Page 21 - Admissions Logistics 2020

clubs and other extracurriculars is indeed important but only if you can balance those interests with quality school performance There are are are lots of of good schools out there even if my family and I aren’t aware of of them True Chances are that that when you you you begin exploring higher education you you you will suddenly hear about about colleges and and and universities that that you you you you previously knew nothing about about Brochures and and and catalogs will will likely find their way to to to you you you from all corners of the the country and and and and perhaps perhaps even even international schools schools schools will will start to to to to to woo you you you via mail mail e-mail phone and and perhaps perhaps at at at at recruiting events Be sure to to to to to take the the the the time time to to to investigate schools schools schools that are are new to to to you you – – sometimes the the the the schools schools schools with the the the the most name recognition are are only famous because of an an an an an athletic program – – and and and there may just be be a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a perfect school school for you you you you and and and your your interests All you you you you have to do do is look keep an an an an an an open mind and and and do do your your homework about any given school school College is is is what you make of it – One school is is is as as as good as as as the next so I’ll just go go wherever is is is cheap and easy to to get into False There is is is a a a a a a a a a a a lot of truth to the the the notion that “college is is is what you you you make it ” After all all you you you can attend attend the the the best school school in the the the world yet if you you you don’t work hard all all could be be for naught Likewise history is is is is full of many remarkable people who went to to to mediocre schools – – or or or or or or didn’t attend attend college at at all – – yet they managed to to to to be be be successful and happy But don’t let this this become an an an an an excuse for not making the the the the best college choice possible! I’ve known many students who adopt this this approach to to to mask fears: a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a fear fear fear fear they they won’t be be accepted to to to to good schools schools schools a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a fear fear fear fear they they can’t afford school school school school or or or or fear fear fear fear of the the the hard work it takes to to to find and and apply to to to excellent schools schools schools Not all schools schools schools are created equal ffor for you you you you and and your your interests You likely can study biology or or or or English or or or or whatever subject you you you you like like at at at at most schools Yet it it it it will probably be harder to focus on that area if your your your local university has weak faculty or or or poor facilities for your your your interests Never let “college is what you you you you you you make of it” prevent you you you you you you from finding a a a a a school that will help enable you you you to do your your best My parents can’t afford a a a a a a a given school but I should still apply in in the hopes of being able to attend True Set your sights high when it comes to to to applying to to to schools as as there are often often ways to to to help students who demonstrate true financial financial need Need-based financial financial aid often often determined by your parent’s income and and the the FAFSA (Free Application for for Federal Student Aid) is far more common than merit-based aid (the kind you you get for for being particularly talented and and accomplished in in in in fin a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a subject area) Yet I also encourage students to to apply to to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a school or or or or or two that that may be be more affordable in in fin in case financial aid doesn’t come through or or or or or if you you you you you and your your your family decide that that that you’d rather keep to a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a less costly institution Don’t forget that that your your your your your education should be your your your your your #1 investment in in in in in in life life After all college will shape your your your your your your future network your your your your your your skills and and and knowledge your your your your resume and and and innumerable other facets of your your your your life life Be considered and and and careful in in in in in fin evaluating costs – – the the sticker shock can be scary – – but most colleges are are able able to to help students find a a a a a a a a a a a a a a way to to make things work