How does the process of college work? Do people help you, guide you, through college or is it more independent?

Hello,

That is a great question-as I was beginning my applications I had no information on the process or what college would be like. I would recommend researching schools online to get more specific information and also calling a college admissions counselor (all colleges should have an office where you can find their contact information and ask them specific questions). You could also possibly reach out to a college and they could connect you with a student who volunteers their time with new students as well. Some tutoring centers also offer college admissions advice.

I am happy to answer any more specific questions on the college application process or college in general, feel free to contact me!

Hi Rosa,

I would say that it helped me a lot to look up information online myself. I'd recommend starting as early as possible especially if you're already in high school. By exploring information available about different majors I was interested in and taking classes in subjects I was interested in (and not just required to take) helped me understand that I wanted to major in psychology. In high school, I was constantly bookmarking different pages on multiple college websites, their admissions information, and looking up college rankings from multiple publications. Your high school career center should also be a great source of information if you're not sure what you want to major in or have more specific questions about financial aid.

As Elizabeth said before, the SAT and ACT exams are often requirements for many colleges. You'll want to look up the specific admissions requirements for the schools you're interested in applying for. Many colleges will have information about the previously accepted class of students that will help you decide if it's the right fit for you (e.g. average GPAs, average SAT/ACT scores, class percentage, number of accepted students, acceptance rate).

I'd recommend starting a list of your top 5 and applying for at least 5 colleges that include some you're really hoping to get into, backup schools, and maybe even a few dream schools. Location, extracurricular activities, student life, size, and housing are some other important factors to consider when coming up with your list.

The U.S. Department of Education's website for comparing schools in the U.S. is a great place to start (https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/).
Be sure to fill out the FAFSA (Federal Application for Student Aid; https://fafsa.ed.gov/) and the Cal Grant (https://www.csac.ca.gov/doc.asp?id=931) in your senior year to qualify for financial aid.

And if you have them, friends or family who have been to college! There are also many volunteer organizations and volunteers like myself, Amie, and Elizabeth who are happy to help answer your questions. You can even search the web for places in your community that might offer advice about the college admissions process.

Best of luck! If you have any other questions or want more help, feel free to reach out!

Hi, Rosa -

My colleagues have hit on the major points very well! What I would like to add is that what you find out in your research will determine what kind of school is the right fit for you personally. If you are looking for personalized attention, you may want to consider a smaller school. But there are also larger colleges and universities that have very robust student support systems. It just depends upon what works best for the way you learn. But above all, ASK QUESTIONS! One of the things that can have a negative impact on students, particularly in their freshman year, is feeling that they have to suffer alone in silence. The old adage, "The squeaky wheels get the oil," is very true; never, ever be afraid to ask questions, whether for specific help or just more information. That is what learning is all about!

Best of luck to you in your future educational endeavors,

Nancy W. Campbell, M.Ed.

Hi Rosa! Great question! You should be able to make an appointment with your high school guidance counselor and they will go through the process with you. In addition to that, there are a lot of great online tools to help you find a best fit college. One of them is: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org
This site allows you to narrow down schools based on size, location,academic programs, etc. It is a great starting point if you don't know exactly what you are looking for in a school.
In addition to looking at schools, you will want to prepare for the SAT or ACT exam. These standardized tests are often required by colleges as part of the application process. If you can, look into prep courses that help you prepare for the test. The Khan Academy is also a free online program that helps students study for the exam.