How NOT to Find the “Right” College

With fall comes the critical second round of campus visits. Now’s the time for your child to go beyond the information sessions and introductory tours of last spring and summer by sitting in on classes, eating in dining halls and staying overnight (if at all possible). It’s not a good idea to rely solely on what you read or hear about places; to truly get a feel for schools in which your student is interested, it’s best to have him or her experience them for an extended period of time in the flesh.

Here are a few other common mistakes to avoid when conducting a college search:

• Relying on rankings to determine “quality” — To be blunt, rankings sell magazines and guide books. Sure, it’s fun to check out the winners in colorful categories (e.g., “happiest students” or “biggest party schools” just to name two; my own alma mater recently was cited as having one of the ten “most beautiful” campuses in the world!) in which colleges gain notoriety or acclaim. But, just because a college is ranked #5 for this or number #120 in that doesn’t mean it’s the college where your child is most likely to thrive. So be wary of what others–even “experts”–say about schools. What’s important is the degree to which schools seem able and eager to meet your child’s needs.

• Getting hung up on “name” and “prestige — Some parents insist that their children concentrate on trying to get into elite colleges and universities (i., e., those that admit fewer than 20% of applicants). In their minds, it’s where you go to college that matters, and if you don’t attend a “top” school you’re doomed to a less-than life. Not so! Any admission officer at the Ivies or elsewhere knows (and will tell you) that while a “name” school is sure to open some doors, as with anything in life, it’s what you do with what you’ve got that truly counts. So, while Harvard and others can be terrific options for some students, it follows that they may not be the best choice for others.

• Second-guessing the job market of the future — It’s easy to get rattled by all the bad press surrounding what appears to be out-of-control-student-loan debt. But because the world is changing so fast, it’s impossible to know which jobs will exist tomorrow (and where). More than ever, certain skills–like the ability to think critically and creatively; to communicate clearly and persuasively and to collaborate effectively to solve problems–will be essential, and they can be honed in any number of majors. And, while becoming tech savvy is a must, students need not feel compelled to commit to a career in computer science or other STEM disciplines to experience personal and financial success.

There are more effective and productive ways to conduct college searches. If you start with your child’s particular abilities, interests, personality and preferences, gather as much info as possible from direct, close-up and personal research and then winnow down/add to the initial list based on a realistic assessment of admission chances and probability of  receiving financial aid awards, you’ll be on your way to helping your child find a school that may not be absolutely, positively perfect, but pretty darn close.