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The College Search Process

The college search process today is more complex than ever, with numerous choices, application options, and external pressures. Students face increased competition for limited spots and rising education costs. This guide offers essential strategies for narrowing down college lists, effective research methods, and tips on crafting thoughtful applications that reflect personal authenticity. It emphasizes the importance of self-reflection, community support, and well-organized application materials to stand out in a competitive landscape.

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The College Search Process

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  1. The College Search Process Colts Neck High School Dickinson College

  2. A COMPLICATED LANDSCAPE • More choices than ever before • New application options • Outside pressures, including rankings and the national media • Significant demographic shifts • Increased competition—more applications, same number of spots • Rising cost of higher education • Ever changing global market place—AACU study of occupation variation over the next two decades

  3. College costs vs family income

  4. Common application trends 2017 • Over 4.3 million applications submitted through the Common App last year (9% increase over 2016) • Almost 960,000 unique application submissions (7.3% increase over 2016) • Over 700 member institutions

  5. So what can be done?

  6. Researching and Narrowing your list

  7. Where to begin • Plan your college search • Starting Local • Use some of your vacation each year • Starting too early • Use your resources • Give yourself plenty of time for self reflection • How do I learn best? • Who are my favorite teachers and why? • What does my academic voice sound like? • Be open-minded, but also be skeptical • Design a thoughtful search—employ a system that works for you

  8. Finding the right fit…

  9. …often involves asking the right questions.

  10. Research: asking deeper questions • Types of research opportunities, internships, community-based projects? When do they start? • Percentage that study abroad? For how long? On which programs? Credit and financial aid transfer? • Graduation and retention rates? • Job and grad school placement? How is it calculated? • Curricular initiatives? Strategic plan? • College’s 5-10 year building plan? • Percentage of the budget spent on instruction compared to student services? • Percentage of students that graduate with debt? Average debt? (Perhaps ask about college’s debt—about bond ratings?) • Institutional priorities (diversity, curriculum, initiatives, etc.)?

  11. Setting yourself up for success

  12. Standing out from the crowd • Take the lead—evidence of self-management • Demonstrate your interest • Find the right fit(s) • Colleges are crafting communities of diverse and engaged students • Build a network of advocates • Regional counselor, faculty, coaches, guidance counselor, administrators, alumni, current students, family, and friends • Craft a well-organized application that reflects who you are (be your most genuine and mature self) • Write a thoughtful essay(s) • Communicate, as appropriate, with colleges and representatives • Celebrate each of your successes

  13. The application process

  14. Constructing your Application • TELL YOUR STORY—What are you passionate about, what do you value, how do you thrive? • ORGANIZE your achievements thoughtfully • Consider how all parts of your application work together • Address areas for growth head on • Read the instructions • Enlist a proofreader • Use your resources • Give yourself plenty of time—BE REFLECTIVE

  15. academics

  16. Activities and passions

  17. Building a Community Well-Rounded Well-Angled

  18. Letters of recommendation

  19. Essays

  20. Essay tips • Don’t • Lose your authentic voice • Take inappropriate risks • Draw overly simplistic conclusions • Use another college’s name • Make simple grammatical and spelling errors • Do • Focus—write about a blade of grass, not a field of grass • Respond to the prompt • Read your essay aloud to someone • Be your most genuine and mature self • Ask yourself, “What do I want the reader to know about me after reading this essay?”

  21. deadlines

  22. Role of the Parent

  23. Questions?

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