unit.

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Would You Like a Car to Go With That Bumper Sticker?: Eight questions to ask when deciding between colleges Article provided by Unigo.com. 04/24/2009

In front of you are glossy brochures that represent X University and Y College, your top two choices, both of which have already told you they love you back. Congratulations! Here are some questions to ask yourself as you try to choose between them.

1. Are You Hardcore? - Curriculum
   If you’re curious about what the wisdom of the ages could do for you, X University with its core curriculum could be the better choice. Having to glance at Aristotle and Toqueville might lead you to pursue something you wouldn’t have considered otherwise, and you might enjoy the camaraderie that comes from having to suffer through the same classes as all of your friends. On the other hand, if you get starry-eyed at the prospect of never having to take another math class, Y College, with its fewer academic requirements, could be the school for you. 
    
2. Do You Love the Spin Cycle? - Politics
   Let’s say XU is, overall, politically apathetic, while YC is more like a Sunday morning talk show, with extremists from both sides trying to score points. Is it more likely that that your XU friends’ refusal to turn off lights and reuse plastic bags will drive you bonkers, or that YC’s protest-overload will leave you exhausted? Also, would you mind if you’re the only person wearing a “Draft Al Gore!” button either place? While receiving college admissions information, does one seem better at engaging with minority viewpoints than the other? 
    
3. Would You Like a Car to Go with that Bumper Sticker? - Prestige
   Though XU has name recognition, and not everyone will have heard of YC, in certain circles YC is more prestigious. How important is it to you that your diploma be a status symbol? How much do your friends’ and family’s reactions to your school’s name matter to you? And—if XU, while providing college admissions information offers you a better financial deal—would you be willing to pay more for it?  
    
4. Do You Party? Hearty? - Social Life
   XU might feel more like High School: The College Years than YC, especially if other kids you know are matriculating there. Do you want that kind of experience, with Beer Pong tournaments starting up sometime Thursday and ending late Sunday? If the Greek scene is dominant, would you consider pledging? Since YC is smaller, can you be creative about coming up with things to do to entertain yourself there? Will you get tired of constantly running into your exes? Will you need to escape to a city regularly for the change of scene?
    
5. Whether Weather Matters - Winter
   Remember those daffodils waving gently at you from alongside the paths when you visited YC last June? For most of the year they’ll be buried under snowdrifts. Will that sap your will to live—or, at least, to make it to class? If you can rock the fleece-lined boots, or if you can’t get enough of those Double Black Diamonds, an arctic four years at YC might not be too much of a challenge. But if long underwear cramps your style, consider more temperate climes.
    
6. Malkovich Malkovich, Malkovich? - Diversity
   The question of diversity often boils down to, Are most of the other students on campus like you? Are you cool with wearing khakis and a button down every day if that’s what’s expected for men at XU? Would it unnerve you to be the only woman in Sociology 101 wearing make-up at YC? How important is it for you to come in contact with new and unusual points of view, or do you want the comfort that comes from being a Jew at Brandeis or a Mormon at Brigham Young?
    
7. Do You Want to Look Any Further than Your Own Backyard? - Novelty
   If your mom was a Tri-Delt at XU, do you want to follow in her footsteps? Or do you feel compelled to blaze your own trail at YC? What experiences have your friends or older siblings had at either XU or YC, or at similar schools, that you can mull over as you make this choice? Learning from other people’s experiences is an art.
    
8. Do You Have Varsity Dreams? - Sports
   This won’t apply to everyone, but if you played sports in high school and want to continue in college, keep in mind that there will lots more competition for varsity slots at XU schools. Would you rather ride the bench there or lead the team to victory at YC? What if at YC no one comes out to cheer? Would you still rather play or go the intramural route at XU and on Sundays be part of a huge crowd of fans in the stadium?

But most importantly, when getting college admissions information, consider the intangibles: the right school for you should just feel right. So go with your gut.

This article is provided by Unigo.com, a website that gives unprecedented voice to America’s college students and provides that information free to America’s high school students and their families.

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Make your final college decision How to finally decide on a college once you have acceptance letters in hand 03/11/2009

College acceptance dates had passed and Hannah Kinskey found herself with two of her top choices, she was delighted. But as spring rolled around and her friends were all mailing in deposits, Hannah’s happiness turned to anxiety. Each day, she grew more and more unable to decide which school to choose.

She had weeded out many of her deciding factors months ago. Both schools were in good locations and had sprawling, rural campuses. Both offered strong academic programs, a good selection of sports and activities, and were comparable in price. That left Hannah in gridlock. One day she’d decide on one, then a few days later, she was sure she should pick the other.

Sound familiar? If so, first congratulate yourself that college acceptance dates have passed and you’ve been accepted to two strong colleges. Then relax, take a step back, and seek a fresh look at the situation.

