Whether applying to a four-year university, graduate school or a technical or professional certificate program, deciding where to go to school can be difficult.
The path to a good decision starts with knowing yourself and your goals, said Peter Van Buskirk, founder of The Admission Game, a consulting and coaching business.
“Students need to ask themselves why they want to go to college, what they want to achieve and how they envision their lives in the future,” he said.
Education may lead to a great job, a higher income or a change in careers — if it’s the right education.
“There’s a misconception that all education is the same and, of course, it’s all different. Too many students aren’t engaged in college,” Van Buskirk said.
A 2012 Harvard University study found that only 56 percent of students who enter college graduate within six years. “To attend college and not earn a degree is an incredible waste of confidence, time and lost earning power,” he said.
Making the right choice for you means finding the right fit. To assess that fit, Van Buskirk advises students to ask themselves some questions:
1. Does the school have the academic program I want?
2. Does the school offer instruction in the style that I learn best — small classes where I can get help from professors, hands-on learning in labs, or lectures from research faculty?
3. Does it provide the academic rigor commensurate with my ability and preparation?
4. Does it provide a sense of community? Will I feel at home here?
5. Does the school value what I have to offer?
“Often, the places that want you and are willing to invest in your success (with grants or other opportunities) turn out to be the best choices, Van Buskirk said.
Researching and visiting various schools will give students experience in assessing fit.
“There may be lots of good places you could go, but your success rests ultimately on not on where you go, but on what you do. You want to squeeze the most out of your education,” he said.
Explore options
Sonia R. Curry, college and career specialist at Parkview High School in Lilburn, is passionate about helping students find the best path after high school, whether it’s a four-year university, a technical college, the military, an internship or a job.
“There is something for everybody, and we want our students to realize all of their opportunities,” Curry said.
At Parkview’s College and Career Center, students can take assessments to learn about their abilities, strengths and interests.
“They can use sites like GAcollege411 (www.gacollege411.org) and Career Cruising (www.careercruising.com) to help them figure out what they want to do,” she said.
This year, Curry invited 32 adults to talk to students about their occupations during career week.
Curry meets with students and their parents individually to help them plan the next step after high school. She advises students to work hard because she knows that having better grades and higher test scores will increase their opportunities.
A mini-media center provides resources to help Parkview students explore colleges, military options, find test preparation courses, register for the SAT and ACT tests, apply for financial aid, find scholarships and more.
Those resources can help students make an informed choice. For example, a student may want to become a nurse but not know much about the different types of nursing programs and the schools that offer them. Research and school visits will help that student learn which nursing programs are more competitive, take longer to complete, or cost more to attend. She might also find out about a scholarship that brings an expensive school within reach.
“We have students with so many different interests and goals pass through here. I enjoy helping them plan, grow and find their right educational paths,” Curry said. “It’s always a highlight of my day when graduates come back to tell me what they are doing. I love a success story.”
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