May 1st....right around the corner!

As many of you already know, May 1st is the National College Reply date. It's time to buckle down, make any final campus visits, and ask any remaining questions before making that final college decision. It's a BIG decision, so take your time and choose wisely. I would advise you to steer clear of selecting schools for only the following reasons:

1. Your BFF is going to _____ school.
2. Your boyfriend/girlfriend is going to _____ school.
3. The school's name/reputation will sell itself after graduation (this may NOT always happen - ask about graduation placement rates...your parents will be glad to know that you will be able to successfully get a job or get into graduate school after your 4 years of college).
4. The school's facilities are all brand new (OK....but what about the people? the classes? the location? the academics?).
5. You can play _____ sport there (don't forget that college is also about getting an education).

Not that the reasons listed above are not legit reasons to attend a school, but it's best to choose a school based on more than one of these reasons. Many students make the mistake of selecting a school without thinking about the bigger picture...without thinking beyond next week, next fall or next year. As an Admission Counselor, I cannot tell you which school will be the right fit for you. This is a decision each student has to make themselves. My advice...consider the qualities you're looking for in a college/university. If you could create the perfect/ideal college for YOU, what would it be like? Are you looking for a certain size? location? major(s)? type - public or private? Extracurricular activities? Athletics? faith-based? comfortable atmosphere? good feeling?

There's a lot to think about these last few days before May 1st. I wish you all the best and good luck!