Try to get personal

Since you’ve probably considered the more pressing factors prior to the college acceptance date, your final decision might rest on personal choice. Assuming you’ve already had the official tour, revisit the school for a more informal impression.

“Try to go beyond what is published in their brochure, Web site or on their official tour,” offers Chris Lydon, dean of admissions at Providence College (providence.edu). “Explore the campus on your own; visit the areas you didn’t see on the tour. Talk to students, visit the library, eat in the café, seek out faculty in your major.”

Pick up a copy of the newspaper, read postings and bulletin boards and observe the students. Strike up a conversation with any of the students or faculty, yet take care not to let one person sway you in a particular direction. Instead, seek out a variety of people and consider the overall tone of their responses.

Consider extracurriculars

Though you’re heading off to college for an education, don’t feel guilty if it’s nonacademic issues that are keeping you up at night. Many students are torn by where their friends are heading, what activities are offered or other nonacademic issues. If that’s what holding you back, spend some time making an honest assessment of how important these issues are to you.

“Factor in your personal priorities,” urges Lydon. “For example, you’ve always been active in drama. One school offers an active drama club; the other school’s program is less active. How happy will you be doing one production a year versus multiple productions? Or if you’re torn by where a set of good friends are going, ask yourself if you’re ready to move on, or do you really want to stay with these friends?”

 

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The name game—how to choose a college How much does a college’s name brand matter to you when deciding which school to attend? 11/04/2008

Does it matter to you if your school is well-known?
Let’s face it: We live in a society where many of us are driven to buy something based on the brand name.

Sometimes the name brand is superior in quality; sometimes it’s no better than the lesser-known label.

The stakes are a lot higher when choosing a college because of the hefty price tag involved.

Take a minute to answer the following to see if brand name is something that’s factoring into your college choice.


QUIZ

1. How important is it that peers recognize the name of your college?

    1         2                         3         4

(Not important)        (Very important)

2. How important is it that your college is nationally recognized?

    1         2                         3         4

(Not important)          (Very important)

3. How important is it that others are impressed by the name connected to your specific program?

    1         2                         3         4

(Not important)         (Very important)

4. How important do you think the name of your college is to employers who will hire you right out of college?

    1         2                         3         4

(Not important)         (Very important)

5. How important do you think the name of your college is to employers who hire you more than five years after you graduate college?

    1         2                         3         4

(Not important)         (Very important)

6. How important do you think the name of your undergraduate school is when you apply to a graduate, medical or law school?

    1         2                         3         4

(Not important)         (Very important)

7. How important is the price tag of your education?

    1         2                         3         4

(Not important)         (Very important)

Total your answers and match them to the descriptions on the next page to see how a college’s name affects your choice during the college admissions process.

 

 

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The money factor in your college choice How moola—from award package to how rich the other students are—will affect your college choice 03/10/2008

Are you sitting at your dining room table surrounded by a stack of big, fat envelopes from several colleges? Congratulations!

Take a minute to consider how a school’s financial aspects will affect your decision.

Consider: The school’s location
Location may play a role when deciding if you can afford to attend a college.

Living in a big city means even simple expenses like shampoo, soap and going out for dinner can eat your budget quickly. Students on more residential campuses might find a more affordable standard of living, more student discounts or fewer off-campus money-draining opportunities.  You may want to receive college admissions counseling to discuss these concerns.

Brian Bonci, who took classes at Corning Community College in western New York before moving to New York City’s Pace University, says that his spending shot up when he made the move to the Big Apple.

“There is so much you can buy, and people are willing to pay more for them, so things cost more,” Bonci says of New York City. “It helps if you set a budget week by week. You can even be a nerd and make an Excel spreadsheet to calculate and track your spending. It’s all about budgeting.”

Kate Morris, a sophomore at Pace University, says she feels the tug of being a college student in a big city when it comes to paying for food and entertainment.  College admissions counseling may shed light on these issues.

“In the city, there is more to do, so you spend more,” Morris says. “The cost of living is higher; dorming is more expensive. I also spend a lot on the subway—$20 every week or so. Not to mention, there is Starbucks on every corner that begs you to come in and buy a $5 cup of coffee.”

Consider: The other students’ wealth
“There are people who are really affluent, and they set the trends on spending,” Bonci says. “Students either try to keep up with them or feel somewhat uncomfortable if they can’t.”

By no means should you feel like you shouldn’t attend a college that attracts people wealthier than yourself. But if that is the case, decide before you go how you’ll react to the peer pressure of spending. 

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Trying to decide? Can’t decide which acceptance to accept? Consider these questions to help you make the decision 03/10/2008

The colleges have made their decisions about whom to admit; now it’s your turn to decide and, if necessary, get college admissions advice. And to help you make that decision, you’ve probably received three trees worth of glossy pamphlets and brochures inviting you to open houses, tours and other events.

