Choosing the colleges for your application
- Know Yourself. You will find the questions and criteria on this website very useful in this quest. Ask yourself questions; answer them honestly; don't kid yourself.
- Decide what you want in a college. Pay particular attention to the size and location of the institutions. Consider your particular needs or interests. For example,is it important to have internships or a cooperative work/study program? Also, give serious thought to the family budget. Will it withstand the strain of costs totaling $18,000-$22,000 or more per year, in the case of some private colleges? Talk to your parents about financial aid.
- Ascertain which schools meet YOUR criteria.
- Talk frequently to your counselor, who will make many suggestions.
- Write early for information about each of the colleges on your list.
- Read this material, take some notes, and decide whether to keep a particular college on the list. (Remember that college literature is promotional, i.e. designed to attract students.)
- Talk to people who may have had experience with one or more schools: faculty, friends, family, Hill-Murray alumni currently attending college.
- Attend meetings conducted at Hill-Murray by college representatives. Nearly 100 colleges send representatives each year. Attend College Fairs.
- Visit one or more of the colleges on your list. Remember that you can get an understanding of size by visiting campuses or institutions in or near the Twin Cities.
- Try to determine if you meet THEIR criteria.
- Have you demonstrated that you can do the kind of academic work each college demands of its students? The counselors will be able to give you the benefit of their experience with specific schools.
- Although test scores are only one factor in the selection process, they do count. Are your scores within the range presented by most successful candidates to a particular college? If not, are you being realistic?
- Do you think you have some special talent or interest that will supplement a solid academic record and enhance your candidacy? Do you play a musical instrument? Are you involved in community service? What have you done at Hill-Murray besides attending classes?
Campus Visits: There is no substitute for seeing a college for yourself. Click here great tips and strategies for visiting a college campus http://www.acm.edu/admiss/campusvisits.pdf - Don't apply to a dozen colleges. You should apply to no more than three schools unless there are very unusual circumstances. You should have at least one - preferably two - where you and your counselors are reasonably confident of acceptance. You must like your schools. You may want to include one that seems to be a "reach" given your record of grades, scores, and activities. It is imperative to be very serious in the selection of schools for your final list. Do not be led astray by the supposed prestige of a school or its popularity with other members of your class. There are not "best" colleges. There are only colleges appropriate for you.
What do they look at?
Admissions officers consider these factors in roughly the following order of importance:
- ACT/SAT I scores
- Grade Point Average/Difficulty of Curriculum
- Application essays
- Extracurricular activities
- Recommendations
- Interviews
- Intangibles
Of course, every college is different. The larger the school, the less time it has to spend with your application (sometimes less than five minutes). Big state schools rarely reach number three on this list. Small schools may look past weak grades or test scores if they see something special about you.
Alcohol and Other Drugs on Campus: A Parent's Guide
So, your child is going off to college. This is a huge step for both of you, and you want to be sure your son or daughter chooses the "right" school. One concern that may not occur to your son or daughter is "what is the alcohol or other drug scene on campus?"
Sixty percent of college students report having had sleep or study interrupted by other students who have had too much to drink. Fifty-four percent of college students report having had to take care of a drunken student. Twenty percent of female college students report having experienced an unwanted sexual advance, and 14% of college students report having had property damaged by drunken students.
How can you tell whether a particular college is one where weekend alcohol-fueled partying regularly begins on Thursday night? Or where attendance is poor at Monday morning classes because too many students are hung over? There are three steps that you can take; 1) visit campus, 2) ask questions, and 3) talk with your son or daughter.
Visit Campus
A visit to campus is one of the best ways to find out about the alcohol and other drug scene. Be sure to discuss your concerns with your son or daughter before the visit. Help him or her understand why this issue is important.
Talk to current students and residence hall advisors. Ask what students do for fun on campus. Do many students participate in community service activities? (Participation in community service is a good sign)
Check out bulletin boards and campus newspapers. Look for mention of alcohol and other drugs in notices, ads, articles, editorials, and letters to the editor.
Wander through the residence halls. Notice how students decorate their rooms. Are there many alcohol-related posters or pyramids of beer cans? Are trash cans filled with beer cans or bottles?
Walk through the commercial neighborhoods near campus. Do bars and liquor stores seem to target students? Do they offer low-price "specials" that encourage drinking?
Ask Questions
- Does the college have a clearly defined alcohol and other drug policy? What is it? What are the consequences for infractions?
- Will the administration inform parents if a student is disciplined or arrested for alcohol or other drug related infractions, or hospitalized for drug or alcohol use?
- What training and inclination do resident advisors have in identifying and helping students who may have alcohol or other drug problems?
Talk with your son or daughter
Campus climate is important, but ultimately it is up to your son or daughter to make responsible choices. Studies show that parents remain a key influence on college students. Your opinions and guidance make a difference.
Listen. You won't get far by lecturing. Ask your child to talk about alcohol and other drugs. Find out what concerns he or she has.
Make your expectations clear. College is a huge investment in time and money. Set clear expectations that your son or daughter will focus on academic work and personal development. Make it clear that you don't condone underage consumption.
Offer information. Alcohol is toxic. Far too many students die every year from alcohol poisoning. Discourage dangerous drinking such as drinking games or fraternity or athletics hazing. Encourage your son or daughter to have the courage to intervene when others are engaged in dangerous drinking.
Be a good role model. Consider how your attitudes and actions may be shaping your son or daughter's choice about whether and/or how to consume alcohol or other drugs.
