Saturday, February 8, 2014

College Counseling To Aid In The Search

By Jerri Perry


College Counseling is an avenue of help that many potential students seek when they are trying to find the right higher education setting. Being accepted to a university is the first step in what should be a process of self exploration. Because there are so many choices, seeking the help of a professional will be helpful when finding the right fit. Factors to consider are price, size, location, programs of study and campus life.

The first step to choosing the right college is to be sure that all of the standards for admission are met. This means that the potential student meets the grade point average and standardized test scores that the institution requests. The advisor will then help the person to narrow down choices based on many other factors.

A counselor who is helping a person to navigate through many options will spend a significant amount of time asking their client to reflect on their personality. This will include exploring likes and dislikes, as well as dreams and goals for the future. It is very important that the future student of higher education knows themselves well. For many, this is the first independent decision that they will make. It is important that they are not too heavily influenced to choose a school based solely on their parents desires for them.

The size of campus is an important consideration. Knowing whether one is drawn to more intimate surroundings or whether they prefer a larger setting where they can easily be lost in a crowd is important. In a smaller environment a student will be noticed more, and often received more attention from classmates and professors. Conversely, large lecture halls where a professor does not know their students on an intimate level are more likely in larger settings.

Another step in weeding out colleges is location. The counselor will help the individual determine how big or small they want their campus to be. The individual who likes a lot of nightlife opportunities may not find happiness on a campus that is surrounded by small towns and farms. Equally, a student who likes a small town environment may feel overwhelmed by a metropolis.

Individuals must consider price when looking at higher education institutions. The student will need to have an understanding of how much money they have to contribute to their education. Knowing this information will quickly narrow down the choices.

Visiting campus is essential to making the final decision. After all the other factors have been considered, a student should have narrowed their choice to three to five colleges. If possible, they should take the time to wander around the area, visiting the student center, admissions office, dorm rooms, and classrooms. A guided tour is a great place to start, but potential students will also want to venture out on their own without any parents or other influences. The college that is chosen will likely be where they will live for at least four years, so it is important to feel comfortable on campus.

College counseling can be a very useful tool when high school students are beginning their journey to the next chapter of their academic life. These advisers are well trained in the field of counseling, and can help students understand themselves and their goals, which will in turn assist them in make the most appropriate decision.




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