making your college decision
TRANSCRIPT
Making Your College Decision
April 28th, 2010 by Joe Connell Share
The May 1 deadline for seniors to postmark their college decision is Saturday and coincides with
the May SAT testing day for many juniors. Even more than students prep for the SAT, students
should prep for their college decision.
If you’re still deciding where to attend college, here are some key final considerations:
Do what’s best for you – choose a school that best fits your needs and interests. As you
make your final decision, be certain to listen to what the college is able to offer you, what
your friends and family share with you and your own inner voice.
Take action – if you’ve been waitlisted or haven’t heard from a college, contact their
admissions office and check your status. If you want to remain on a college’s waitlist,
you generally have to inform them, so take that step, and share with them any
information that has changed that may boost your candidacy (e.g., achievements, awards,
grades, etc.).
Prepare financially – the cost of college is significant, so have a financial plan that
considers financial aid, scholarships, institutional money, personal/family finances and
maybe even getting a summer job.
Persist – you have a couple months of high school left, so make the most of the learning
and the community that exists.
Enjoy – you just made one of the biggest decisions of your life. Often choosing a college
is a student’s first major “adult” decision. It should feel good, so enjoy it!
If you want more information on finding the right college “fit,” read the blog “Choosing a
College is About Fit.”
Tags: College Admissions, Financial Aid, SAT Preparation, SAT Test Day
Joe Connell has been helping high school students transition to college for the last nine years
through positions in admissions, new student orientation and retention. Currently, Joe is the
Director of Academic Services & Testing at Dutchess Community College (NY); he has
previous work experience at William Paterson University (NJ), Marist College (NY) and Miami
University (OH). Joe has presented on issues related to college students' transition and success at
both regional and national levels and has taught both SAT preparation and college courses for
the past eight years.
This entry was posted by Joe Connell on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010 at 9:39 am and is filed under College
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