V. Peter Pitts, M.A.
Finding Fit
Recently, a parent member of a Facebook group asked me how to “find fit” in the college selection process, so let me make a few suggestions.
First of all, fit is not the same as match. A college can “tick all the boxes” (majors, extracurriculars, SAT ranges, GPA ranges, geography, price, etc.), yet not be a fit at all for the student.
Fit is a feeling, but it is also a philosophy. What I mean, in this context, by philosophy is the “way of doing things, on a day to day basis, on the campus.” What are the rules? How strict is the administration about enforcing the rules? Are religious services mandatory? Is it a Greek-or-Geek situation? Are the students more “competitive with one another” or are they more “collaborative/team-oriented”? What is the atmosphere on campus? Stressed? Relaxed? Fun? Issues involving the way things “really are” in regard to alcohol, religion, politics, sex, and college faculty and staff (attitudes and the way they treat students) are seldom dealt with during the recruitment process, yet they are crucial to finding fit.
So how to truly find fit? The first step is two-fold: 1. Find potential matches, and 2. Investigate potential atmospheres.
Match is mostly research-based. Does the college offer courses that satisfy your interests? (note that I did not use the M word). Is there a good academic fit based on middle 50% test scores and GPA’s? (i.e. is there a good chance you will be admitted). After considering potential merit aid (and after doing cost estimators), is the college in an acceptable price range? Is the college located, geographically, within an acceptable distance from home? Does the college offer internships, research, and other kinds of opportunities that augment your interests? What are the housing options? Take notes and keep a spreadsheet to stay organized.
Investigating potential atmospheres is the most crucial piece of the puzzle. Visit. Visit. Visit. Don’t wait until senior year to visit college campuses. As early as 8th and 9th grades, as your family travels places (vacations, family gatherings, etc.), stop by to do a casual “walk-around” visit to a variety of colleges (large, mid-size, really small; urban, suburban, small town, rural, etc.). If you come across an employee of the college or a students, please ask them simple questions about the college (What do you like most about your college? What do most students study here? Etc.). [Caution: don’t assume that their opinions are the dominant opinions.] Soak in as much of the general atmosphere as you can. Take notes and keep organized. Note: if you absolutely cannot visit campuses, you can get a “feel” about a college from their website and from their social media posts. Some high schools sponsor bus trips to visit colleges. Do these! Some high school organizations regularly visit campuses (for example, I was on a speech team in high school, and every weekend we visited a different college to compete). Pay attention to the atmosphere of the college when you are on campuses for these high school functions.
As Junior year rolls around, start doing official visits to the colleges. I highly recommend individual/personalized visits rather than group/”open house” visits. Force yourself to visit different college sizes than you think you want. Many times you only visit one size college because you think that fits you the best, but when you visit a different size you might be totally surprised. Keep an open mind. Ask to talk with faculty, coaches, etc.. Develop a good relationship with the admissions counselors. Eat lunch in the cafeteria. Note: I suggest that parents should not eat lunch with the students. It is important for prospective students to eat lunch with a group of current college students so they can ask questions that they may feel uncomfortable with asking in the presence of their parents. Plus they get a better feeling of what the students, as a whole, are really like.
During the senior year, re-visit the colleges that you have gotten the best “feeling” for. Ask if they allow shadow days and/or overnight visits (these are the best way to determine fit). It takes more than a quick walk-around on a college campus to determine fit.
Bad news: There is no such thing as a “perfect” fit. The good news, though, is that most colleges have a good mix of students, so if your chosen college turns out to different than expected, it is likely that you will still find “your group” of friends.
Bottom line:
Do your research.
Visit. Visit. Visit.
Commit.
Enjoy the best years of your life!
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