Education

Helping Your Child Choose the Right College (and Get Into It!)
By Teresa Carson

Donavan Burkert-Kerr had things relatively easy. Her talented high school daughter knew she wanted to major in music, specifically voice. So when the southeast Portland family started looking at colleges, the universe of possibilities was narrowed to about 100, from the more than 4,000 choices in the U.S. But even with “only” 100 candidates, the search was still a grueling one, as the family tried to help Brianne pick out just the right handful of colleges for her applications.

“There are probably wonderful schools we never even considered. You can’t possibly have looked at every single one,” Burkert-Kerr says. “But hopefully, every kid gets into a school that works for them.” And, that is exactly what everyone is looking for – a school that works for them. Whether it’s a big state university, a selective liberal arts college or a funky art school, everyone is looking for a good fit.

Many Questions to Ask

How do you find that “good fit” for your child? A good place to start is to follow your child’s interests and abilities, dreams and aspirations. If your child is not as focused as Brianne, try asking them to picture themselves in two years. This question may give your child an idea of the type of college experience they seek. “Do they see themselves in a small, liberal arts college debating Descartes or do they crave the big football games? Do they want Greek life?” asks Jennifer Satalino, manager of the Portland office of the Northwest Education Loan Association, a nonprofit that offers assistance on college admissions and finance. Do they want to go to school in a big city, small town or rural area? Will they thrive with the bigger classes and dizzying options of a big university or do they seek small seminars in the professor’s living room more likely at a small, liberal arts college? Is a religious affiliation important? Are politics – left or right – important? Close to home or as far away from mom and dad as possible?

Once you have a feeling for the type of college and possible majors, it’s time to hit the college guide books, attend college presentations, surf the Web and tap other resources to narrow the field. ”We wore out our first (college guide) book,” laughs Kathy Florine, a Beaverton mom. Her oldest daughter wanted to major in bio-medical engineering, which winnowed possibilities to about 22 schools.

Most experts recommend students apply to about four to six colleges. One should be a “safety” school where a student is almost certain to get in. Some also advise applying to a ”reach” school, where the odds are not high that the student will be admitted. The rest should be colleges where you will likely be admitted and would love to attend. “We need to be realistic. Very few of us are going to Harvard or Stanford or another ‘marquee’ school,” NELA’s Satalino says.

Rx for Success

The formula for keeping the most options open for college is simple, but not necessarily easy. Students should take the hardest classes the high school offers and maintain the highest grades. They should get the highest scores they can muster on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Getting good grades and scoring well on college admissions test should be enough to gain access to most state universities. These institutions, because of their size, typically admit solely on the basis of grades and test scores, although some are beginning to include an essay requirement.

If your child is considering a selective college, especially a competitive private institution, they will also need to participate in some activities. That can mean sports, community service or other endeavors, even a part-time job. “One common mistake is that students are not working in the summer,” says Jim Sumner, dean of admissions and financial aid at very selective Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa. “Somewhere along the way we have decided it’s more important to perfect our French in Nice or go to a competitive soccer camp than work. We like to see a student has gotten his hands dirty, worked his fanny off.” Burkert-Kerr says she’s glad she saved all the programs from Brianne’s concerts so she has that information for her applications.

Visiting your group of “finalist” colleges is key, experts agree. “You’ve got to get on the campus and live and breathe it,” says Devon O’Brien, a Beaverton-based college consultant. Southeast Portland dad Ray Amling says his daughter wanted to major in broadcasting and was interested in New York University. But a visit to the uber-urban Manhattan campus made her realize it was not for her, and she opted for Syracuse University in upstate New York. If you can’t afford the time or money for college tours, try a video tour. And, many students have happily attended colleges sight unseen. “There is no difference in the graduation rate between students that visit or don’t visit,” Grinnell’s Sumner says.

Although the cost of the college can certainly be a deal breaker, the experts advise that it should not play into the early part of the decision making. Students should go ahead and apply to colleges that might be beyond their financial reach, and try to work with the college and other sources to put together a suitable financial aid package, experts say. But parents should be honest with their kids, that finances could torpedo some of their choices. Students should have a financial “safety” college choice in case the money just isn’t there.

