Introduction: Step-by-Step College Search

Walking around campus on your own is as important as taking a guided tour

by Sally Wood

Senior year is exciting for parents and students alike. As that long-anticipated end nears, you and your students realize why that final ceremony is called commencement. After the ceremony and the graduation party, you realize it's only just begun.

You know the next step is college. Choosing the right college can seem overwhelming. Taking one step at a time can make it exciting and fun. Follow the steps here to help your students transition to college smoothly:

See your students' counselor early and often. The counselor's office has a wealth of information to help with every step of the decision-making process.
Picture your students' ideal college.
Go to www.CollegeView.com. Once you and your students have decided on important factors, use this site to find which colleges meet those requirements. Narrow or broaden your search criteria as needed.
Take virtual tours. At CollegeView, you'll find KeyFacts and a link for each college that may be a possibility for your students. That link takes you to the college's site, where you can take a virtual tour of the campus.
Visit the colleges. Virtual tours are helpful initially, but you and your students also need to visit the campus. If admissions and financial aid personnel meet you, you'll be more than a piece of paper when your students' applications reach their desks. Walking around campus on your own is as important as taking a guided tour; let your students decide if it feels right.
Stress that your students take admissions tests. Do your students' selected colleges prefer the ACT or the SAT?
Be sure your students apply early. Many colleges have early deadlines; some offer scholarships to those who apply before a certain date.
Help your students stay focused. Not only must your students select colleges, they must also succeed in the college-preparatory courses required for admission.

The best advice for you and your students is: Don't procrastinate. Begin early. Using this issue as your guide, take one step at a time and have fun!

Sally Wood is a freelance writer and editor from Marionville, Missouri. She worked as a high school counselor in the Aurora R-VIII School District in Aurora, Missouri, from 1980-2000.

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