College Planning Archives
StudentProspector Archive - College Planning Articles
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- Safety on Campus
When Cho Seung-Hui, a 23-year-old senior at Virginia Tech, killed 32 people and injured dozens more on the 26,000-student campus in Blacksburg, Va., he not only created the largest death toll from any mass shooting in the United States, he also unleashed a flurry of anxiety among college students and their parents. Since the shootings, colleges across the country have heightened security measures and become hyper-vigilant to create a safer campus environment. - Moving on Campus
It's true that students come to learn in college, but most students who live on campus believe that the most valuable lessons they learn are outside of the classroom. Those include making friends, developing long-lasting relationships, resolving personal issues, stretching emotionally, building character and living independently. The decision to live on campus usually involves the desire for freedom and the full immersion-experience of college. It is helpful to make contact with the roommates as soon as possible, either by e-mail or by phone. - Pre-College Programs - School's NOT Out for the Summer
Pre-College summer programs are a great way for high school students to get a feel for the academic and campus life of college students. They can provide a jump start on classes and credits or just be fun application padding. The variety of programs, from liberal arts to valuing wood as a material, is astounding. Many courses are expensive, but low cost options and scholarships can be found. Just like college, the wealth and diversity of programs means every student is sure to find one to fit his interest or her budget. - Writing that Perfect Essay
Starting early with your essay writing gives you time to really think about the questions that different schools are asking. You'll find many of the questions that your applications ask will be similar. The general goal of essays is the same whether the question is "Why do you want to attend Aardvark University?" or "What about your background or previous education will help you succeed at Zebra College?" or one of the more general questions such as "Describe a setback or challenge in your life and the impact it has had on you". - High School's Final Semester
Aside from maintaining your grades through the end of the school year, and staying as focused as possible on the task at hand, your main job now is to lay the groundwork for your future as a college student. You can, of course, put it off until the summer, or even until the springtime, but by then it will not only be too late, but you also won't particularly feel like doing much of anything. Because no matter how much you prepare yourself for the end of your high school career, it will be a time of high emotion, uncertainty, and excitement. And the last thing you'll want to do then is buckle down and work. - Taking Mid-terms Seriously
Hard as it may be to believe, mid-terms are upon us. And while that typically means nothing more than a time of intensive cramming, late-nights, and obsessive re-averaging of the grades earned up till now for most of the student body, it has a completely different meaning for seniors: Freedom is on the horizon. Yes, the sad truth is that many seniors look at their final round of mid-term exams as the last hurdle they have to clear before beginning that much-anticipated stretch of time that leads, ultimately, to graduation. - How to Choose the Right School
Choosing the right school is one of the biggest, most important decisions you'll ever have to make. After all, the courses you take, the degree you ultimately earn, the people you meet (and therefore the contacts you take with you into the professional world), and the part of the country in which you spend your four (or more) years of college will all have a lasting impact on your life. There is so much to consider that it can seem like one of the most daunting decisions of your life? - Getting Involved
In high school you may have felt like an outsider. You may have felt that no one was like you and had no interest in any of your school activities. In college, you don't have to feel that way. There is literally something for everyone. You name it, there's a club for it; sports, writing, math, science, film. The list goes on and on. They even have clubs for making friends, having fun, and partying. They're called fraternities and sororities. Start by taking some time to figure out what is right for you. Are you into sports? Are you into academics? Are you looking to make friends and contacts? What exactly do you want? - Scheduling
When you were in high school scheduling was easy. You had some options concerning what type of math or science you wanted to have, as well as a few other choices, but it was more or less done for you. College is a whole new ball game. Not only do you need to decide what classes to take to fulfill whatever requirements your college has, you also need to schedule those classes before they are filled up. Each class in college has a set number of sections and each section has a set number of seats. Once those seats are gone, so are your chances of taking that class. Make your life easier; schedule early. - Moving Back Home
The last time you lived at home you were a child, a helpless, rebellious high-school kid who didn't know half of what the world had to offer, had no idea of what the future held, and who more than likely suffered from a constant, low-grade level of annoyance with your parents. You were a teenager, just getting ready for one of the biggest transitions on your life: You were about to go from the confines of the home you had always known to the great big unknown of the world of college. - Resumes and Interviews
Unless you're hoping for a career as a rock star or professional athlete, your resume is one of the single most important aspects of your application for a job or an internship. It's the first thing a potential employer sees, so if he or she is not impressed with what they see on it, you're probably not even getting an interview. - Spring Planning
It's never too early to start thinking about you're future plans. Spring is the perfect time of year to beginning setting yourself up for the job of your dreams or admission to the perfect college or grad school. It's easier than you think, and making yourself stand out from the crowd can make all the difference in the world. - Reading
College admissions are competitive. Students are spending more and more time padding their resumes with extracurricular activities and astoundingly high grade point averages in order to make themselves look as impressive as possible to college admissions boards. Find out how you can maximize your efficacy in the college classroom and compete with all those other high-achievers. - Holiday Break
Things may not be the same, but they're not necessarily bad because they are different. You can, after all, go home again: Just accept the fact that it's a different home than the one you left back in August. - The New SAT
No doubt if you're a high school student considering college, you've already heard some of the buzz surrounding the "new" SAT, which officially changed format in March 2005. While none of us like taking standardized tests, being well prepared for what you will face on test day can certainly help make the process less odious. - Gap Year
Ever heard of the term "gap year"? You may want to consider taking a gap year if you're not quite ready to start college yet. A gap year can be a great opportunity for students to take a break from rigorous academic work to do something different. Gap year participants generally take time to work or volunteer, frequently abroad, and take the opportunity to travel as well. - What Colleges Want
Most colleges want what you want. You want to go to a school that will be a good match for your academic and extracurricular interests - one that will provide you with a good experience. Schools want to recruit the type of students who will mesh - students they can retain who will be satisfied members of the student body and contribute to their reputation. When you find the right school. - Standardized Tests
If you're preparing for college, you have probably heard of both the SAT and the ACT although you may not be familiar with both. The SAT and ACT are the two most common standardized tests used as criteria in the college admissions process. - Summer Planning
Summers also provide a great opportunity to explore some of your career options. You may be able to find an internship with a local company. Even if it's unpaid, it's worthwhile to spend a day or two a week in an internship that will allow you to see what goes on at the type of company that might eventually interest you.
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