GETTING READY FOR COLLEGE

THE JOURNEY FOR A LIFETIME

By Bill Sommers, Dean of Enrollment Services - Colorado Mountain College

Has anyone ever asked you, “What are you going to be when you grow up?” It is not an easy question to answer. My guess is some of you have been thinking about this and are at the point of knowing which colleges or universities offer a degree that will lead to your desired career. Some of you have given it thought, but only when asked, and some of you have not given it thought at all. Regardless of where you are in your thought process, it is never too late to start the journey.

The college search, selection and financing process are tied together with your desired career field. There are many colleges and universities to choose from, which is part of the challenge once you begin your college search and selection journey. I will share my thoughts about navigating this process.

I broke the journey into five steps to keep in mind along the way and have created a checklist to help keep you on course. Each one of you will start at a different point, and some will have better navigation skills, but a helpful hint is to stop when you feel lost and ask for directions.

Step 1: Preparation for the journey.

Ask yourself, “What is important to me about attending college?”

• Achieving personal goals
• Preparing for a career
• Increasing my earning potential
• Opportunity to meet new people
• Opportunity to play sports
• Other
• I have created a résumé of extracurricular activities (high school or community) that I think a college/university will value when reviewing my application for admissions.

Step 2: Starting the college search process.

I am interested in the following academic subject areas.

Humanities
Physical Activity
English/Writing
Business
Social Science
Natural Science
Math

I have already done the following to get my college search started.

• Searched the Web for colleges that fit my academic interests.
• Requested information from the colleges I am interested in attending.
• Attended a local college fair.
• Spoke with an admissions counselor at the college(s) I am interested in attending.
• Visited college campuses or attended an open-house program.

Step 3: Narrowing your college choices.

I am interested in the following college characteristics.

• Small vs. big student population
• Private vs. public college type
• 2-year vs. 4-year college
• Academic programs offered
• Rural or urban campus location
• Student support services
• Quality of faculty
• Student activities, organizations, sports
• Cost of tuition, fees, room and board
• Financial aid and scholarship opportunities

I will be touring a few college campuses, keeping in mind the following information/activities.

• Tour of campus facilities (including residence halls).
• Talk with current students.
• Talk with faculty.
• Eat lunch/dinner in the cafeteria.
• Sit in on a class.
• Meet with admissions staff.
• Do I see other students like me on campus?

Step 4: Applying for admissions and financing your education.

I will be applying to my following top 3 to 5 colleges.

#1____________________________
Application deadline:____________

#2____________________________
Application deadline:___________

#3____________________________
Application deadline:____________

#4____________________________
Application deadline:____________

#5____________________________
Application deadline:____________

I have researched and will be applying for the following financial assistance.

• Federal financial aid (FAFSA)—loans, grants, work-study
• Scholarships offered by the college
• Scholarships offered by private organizations

Step 5: Finishing the journey.

• I have been accepted to one (or more) of my top choice colleges.
• I have accepted the admission offer to __________________________.
• I have contacted and thanked the colleges that I will not be attending.

Financial Resources

• I have finalized my financial aid package from the college I will be attending.

Living Accommodations

• I secured my housing at the college I will be attending.
• I have contacted my roommate and coordinated what to bring.

New Student Orientation

• I have registered to attend a new student orientation at the college I will be attending.

Congratulations! You have just navigated the college search and selection journey. You are now ready to begin the learning journey at the college or university you will be attending. Your journey will provide opportunities that will last a lifetime.