To narrow your choices, review the qualities that are most important to you and receive college admissions advice if you need more details on your college.

What kind of environment do you like best?
A sprawling urban campus will offer different experiences than a campus that’s the focal point of the town.

“At first I thought I wanted somewhere really metropolitan,” says Chantal Little, a senior at Clayton A. Bouton High School in Voorheesville, N.Y. “I went to look at McGill [in Montreal], but once I got there I realized that I didn’t really think that through. I needed something more rural. Meanwhile, I was looking at Colgate University, which I initially felt was in cow country, but I ended up really loving it when I visited it and realized that I wanted something more rural.”

How important is the school’s reputation?
In your future career field, how far will a college’s name get you?

Does it pay to attend a name-brand school, or is name recognition not that important?

Tova Markovitz, a high school junior from Newburgh, N.Y., made sure the schools she visited were “places that had students who worked as hard as I did to get in. I really want to be in classes where I know that the students aren’t slacking and really deserve to be there.”

Tracy Phutikanit, a junior and tour guide at the University of California-Riverside, says even students who think they’d prefer big-name campuses should consider smaller schools, too.

“When doing college visits, I personally learned about myself that I didn’t like the competition at the big-name schools and wanted a smaller campus and a smaller school,” Phutikanit says. 

What size school are you looking for?
Knowing what kind of experience you prefer can help you narrow your choices.

“Because Voorheesville is so small, I knew I wanted to go somewhere bigger, but not so huge that I’d experience a real culture shock,” says Little.

What’s your major?
You don’t absolutely need to know your major when making your final college choice, but make sure you choose a school that has several options you’d strongly consider.

“The major was a big part of the schools I decided to visit,” Little says. “I wanted to go to school for science or nursing, and I needed to make sure that wherever I went had those majors.”

Does this school mesh with your budget?
Take a good look at your financial aid package. Be aware of how much you’ll pay out of pocket for college, and how much your family can help you toward those costs.

Have you visited yet?
If you haven’t yet visited all the colleges that have accepted you, now’s the time to go and receive college admissions advice.

Chantal Little initially had written off Colgate University for its rural characteristics. But after getting a feel for the campus, she says it’s now one of her first choices.

“We really want you to come visit,” says Tracy Phutikanit. “Virtual tours and word of mouth are good, but you get the best impression from coming here for the day and letting us show you around.”

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How to make your final college choice Choose from among your college acceptance letters the best college for you 03/10/2008

By the time April rolls around, you will have received a few important e-mails from the colleges you’ve applied to. In the next few weeks, you’ll be making one of the most important decisions of your life: Which college will you be writing an acceptance letter to spend the next four years?

Here are some tips to help you make the right choice before the May 1 deadline.

Read the fine print
Skip the glossy brochures and focus instead on the details of each college. Ask yourself questions in the following areas:

• Academics: Do they have the courses of study you want? If you change your mind, are there other majors or academic departments that interest you? Browse course information online. Also, go directly to the site of the department you are interested in for detailed information about research opportunities, course offerings and unique academic programs.

• Social/extracurricular activities: Does the college offer the social life you want? How far do you want to be from home? Read the campus paper, ask recent alumni about their experiences or talk to students on campus to get a feel for the social scene.

• Finances: Can your family afford the investment? Make an appointment with a financial aid officer to ask questions about your unique situation before writing your acceptance letter for college.

Visit your top three campuses
You probably can’t visit all the campuses to which you’ve been accepted. But do try to attend the spring open house for accepted students. If you can, bring an adult you trust to campus. This person can help you pay attention to aspects of campus life you might otherwise overlook. When you are on campus, ask yourself these questions:
• What is the academic culture like?
• Where will I study?
• Can I handle the work?
• Do students like their teachers?
• Will I enjoy campus life?
• What student groups will I join?
• Where will I live?
• If I need advice, who will help me?

Talk to other seniors
You will meet seniors who are in love with their colleges. You will also meet students who aren’t. Listen to their reasons and hear why they made their decisions before writing your acceptance letter for college.

Get feedback from people you trust
One day you may prefer one school. The next day, you may change your mind and prefer another. This is quite common, so get an outside point of view. Ask your confidants why they think a certain college is the best choice for you. Listen to their advice, but remember you are the one in the driver’s seat.

Pay attention to your gut feeling. Trust yourself. There is no such thing as the wrong choice. Like any experience, college is what you make of it. Take advantage of opportunities, become involved in your interests and your decision will be the right one.

ApplyWise (applywise.com) is an online college counseling program that helps students create a winning college application. It is based on the methodology of Dr. Kat Cohen, one of the country’s leading admissions counselors.

