Staying in College

Staying In College Could Be Harder than Getting In

Article first appeared in The Ithaca Journal, October 31, 2006

I often hear how stressed people are about the whole college admissions process. “It is so much more competitive than when we were in school,” a friend remarked to me. She’s right. It is more competitive than it was 25-30 years ago because a greater percentage of students from a relatively large college age population (compared with the early 1990s) are seeking a college education. However, only about 120 colleges accept fewer than 50 percent of their applicants. These 120 schools are the focus of much media attention. The knowledge that there are more than 2,000 four-year colleges and 1,000 two-year colleges to choose from should make parents feel somewhat better.

The biggest challenge today seems to be making it through college. The average graduation rate has fallen to 53 percent according to recent census figures. This figure is worrisome because the lack of a college diploma limits career choices for young adults. According to 2005 Department of Labor figures, the fastest growing careers require at least a two-year degree. There are many reasons why students leave school. A major reason for college dropouts that can be avoided is a poor match between the student and the college. This lack of fit is also reflected in the 27 percent college transfer rate. Transferring between colleges can be very costly in terms of lost credits and financial aid.

Careful research of schools in the college planning process can help students make better college choices. Students should take the time to think about what they want out of a college experience. Career counselors or consultants can help students who are stuck at this stage with individualized career and personality testing. Then each student should generate a general list of likes and dislikes including climate, size, social culture, academic program and extracurricular activities. The goal at this point is to generate a list of colleges that are interesting possibilities. Students may want to test their preferences by visiting a few nearby campuses.

There are many Internet and print based resources for college searches. Some comprehensive print guides include Peterson’s Guide to Four Year Colleges 2006, Peterson’s Guide to Two Year Colleges 2006 and Barron’s Profile of American Colleges 2006. The collegeboard.com site can also help students with their investigation. The individual college Web sites provide the most thorough and up-to-date information. Students should try to come up with a list of 10 to 15 colleges that they might want to visit. Virtual visits to college sites are not enough. You can’t taste the food or talk to the students on a virtual tour.

My main tip for a meaningful visit to a college campus is as follows: Experience as many aspects of the campus as you can that are not available through guides or Web sites. Your visit might include eating in the dining hall, attending a class, going to a sports or arts event, visiting the library, staying overnight in the dorm or talking to students casually. Take notes on experiences you have on each campus so they don’t all blend together. In the fall of senior year you should be narrowing your list down based upon your research to the schools you will apply to. The list should include a group of schools in three categories: almost certain admits, good matches culturally and academically, and possible admits that you really liked. Now all you have to do is apply to the chosen schools, and you can look forward to college options that match your unique talents and requirements.