When our Collegewise counselors help students find the right colleges, it’s a team-effort. We don’t just hand a student a list of colleges to apply to based on a few characteristics. Instead, we give them a “preliminary college list.” We teach them how to learn more about schools. Then we assign them a task to research those colleges on their own with this caveat:
“You’re probably not going to like some of these colleges. And that’s OK.”
Some students know exactly what they’re looking for in a college right from the start. Many more do not. Allowing our students to learn about colleges on their own lets them better define what they are and are not looking for in a school. When they come back to us with their own feedback, we listen carefully, then make some revised suggestions and have them investigate the new additions. It’s like process of elimination when taking a test. Eliminate what’s wrong, and eventually, you’re left with what’s right.
As Katie in our Bellevue, Washington office tells her students:
“I want to help you find more of the colleges you like, and fewer of the ones you don’t like.”
It’s important for students to take charge of their college process. Part of that means letting them find their own colleges, rather than just applying based on your suggestions. So listen to what they (and their parents) are looking for in a school. Help them get started by offering preliminary suggestions and teaching them how to research schools. Then let them dive in on their own before they come back to you with feedback.
A conscientious college searcher probably won’t like all of the schools you suggest at first. Remind them that is exactly what you expect will happen. Feedback—both positive and negative—is always helpful. It will help you use process of elimination to eventually hand the student a balanced, well-researched college list. When they apply, they’ll have a good answer to any question about why they’re interested in a particular school. And most importantly, they’ll almost certainly be left with plenty of great acceptances in hand from colleges that fit.