Prepare for college

To prepare for college, there are several things high school students must do. It is important that they visit several universities, explore several fields of study, and investigate job market trends, check degrees required, and number of courses that they need to meet the degree requirements.

The most important at this time is to explore which university can help you achieve your education goals? Which universities have programs that you are interested in? Is the university has good reputation of being an academic excellence? Is the university going to help you get a job when you graduate? What kind financial that your family must pay for your education? Is your family able to pay? What kind of exam grades that you must have in order to get into the University of your Choice?

By having answer to these questions, you can narrow it down to a few universities. However, you must investigate further and never make final decision without visiting at least two or three universities of your choices. Keep an open mind as you visit and you must spend at least few hours in each university to have “feeling” whether it is a good "fit" for you. You may want to ask your parents to go with you because they can give you additional opinions.

When visit university, you need to inquire into the field of study in detail to see if the school have the most up to date training program that can help you build a good career after graduate. You may be able to find out more if you prepare to ask questions that help you to make decision. Make sure that you visit the school’s career counselor, and find out what suggestions they have for certain fields of study. They may be able to give you additional information for what you need.

When visit a university make sure to talk to students, especially students who are studying in the fields that you are interested in. There is lot of information that you can gather for that short visit. If you, or your family, know someone who works in that field, ask them whether they would provide some advices on the career. Perhaps you could visit them at work to see the work environment so you can have idea about the career that you want to study. The best career advice is always come from people who are already working in that area.

A common mistake when selecting school is students often go after the “brand”. Many people equate a brand name school with academic excellence but every university has its own strengths and weaknesses. Most universities are good in some fields of study but not all. It is important to find out more about the fields of study that you are interested in rather than go to a well known brand university but does not give you what you need.

Another mistake is that students often select a university because their friends are going there. Choosing a school because your girlfriend or boyfriend is going there is often a disaster because many often breakup in college. In the end, you may stay in a wrong school in an uncomfortable situation. It is very important to select a university based on your own logic rather than emotion. You must separate reality from opinions and other influences.

Do not rule out private school because of cost. Some private school offer scholarships, financial aids that make them more affordable. In some countries, state schools are more prestigious as they have better faculty but in the U.S and some developed countries, private schools are usually better because they often have the most current training programs and better connect with the industry.

Do not apply to only one school since admission is competitive, you may not get in the school of your choice. My advice is to apply to at least three to five schools that you like. Remember that you must choose these schools very carefully as they are the places where you are mostly likely to get in.

When it is time to make your final decision, discuss your decision with your family and relatives whose advices you value. If you follow these advices, there is a good chance your final choice will be a good one.

Sources

  • Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University