NOT JUST FUN IN THE SUN

I haven't published a post in quite a while but I think there are a few things that rising seniors need to remember.  Once the school year starts with its full complement of courses, many of which should be rigorous, and activities, the post secondary planning process can really suffer.  I advise that you do as much as you can during the summer to make your senior year less hectic.  Many of the ideas presented here have been covered in other posts which can be found in the blog archive.

1.  Prior to selecting colleges to which to apply, check out the physical safety of the campus and surrounding areas.  You can do this by using the website, www.neighborhoodscout.com.   (May 11, 2011)  You could and should visit the college's security department and ask questions about campus safety.   However, as employees of the college, the people with whom you speak may downplay any incidents or safety issues.  The local police department or precinct may be helpful as well but someone may not be available to meet with you when you visit.

2.  The other important issue you need to address when selecting a school is the individual intellectual freedom it affords students. (May 25, 2011)  A very good site where you can check the record of a specific school is theFIRE.org.

3.  College Campus Tours and Visits (April 27, 2011)

• Bring an unofficial transcript.
• Notify any college rep whom you may have met at a college fair, etc. of the date of your visit.
• Meet with someone in admissions and email that person after your visit and again after you have sent in your application.  Establish a relationship.
• Pick up a recent school paper during your visit.
• Bring a checklist of questions you may have.  Many examples can be found online.  One important question is, "How are dormitory accommodations and roommates decided?".  Find out if assignments after freshman year are made on a lottery or point system.  The lottery system is lazy, while the point system rewards students who work hard.

The next post will give information and ideas about writing the college application essay.  That is something that definitely can be done or at least begun during the summer.