Start Early

Experts also advise that families shouldn’t wait too long to start to start the selection process. “Some kids don’t even start thinking about college until their senior year,” says Michele Sandlin, director of admissions at Oregon State University. “Junior year should be your shopping year.”

On the other hand, it’s never too late. Some parents despair as they watch their child’s high school career crash and burn. But all the experts agree that when a student decides to turn things around, attending a community college and building a good record is a viable road to a four-year school. Even the big name colleges accept some transfer students. Everyone from a Pulitzer Prize winner (Gwendolyn Brooks for poetry) to a United States Supreme Court Justice (Arthur Goldberg) to some successful actors (Morgan Freeman, Billy Crystal and Tom Hanks) have done quite well starting out at a community college.

And all of the parents and experts agree with the following important advice expressed by Beaverton mom Kathy Florine: “Don’t get too stressed out.” You and your child will (eventually) survive the college admission process. Approaching it without worry and fret will definitely make it more enjoyable.

Resources For Selecting the Right College

There’s an abundance of information out there to help families research college options. Here are some possibilities:

Your High School. Your child’s high school probably has a college and careers office, or at least a counseling center. It is stocked with books, brochures, videos and other helpful information. The counselors can offer guidance, although their time is limited. High schools usually have several college information nights in the fall. College admissions officers also visit local high schools or sponsor programs in hotels in the fall. Parents and students can get loads of information at these sessions.

College Fairs. In the fall there are several big college fairs. Some are general such as the Portland National College Fair and some are more focused such as the Black College Fair or the Performing and Visual Arts College Fair.

Books. There are dozens of great books that can help you pick the right college. Some experts warn against the books that contain the “best of” lists, because parents and students get hung up on those lists and might overlook a college that is a great fit for a student. Here are some books recommended by Metro Parent experts:

Two of the most often suggested college guides are The College Board College Handbook (College Board, 2005) and The U.S. News Ultimate College Guide (Sourcebooks, 2005). Each of these behemoths is updated every year. They have loads of statistics and facts about every college in the U.S.
Several experts like Fiske Guide to Colleges (Sourcebooks, 2005). It has good descriptions of a large number, but not all, colleges and fans felt the descriptions were the most accurate of all the guides.

Another favorite is Colleges that Change Lives: 40 Schools You Should Know About Even If You’re Not A Straight A Student by Loren Pope (Penguin 2000). This book profiles a group of wonderful, but often overlooked, colleges. This author has written other similar books and experts like her books because they prompt students and parents to look beyond the big name colleges.

Web Sites. There are many excellent Web sites that can help you sort through college options for your child. Also, every college has a Web site that can be a gold mine of information. Many feature virtual tours. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the college sites are marketing tools.

www.oregoncis.uoregon.edu. Plug in the types of things your student is looking for in a college and this site will generate a list of possibilities. You can also sort institutions by career interest and financial aid. This Web site is not free but many school districts and libraries in the metropolitan area subscribe. If you don’t have access, you can subscribe for about $20 for three months.

www.collegeboard.com. This comprehensive Web site gives tons of information on every stage of the process, from planning to paying for college. There is a college sort function and information on the SATs.

www.princetonreview. This is a good site for list lovers. Lots of great information.
Other helpful sites: www.petersons.com, www.gocollege.com, www.collegexpress.com, www.collegenet.com, www.collegeview.com, www.ed.gov/thinkcollege/early.

Consultants and Centers. There are many college consultants in the metropolitan area. They can be a wealth of information but they do charge a fee. The Northwest Education Loan Association is an incredible free resource. It has free seminars, materials and knowledgeable people to answer questions on various college topics, not just student loans. The Portland NELA office is located at 1500 NE Irving St., Suite 135. Visit www.nela.net or call 503-488-6000 for more information.

Teresa Carson is a Portland freelance writer, mom and Metro Parent’s Calendar Editor.

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