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College Fit

Tina M. Renga

In today's brand-conscious world, academic reputation has become very important to families. But just because a
college has a stellar academic reputation doesn't mean it's the right one for your child. Thousands of colleges and
universities provide students with a quality education even if they don't make national ranking lists. Your child
needs to answer many questions before an informed decision can be made, and the decision should be based
upon solid information. I always advise families to begin the college journey with some questions in mind.
Keep in mind; throughout the journey that college is a “Match to be Made and Not a Prize to be Won.” Who is
your child? What is your child passionate about? How has your child evolved over the last years at LHS? What
is your child’s goals….not just his/her academic goals? Where does your child see him/herself after graduation?
The school counselors and I believe within each student lies the ability for greatness. The capacity within which
this greatness lies only needs to be important to each student, and it need not make sense to anyone else. Your
child needs to discover who he/she is in this process. Some students want to find the perfect college. The truth is
there is no such thing. Your child can find many colleges at which he/she will be happy and get a great education.

Below is great information to be shared with students:

The college search is about exploring who you are and what you want and then finding colleges that will meet your
goals. Still, you do need to narrow down the possibilities into a manageable list. Here are steps you can take to
find colleges where you will thrive. Stay open to all the possibilities — don’t limit your search.

Decide What You Want in a College

Ask yourself what’s important to you, where you want to be and who you want to become. Then you can figure
out what types of colleges will allow you to reach your goals. Here are some aspects to consider: size, location,
travel distance from home, available majors and classes, housing options, makeup of the student body, available
extracurricular activities, and campus atmosphere.

 Which of these aspects are things you feel you must have to be comfortable at a college? Which things are
you flexible on?
 Also, think about what you want to accomplish in college.
 Do you want to train for a specific job or get a wide-ranging education?
 If you have a major in mind, are the colleges you’re considering strong in that area?

Keep an Open Mind

While it’s good to have some ideas in mind about what sorts of colleges will be right for you, stay open to all the
possibilities at the beginning of your search. You may also wish to challenge your assumptions about what will
work for you. Step out of your comfort zone for a bit and think about all of the possibilities.

Talk to People who Know You

Tell parents, teachers, relatives, family friends and your school counselor about your goals, and ask if they can
suggest colleges that may be a good fit for you.

Don’t limit your Search

At the start of this process, you may rule out colleges because you think that they are too expensive or too hard to
get into, but this may not be the reality. Remember that financial aid can make college more affordable and
colleges look at more than just grades and test scores.

Do Your Homework

Once you have a list of schools, it’s time to do research. To learn more about the colleges you're considering,
check out college guidebooks and the colleges’ websites. Jot down your questions and get answers by:
 Talking to your school counselor or teachers
 Checking out colleges’ student blogs, if available
 Contacting college admission officials
 Asking admission officials to recommend current students or recent graduates to talk to
 Visiting college campuses, if possible

Keep Perspective

During your search, keep asking yourself questions about your preferences and goals. You are changing
throughout high school, so your answers may change during the search process. Remember, that there are many
good college matches for every student, and that you can be successful at many types of schools.
In closing, Lloyd Thacker, Executive Director, The Education Conservancy supports the concept of college fit
and states, “The key to ‘fit’ is to make a thoughtful match between the characteristics of colleges and your personal
preferences. And since you're going to have several options, the thing to do is to explore the differences and
similarities among colleges, and then evaluate those differences with respect to your own educational experiences,
your knowledge of yourself as a student.” It is important for students to understand what kind of an environment
do they learn best in? What is their preferred learning style? What are their hopes and expectations about a
college? What are their fears? We all hope that when a student matriculates to college after they graduate from
LHS, they are excited about where they are going. As parents, you are confident that they will be successful
academically and socially.

Enjoy the journey! Tina M. Renga