Beginning the post –secondary exploration process can be a time defined by mixed emotions: excitement, anticipation, uncertainly, fear, or any combination thereof. While the unknowns of future planning can, at times, be overwhelming, they also present an opportunity for growth, self-reflection, and ownership. Perhaps you already have firm ideas of where you would like to go to college or how you want to spend your time after high school. Maybe you have started to eliminate some possibilities. Whatever you are in this process, this guide is designed to support you.
Remember that applying to college is a highly personal; and individual process. Even though you may be navigating the various phases and steps of the process at the same time as your peers, that does not mean that every decision you make will be aligned. Your criteria of what type of college will meet your needs best may look drastically different from that of your friends and classmates, and that’s okay. The goal of this process is to discover a range of institutions where you will feel happy, fulfilled, intellectually challenged, and supported. Approaching the college search with this perspective in mind will lead to smooth transitions and sound decision-making.
As tempting as it might be to fast track your timeline, remember that the college process is not something that can be rushed. It plays out on a predictable and relatively set timeline with a beginning, middle, and end. For some students, this may be one of your first exposure to a multistep, long-term research process. Your energies are best spent investing deeply in the stage of the process at hand, rather than trying to skip ahead and tackle decisions that aren’t ready to be made yet. Pacing yourself and chunking out this work is one of the best ways to reduce stress and minimize overwhelm. ideally, along the way, you will also build beneficial skills in long-term planning and organization, effective communication, accountability, and perspective.
Consider your goals, strengths, areas for growth and reasons for going to college. Genuinely ask yourself the question why do I want to go to college? And discuss your answer with the people supporting you through this process. Starting this process without a solid answer to that question is a missed opportunity. When you begin thinking about yourself and the criteria you’ll base your college search on, be realistic .it is okay to dream as long as you are keeping one foot on the ground. Consult your parents, guardians, school or college counsellor, and others about process, but keep in mind that it is your future and that you must eventually make the decisions.
Your school-based counsellor is often the first and primary resource for you during the college search and selection process. They will know the various steps in the admission process and can help you establish and keep an admission application schedule. Just as important, your counsellor can help you better understand yourself. Your interests, and your needs. In addition to school-based organizations or local non-profit organizations to receive support and guidance when applying to college.
Regardless of where your support is coming from be open to receiving guidance from those willing to provide it and who have years of exposure and experience navigating this process. Work with your counsellor or other support system to determine the factors-from location to academic offerings-that matter most to you. Using the information from these conversations, you and your counsellor can begin to develop a list of colleges that meet your established criteria. Self-assessment, evaluation, patience, persistence, organization, and above all, good humor and perspective are the elements of a happy transition from high school to college.