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Test your major Take an online assessment to help you search for a major and career 11/13/2007

It’s hard enough to figure out what to do on a weekend, let alone for the rest of your life. And even though nearly half of all college students change their major at least once, chances are you’re under a lot of pressure to pick a career field.

There are a number of online career and interest assessments that can help you make sense of your options and/or you can request college admissions help.

Great advice
Amy Sosnowski, owner of Strategic College Planning in Greenfield, Ind., says that while online assessments can give you an idea of where your talents and interests lie, don’t get caught up in the results. Especially if your top match comes out as something you’d never consider. 
 
“The great majority of college students change majors over time,” she says. “…A lot of occupations that these students will be doing haven’t even been invented yet.”

Rachel Smith, 19, is a student at the University of Dayton in Ohio. She knew she wanted to pursue a career in public relations, and took the ACT online assessment as a way to confirm everything she already knew about herself. She learned a few new things as well.

“It showed that I was very strong in aspects of communication, and that any career in that field would be good for me, which is what I had thought,” she says. “But it also surprised me a little because it told me that I would be good at marketing and advertising. Because of that, I am considering taking on marketing and advertising as a minor. It will go hand in hand with my public relations major.”

Regardless of if you know what you want to do or if you may need college admissions help, Sosnowski says that colleges welcome students at all stages.

“When I have a student who is undecided,” she says, “I can help them select a broader course load to give them a taste of fields that might be right for them.”

Take the test
Check out these assessment tools to help you decide on a major or request college admissions help.
• The Testing Room (quintcareers.testingroom.com): Offers testers 40 to 50 potential jobs for them, as well as strategies for work and life. Testing and mini reports are FREE, but extended reports cost $14.95.

• Live Career (livecareer.com): Will help you learn about your dream job and personality. FREE.

• Drive of Your Life (driveofyourlife.org): A fun, interactive site where you answer career questions in return for tricking out a video game car. FREE.

• ACT (act.org):  Offers three assessments that can help you get started in finding a career that is right for you. Offered mostly through guidance counselors and college coaches. FREE.

 

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Absolutely clueless?
By Kristy Jackson

Clueless about what career you should pursue? Here’s what you can do:
• Take an assessment.

• Skim a career book. Ask your librarian for suggestions. Jot down anything that sparks your interest.

• Join a club. “Self-assessment and career investigation can occur just as easily on a Habitat for Humanity project as it can in a career workshop!” says Nancy DeCrescenzo, associate director of Career Services at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Conn.

• Talk it out. Your counselor can help you sort through your career data and determine the next step. And that will make you a great student. Valerie Savior, director of the Career Development Center at Occidental College in Los Angeles, says, “If you select a major because you love it and are good at it...you will produce stellar academic results.”

 

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Deal with it - Not getting into your first-choice college Just because you got rejected from a college doesn’t mean your life after high school is doomed. 03/09/2007

 

see also:

Deal with it!
• Not drinking even though your friends do
• Give your new college a second chance
• Overcoming a low SAT or ACT score

 

SITUATION: You didn’t get accepted to your number-one school.
SIMMER DOWN: Use it as a reason to consider your other options.

Dear Juanita Doe:
I regret to inform you that you have not been accepted into Your Dream School...

If you got a letter like that, I’m sure there were tears. There probably were cuss words, and there were likely one or more bouts of, “What am I going to do?!”

So you got a rejection letter. Congratulations—it could turn out to be a great thing!

Um…really? Yes, really. Here’s why.

1. You would’ve been the one always buried in books.
Were you rejected because your academic profile didn’t match that of the other applicants? Then you might’ve just been saved a lot of strife in college as your classmates breezed through subjects while you always struggled.  One college admissions tip is that you could be better off at a school where your classmates will challenge you, yes, but where there’s a chance you’ll feel like the smartest one in the class sometimes, too.
 
2. You would’ve changed your major a bazillion times.
Did it come through in your college admissions application that you don’t know what you want to do with your life after high school?

The school may have given a spot instead to someone who was clearer about his or her plans. Here's a tip—if you weren’t sure about college, you may have gotten to school and changed your major a ton, or dropped out, or otherwise wasted your hard-earned cash when some more soul-searching about your goals might be in order.

3. You would’ve hated the place.
If a college didn’t accept you, it probably was not the right school for you in the first place.

But I’m willing to bet that at least one school on your list (you applied to more than one, right?) will fit the bill. If you didn’t get into your first choice, a college admissions tip is to look at all the benefits of your second- and third-choice schools. Those colleges, too, have graduated lots of productive, happy citizens. Make yourself one of them!

Getting rejected from a college doesn’t make you a failure. Now stop complaining and get out there to make your plan “B” stand for the “Best” plan ever. 

What do you think? E-mail editor@nextSTEPmag.com or go to nextSTEPmag.com/Community.