If you're like most students, the answer to that question is probably "yes". The simple reason is that finding a college that's a good fit for you isn't always easy. There are so many factors you need to take into consideration that having a little help may help relieve some unnecessary stress. Two possible sources of help are online college search engines and independent college counselors.
College Search Engines - These search engines work by using the info you input to find the colleges that have everything you are looking for. However, not all college search engines are the same. I encourage you to try out several to see which one works best for you. This type of help tends to work best if you've already given some thought to what I call the "deal breakers" - a short list of criteria so essential to your college success that you would not consider attending a college that does not meet them. These may include things such as specific academic programs, disability support, size, cost, etc. Entering these essential factors into a search engine is likely to return a good list of schools for you to begin to work with. From there you can reduce the list according to your personal preferences (i.e. good football team).
Independent College Counselors - Because part of their job is to visit a wide variety of colleges, they can also recommend schools that offer the things your looking for. One of the many notable things they can do that a search engine can't is to give you some insight into the atmosphere of the school and the types of students who tend to do well there. However, not all counselors are the same. While some specialize in helping students get into the most selective schools, most others work with a wide variety of students including students with learning disabilities, artists, actors, athletes, etc. The cost of their services varies widely. Most do not charge the exorbitant prices you sometimes see quoted in the press. In fact, it is not uncommon to find independent college counselors volunteering in the community or working with low-income students pro bono or for a minimal fee. (If you decide to work with an independent college counselor, it is important to choose one who belongs to a professional organization such as HECA or IECA. These organizations require that their members have completed a higher level of training in the field and adhere to a very strict code of ethics.)
Comments