Where to begin?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi Everyone.</p>

<p>I just was informed about this site by a friend. I am new to this message board and appreciate any guidance anyone can offer my son and I in regards to getting started on finding the right type of college/university.</p>

<p>He is a sophmore this year at a public high school in SW Florida. He maintains a 4.0 unweighted and a 4.12 weighed GPA. He took his PSAT's this past October and got a 1550. He gets a bit nervous taking "standardized" tests. He is going to take the ACT practice test in April. He is also shadowing many Opthalmologists in the area as this interests him at this point. </p>

<p>He desires to go into medicine, and possibly computer sciences if medicine doesn't work out. His father went to The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center and studied Radiology and Ultrasound Technology. His present "dream" is to go to Cornell U. Why, I don't know. Maybe he feels his father's past education at Cornell Medical Center in NYC would help him get admitted. This kid REALLY wants OUT of the Florida lifestyle and especially the mentality. (at least here on the West Coast)</p>

<p>We are just at the beginning of our search for colleges and it is, to say the least, extremely overwhelming! Where in the world does one begin to search out potential universities and wean out the rest? I have the "Index of Majors and Graduate Degrees" and "The College Handbook" authored by "The College Board". Again, very overwhelming.</p>

<p>Where does one start? Would appreciate any thoughts, opinions, leg-ups on what I should and shouldn't be doing at this early stage of this important search. The college counselors in Florida seem to be lacking in knowledge of Northern universities. They only seem to be educated in Florida schools.</p>

<p>Thank you very much in advance!</p>

<p>Signed, </p>

<p>Concerned former NYC momma.</p>

2

<p>Collegeboard.com's college search was a nice start for me- it allows you to select particular criteria (as broadly or narrowly as you'd like), and then view the details of colleges that match those criteria. I'd advise starting with that, and experimenting with various levels of criteria.</p>

3

<p>On the note of schools to look at, I'm not going to lie, Bright Futures is a really amazing deal. Your son might want to look at FSU; I've heard that the atmosphere is most similar to the older traditional universities (brown brick buildings, smaller in size, etc.). </p>

<p>But since he seems to be interested in mid-sized privates in the northeast, have him look at URochester, Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, and maybe Syracuse as a safety (back-up). All should be strong for pre-med.</p>

4

<p>Fanatic and World, </p>

<p>Thanks to you both for taking the time to respond so quickly. This is a good start. I need all the help I can get. World, by the way I went to Syracuse U. Class of 1980. </p>

<p>NYD</p>

5

<p>NYD, Welcome. I'd suggest that you wander over to the Parents Board. Plenty of folks there who were at one time in your position -- and I am one. Clueless college counselors are unfortunately a common phenomenon, but don't worry, your timing is right and there's lots of information available.</p>

<p>Your son sounds like he's building a solid foundation -- excellent grades, potentially good scores, an exceptional interest level in medicine. For the next two years he should keep up the good work academically, take the most rigorous courses that his school offers, perhaps think about one more extracurricular that he is interested in.</p>

<p>Medical school is still down the road a bit. What your son should be doing right now is thinking about his undergraduate education. There are a few programs in which first years enter as part of a multiyear commitment combining a BA or BS plus medical school. Brown's eight year PLME is an example. </p>

<p>But most kids who end up in medical school simply get a BA or a BS in any one of a wide range of disciplines then apply to medical school in their senior year. In other words, don't worry about it yet. Focus on FIT: the ambience, environment and teaching style. If he does well as an undergraduate, no matter what he studies, he'll be able to continue on to medical school.</p>

<p>How to start? There are two overlapping concepts that need to be kept in mind: First you need a range of selectivity -- reach/match/safety. If your family requires financial aid, then your son may have to develop a financial reach/match/safety list as well. This is probably the most important factor to determine.</p>

<p>Second, your son should think about what he wants in a college: Geographic location, size, surroundings (urban/suburban/rural), fraternities, sports, politics, arts etc. </p>

<p>Cornell is a wonderful university and a good starting place. Cornell is Northeast, big, rural, has fraternities and an active sports culture. So if that's his cup of tea he could searcj for other schools that fit into that category, more or less. Duke, Michigan, North Carolina come to mind. </p>

<p>If on the other hand he'd like to consider just some of the factors that attract him to Cornell, he could adjust his list accordingly. For example like Cornell but not so big -- Williams, Amherst, Dartmouth, Hamilton, Bowdoin. </p>

<p>If you can afford to visit this summer or over spring break you will find that his preferences will begin to crystallize. If not possible, then I'd just keep leafing through the college books. If he ends up at the start of Junior year with a list of 25-30 options, visits a handful, talks to friends and reads this board, by the start of Senior year he will easily be able to whittle the list down to 10-12.</p>

<p>I'd like to make a special mention of the less selectives. In my opinion this is the hardest challenge. Everyone loves the superselectives, but it's critical, even for top students, to apply to at least one school that's a sure bet. More if you need a financial safety as well. Sometimes you have to visit several in order to find a loveable safety. You should make this a priority.</p>

<p>Good luck and let us know how you do.</p>

6

<p>Momrath, </p>

<p>First of all it is so very kind of you for taking the time and effort to share your knowledge and experience with me. There IS hope in this world. :O)</p>

<p>How do you weed out all the colleges my son has in mind and the ones you suggested, and just say "ok this is not the one for me" without actually going there?</p>

<p>He will be taking AP Biology and AP English next year on top of his Honor classes. Also he is doing extracurricular by designing the web page for the actual volunteer center he belongs to. I wonder if that is enough?</p>

<p>My son also thinks that he has to go to a college or U in the state that he wants to go to med-school in. That is one of the reasons he doesn't want to stay in Florida.</p>

<p>Any other suggestions would greatly help because in Florida, especially in the west coast, you're on your own.</p>

<p>Thanks again,
NYD</p>

7

<p>
[quote]
How do you weed out all the colleges my son has in mind and the ones you suggested, and just say "ok this is not the one for me" without actually going there?

[/quote]

A visit is the best (only?) way to put college environments into context. I'm not talking about academics here, but rather personality, environment, FIT, if you will. </p>

<p>You don't need to visit any specific college. A visit to any college or university to get a feel for the different environments -- large/medium/small, urban/suburban/rural -- will help focus your son's preferences. After that's established he can go on to his "wish list" which will help fine-tune his list based on the the personalities of individual schools.</p>

<p>
[quote]
[Re EC's] I wonder if that is enough?

[/quote]

He doesn't need a wide list of activities, just a indepth interest and consistent participation. </p>

<p>
[quote]
My son also thinks that he has to go to a college or U in the state that he wants to go to med-school in.

[/quote]

There are many experts in medical school admissions who post on the Parents Board. I'd suggest you ask this question there. My understanding is that what gets you into medical school is good grades, good recommendations and good internships or research stints. You can get all of those at any college or university, but your performance will be directly proportionate to your happiness. In other words, focus on fit first.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Any other suggestions?

[/quote]

Look into the college counseling service offered by College Confidential, this website. If it's not in your budget, then post individual questions on the Parents Board and the boards related to individual colleges. </p>

<p>Keep an open mind. Read a lot. After a while you hear the same advice over and over again and it becomes clearer, honest!</p>

<p>Address the financial implications, now. If you need financial aid, educate yourself on the different types. Money will impact your son's list more than any other factor.</p>