Finding Yourself Before Finding A College

Wendy Thompson, Bowdoin College

How can you find a college where you'll thrive?

Think about yourself first: 

·        Who am I and where do I want to live, work and play for four years; what are your comfort factors?  Some students mistakenly believe they want city life because they have lived in small, rural areas, but end up having trouble adjusting to the challenges and differences of urban living

·        Start by taking a careful look at yourself–your interests, abilities, and attitudes.

·        Do you learn best in classes with lots of discussion, like those found at small liberal arts colleges?

·        Would you be happier as part of a larger college community with bigger classes?

Examine your own:

·        Learning style:  Would you enjoy colleges with discussion-oriented classes or more lecture style?

·        College orientation preferences – liberal arts or career-oriented

·        Academic/social balance & amount of academic challenge with which you are comfortable

·        Academic support needs – know in what academic areas you will need assistance

·        Enthusiasm for knowledge

·        Independence :  how likely are you to be homesick if far from home?

·        Eagerness for college

Try This:

Take the College Personality Quiz, a structured in-depth look at yourself, adapted from College Match: A Blueprint for Choosing the Best School for You! by Steven R. Antonoff, Ph.D., and Marie A. Friedemann, Ph.D. (Octameron Associates, 1999).   This is on:

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/cpq/coquiz.htm

Note:

When students leave a college, it usually isn’t because they don’t have the major they want but because the personality of the college and that of the student don’t match; spend time on campuses to get a feel; NEVER enroll at a college you have never visited.

Remember:  the road to the right college begins with self-knowledge