The College Puzzle

Putting the pieces of the college process together!

When should I start thinking about college? Am I doing enough activities? Should I take the SAT or the ACT? What do I want to study? There are so many questions that the college application process feels like a giant puzzle.

College is a huge step for everyone, students and parents alike. These questions are only small pieces of the puzzle. How do you begin this puzzle and how do all the pieces fit together to give you the college sweatshirt you’re proud to wear? Here are some tips to start your college puzzle and prevent you from throwing in the towel.

One of the biggest puzzle pieces is starting the conversation with your student about what they want in a college. What type of college are they looking for? What size school do they want? How far from home is to far? How will your family manage college costs? Do they want a competitive college? Many times, families wait too long to begin this step. If you have these discussions early enough, there is plenty of time to plan what type of classes to take in high school, what activities they want to be involved in, and whether they should get a part-time job to start their savings. These are pieces that make up the outer edges of the puzzle.

Another piece to the puzzle are the tools that will be very helpful for your student. Between your mailbox and the college fairs, you will be flooded with brochures that pile up quickly. Purchase a portable file box that can organize the information. When your student is bored, have them peruse through these and decide what they like and which ones they don’t. Toss the ones that don’t meet their criteria. A notebook or file folder is another important tool. What should you put in this notebook or folder? Report cards, transcripts, awards, test scores, and anything else that is related to high school. That way you will have all the information at your fingertips when your child begins working on the resume or the college applications. It is also a great idea to set up a separate e-mail account just for your student. This creates a central place to collect all the e-mails in regards to college. Make sure you have the password, because we know they all forget from time to time.

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As you’re sorting through all the other puzzle pieces, what is the next one you should place? Look for the one that has college visits on it. College visits are the best way to see what each school has to offer. Now, I say this with hopes that each student embraces this concept of visiting the schools willingly. The truth is, it’s like pulling teeth. But the more schools your child can go see, the more they will know what they want. Start locally, as we’re fortunate to live in an area that offers a variety of colleges within driving distance.

On the tours, make sure to get answers to key questions to help your child with their puzzle. What are the dorms like? What is the neighboring community like and what kinds of things are there to do? What are classes like? Out of these questions, others will arise for them to consider.

Now it’s time for the biggest piece. The list. From your college tours, hopefully your child has determined their “must haves” for their college experience. Find colleges that fit those “must haves” by looking at websites, books, and by picking your counselors’ brains about schools that fit those categories. Don’t forget to have your child confirm that they have met all the requirements for graduation and starting college.

Now you can see most of the puzzle coming together. There may be some scattered pieces here and there, but look them over carefully and you will find the places they fit. Seek help from the school counselor or an independent counselor for any missing pieces. When the puzzle is complete, you will find the name of the school that fits for your child! Now order that sweatshirt!

Gail Nichols, Independent College Consultant for over 12 years. Helping students to find their college is my passion.