<p>I'm currently a Freshmen (Rising Sophomore) and I really don't see a point in me being on CC at this point of my high school career.</p>
<p>So I was just wondering when a good time was to come back onto CC (or) begin the college search process.</p>
<p>Come back at the end of junior year. There's really no need to get worried about colleges until then.</p>
<p>I was thinking more like end of Sophomore Year or even Spring of Junior Year, but ok.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>Actually, I'd advise at the beginning of junior year. Many kids start college visits in February and April vacations, so they can see the schools in session. If you wait until the end of junior year, you may be left with visiting schools in the summer, trying to cram the visits into the fall of senior year, or not visiting at all until you're accepted.</p>
<p>Thanks Chedva. So I guess end of Sophomore year would be a good time to look at colleges are a good fit for me.</p>
<p>@Chedva
I really don't see the value in visiting schools unless you're accepted, and I don't think that campus "feel" should play much of a role in your decision about which school to attend. I certainly know that "liking" the campus of my local community college won't make me apply. Honestly, if you've been accepted at both Yale and Princeton (one can only hope!), then yes, liking the campus of one over the other can play a major role in deciding which to attend, but it can only do so when the schools are comparable academically and prestige-wise.</p>
<p>I'm going to apply to the top schools irregardless of whether I like their campuses or not, and I'll visit them if and when I've been accepted to any.</p>
<p>aristotle, I think I'm going to research schools that seem like a decent fit for me instead of just applying to the top schools.</p>
<p>For ex. I heard Georgia Tech has really bad recruitment and lacks undergrad focus, despite it being a top school. Although I won't every school out there I am interested in seeking out schools that I can picture myself at. I agree with your concept of visiting schools after being accepted though (However I doubt I'll find time then).</p>
<p>That's fine, aristotle1990 - you do what works for you. But visiting made a huge difference in my d's final list. She absolutely hated some of the schools that looked good on paper, and that was also affected by the kids and administrators she met there, not just the campus - that's why it helps to visit while school is in session. She didn't base her decisions on things like what the dorm or cafeteria looked like.</p>
<p>She also found that she really liked some of the schools that on paper didn't seem "right" - she's actually going to attend one of those.</p>
<p>If it doesn't matter what the campus "feel" is, then why even bother visiting once you get in? Just choose the one that looks best on its website.</p>
<p>Definitely start researching colleges, learn what they expect out of applicants. Understand that the colleges you like right now may not be the colleges you like in a few years.</p>
<p>Yes that is what I intend to do fireflyscout. I guess I'll start doing it at the beginning of Junior Year or around Spring of Junior Year. </p>
<p>You make an excellent point, hopefully in a few years I can see what I want to do in the future.</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>@Chedva
"If it doesn't matter what the campus "feel" is, then why even bother visiting once you get in? Just choose the one that looks best on its website."</p>
<p>It's not that the campus feel doesn't matter, it's that it's not as important as other factors, and, in my opinion, should only be used to decide between two colleges of comparable academic standing. For example, if I got into both Harvard and the University of Virginia, and price wasn't an issue, and I detested the Harvard campus and adored the UVA campus, it wouldn't matter a bit; I'd choose Harvard in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>each person weighs each factor differently than others
get over it aristotle</p>
<p>OP, what i recommend you do now is read thru one of the books about college admissions such as "Admission Matters". The purpose isn't to choose a college yet, but to understand what colleges of various degrees of selectivity are looking for. The decisions you make over the next 2-3 years are going to affect the choices you have. At the best prep schools there are counselors steering kids into the right things; if you're not at one of these schools then by reading a book or two you can get a sense of what they are hearing.</p>
<p>As for when to pick colleges, I'd say start in the middle of junior year. At that time begin by visiting colleges of various types in your area (LAC, large U, urban, rural, etc) to get a sense of what is right for you. Then focus on find colleges of that type. BTW the most important pick you'll make is your safety. Things happen in admission, and you want to have one school that you're happy to attend and that you're sure will take you. Every spring there are anguished posts by kids who didn't get into their preferred colleges for one reason or another, all they have left is their safety and choosing it was a 5-minute afterthought. In case the dice go against you, you don't want to be one of those kids!</p>
<p>As for Aristotle, it's great that campus and atmosphere aren't that big a deal. For most kids, though, finding a good match makes a lot of differnence in how happy they are at college. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.</p>
<p>Just have fun and discover what you want and yourself. Come back at the beginning or end of junior year...or definitely senior year...to get help on common questions, etc. you may have at the time.</p>
<p>
[quote]
At the best prep schools there are counselors steering kids into the right things; if you're not at one of these schools then by reading a book or two you can get a sense of what they are hearing.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm definitely not at one of those schools. I'll read the book over the summer. Thanks!</p>
<p>Optimization, that's exactly what I want to do.</p>
<p>While we're on the subject of books, any good ones to read at this stage?</p>
<p>One other thing to keep in mind: SAT II tests. If you're going for the top schools (of course in addition to your matches and safeties), you might need to take them. If you're taking honors or AP classes in your sophomore year, you may want to consider taking them following those classes. (For example, my d took the Chem SAT II in the spring of sophomore year, after taking Honors Chem.)</p>
<p>Thanks Chedva, I'm aware of this. I took Biology this year, but I'll probably take Chemistry Junior Year (that way I'll have 2 years worth of Chemistry). I plan to Math II next year.</p>
<p>I also recommend any of the books by Howard Greene. They're a few years old now, but still have good advice.</p>
<p>If you want to see how admissions looks from the other side of the desk, read "The Gatekeepers" by Steinberg in which the NY Times reporter spent a year inside the admissions office at a top LAC.</p>
<p>Fiske guide to colleges seems pretty good for giving you a feel for the top schools, and also for info on the whole process. I found US News to be no better than the info on the web. Rugg's Recommendations is great if you have some idea of what you want to major in. I think visits in the spring of junior year can be very useful. Not everyone picks a school based on stats.</p>