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| "Tomorrow is Mystery" (1923) by Pierre Dubreuil |
Also, she didn't know how to judge universities other than whether they were famous enough for her to have heard of them.
And she didn't know how important visiting college campuses is to the process.
Thinking back on your own experience, do you feel like you were fully informed about the college application and acceptance process?
Was there anything you wish you had known about sooner?
Looking back on the time when I was looking at colleges, I feel there could have been more to understand. In high school, my guidance counselor wasn't the best counselor. She would hand out packets to schools that she thought a student would benefit at, not ones that the student wanted to attend, and she would also ignore questions or give vague answers to students who ask about college admissions. One thing that I did wish I had known sooner was the importance of the ACT and FAFSA. I only took the ACT twice and made decent scores, but they weren't high enough to qualify for the amount of scholarships I thought I would get. Luckily I was able to get into the Honors Program and they provided more assistance for school than I had before. Next I wish I knew the importance of FAFSA and the income required to get good grants. I went into the FAFSA application blind, only knowing that I would need it to get grant money. Luckily I dotted all my "i's" and crossed all my "t's" and filled it out correctly, but I had to go through great amounts of trouble to get the proper documentation required. I don't regret anything that happened because I feel that I learned and now can partly navigate myself and others through these processes.
ReplyDeleteRussell, I also had bad luck with my counselor at my high school. Personally, I feel like I missed out on a lot of useful information that would have helped me today, simply if I had had a more invested counselor. I think it would have been extremely helpful if I had been walked through the FAFSA and what it would mean to qualify for certain loans.
DeleteI feel that I was very well informed. I had an excellent guidance counselor in high school. She gave us all of the information we really needed within the first week of school. She regularly called us into her office to give us information about scholarships and helped us with applications if we needed it. She always made sure we knew we could ask her anything about colleges or just life after high school in general. I feel very fortunate to have had her as my counselor.
ReplyDeleteAs a first-generation college student, my parents couldn't offer much advice regarding the college application process. My guidance counselor at my high school offered some assistance, however, when it came to selecting a school, I felt as though I was alone. My older sister really served as a mentor in this situation. She always was there to answer any questions I had, because she had to go through it by herself when she was my age. She graduated from East Central, and I would often accompany her when she had to drive to campus to drop off forms, etc. I knew East Central was my choice after my older sister's advice, guidance, and experiences she shared with me. I feel as though I was very fortunate to have her to assist me through the application and selection process.
ReplyDeleteI went into the application process without knowing very much. The last time someone in my family was going through the application process was over 30 years ago, so a lot has changed since then. However, several of my college bound classmates fortunately showed me the proper way to apply and eventually get accepted. My mom also helped a lot, she would be on the ECU website for hours trying to figure out how to properly do it and to find all the paperwork needed. The only thing I wish I would have changed was to study more for the ACT test. I had little idea the importance it would have going into college at the time.
ReplyDeleteI am a first generation college student so neither of my parents knew a whole lot about the college process, so I had to rely on my school. My counselor was too busy to be as much of a help as I needed, but I did have a couple teachers who took me under their wing and sat down to explain everything to me. I started on my ACT as a freshman per their guidance and I am honestly so grateful. The only thing I wish was different would have been if it was easier for me to find more scholarships than I did.
ReplyDeleteI was extremely blessed because my mom was a high school counselor and was able to guide me and advise me in the best path and decisions to make to set me up to most successful in my future. However not everyone at my school was blessed with this knowledge. To put all the blame on the counselors is wrong because in some instances the lack of knowledge can be attributed to the student not paying attention. However, I still do feel like things could be done to show these kids the options they have to improve their lives. Whether that what is needed for that kid to get to college or maybe even making sure that these kids our informed about options like votechs. The point is to give these kids so many options that they have no choice but to strive for greatness in life.
ReplyDeleteI definitely know that there was a lot that I was unaware of as I began getting ready for college. Not because anyone intentionally didn't tell me, but I believe that college is seen as a topic that is fully understood in every aspect. In my high school, by junior year if you didn't know what school you were going to, you were behind. When I changed my mind at the end of senior year an decided to attend ECU, it was frowned upon and felt as if my peers were constantly judging me. In a small Oklahoma town, I feel like there is a stigma about going to college anywhere other than OU or OSU. Not because any other school is bad, but because its supposedly the "dream" to escape whatever small town your in. I wish I had known about all of the universities that Oklahoma had to offer, like ECU, and taken more time to explore and analyze each one.
ReplyDeleteThe process of applying for college, getting accepted, and even going is new to me and my family. Neither of my parents attended a university so it was a new experience for me and them both. The counselor and teachers were thankfully a big help in figuring everything out. The FAFSA process was new too and very confusing. People came to the school to help us fill it out and that made the process a lot easier. Filling out FAFSA is something I'm nervous about doing this year as well.
ReplyDeleteMy choice of college was a collective decision. First I needed their financial support so they definitely had a say in the process. I also trust their judgment so I would still seek their advice even if I did not need their financial support. I made some personal decisions, like choosing to stay away from them and coping as well. The most difficult part was the choice of college. I had scholarships in a lot of schools so it was a hard choice to pick. Also deciding to become independent was a difficult decision, I am the only child and was always used to have things done for me by an adult. Not that I think I am spoilt but I was a lot more independent compared to who I am now. I have been able to adapt well and the communication is great. It has reduced though, especially during exams but my parents understand me. Visiting just once a year is hard. I get home sick even in my second year but it’s not as bad.
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