Everyone insists that a person should go to a college that is right for him/her, somewhere that fits who he/she is, a place where a they belong. There are more than 4,000 colleges and universities in this country; how will a person find the one that is right for them? In this article, the author suggests that one should follow the mascot when…

In her extensive, laborious experience applying to and searching out colleges, the prevailing sensation the author feels is that of being a mutt at a pedigree dog show, praying her little paws off that the judges do not realize how unqualified she is. In reality, the process is slightly less degrading than this description. In this article, the…

Author argues that students should attend the best college they can get into, looking for one with a history of moral as well as intellectual contributions and the resources to help students discover their own identities. (BP)

Discusses the fundamental flaws and the issues of validity regarding magazine rankings of colleges and universities. Highlights the need to leave future generations with a system of college counseling and college admissions that is not corrupted by inappropriate and misguided approaches. (Contains 12 references.) (GCP)

Discusses the home visit as an effective and underutilized recruiting method for colleges, citing the example of Eureka College's practice of visiting the homes of prospective students. (TE)

Discusses issues in counseling college-bound gay and lesbian students in their college-choice process. Reports on surveys showing that college choice is often influenced by gay students' sexual orientation. Suggests that counselors steer such students away from campuses that condone exclusivity in social life and student activities. Identifies…

Advocates uniformity in college applications--a centralized application system in which candidates would supply the required academic, personal, and financial information and a rank-ordered listing of their target universities or colleges. Target colleges would segmentially evaluate the applicant as a first-choice candidate until the applicant was…

Considers how early college planning should begin and points out several dangers and fallacies of planning excesses. Discusses motivation for planning, fixing on certain schools, and the adolescent's need to measure up. Asks who is setting the goals and orchestrating the process--the child or the significant adults in his/her life. (NB)

Describes potentially confusing and overlapping opportunities for students who apply early decision or early action when applying to colleges. Considers difficulties that students and institutions can encounter when admission plans are unclear. Urges colleges to standardize the admissions process in order to better serve students. (NB)

Argues that words and images do matter in the student-recruitment process because they are the initial matchmakers between institutions and students. Presents ideas and suggestions that can be incorporated into practice in student-recruitment publications. (NB)

Argues trend toward benign and homogeneous college promotional materials/presentations makes college selection process more difficult. Feels tactic of deemphasizing importance of college board scores to increase applicant pool and thereby enhance "college profile" is unethical and deprives college applicant of ability to make informed choices. (CM)

Discusses what is wrong with encouraging high school students to apply to their dream school as a college choice when they have no real chance of being accepted. Contends that concentrating on an unrealistic dream school steals away serious exploration of all other colleges. Suggests ways that college advisors can burst the bubble of the "dream…

Based on a panel given at the 1991 National Association of College Admission Counselor conference, this article discusses the role of parents in the college admission process, considering how counselors can work effectively with parents as a team and how colleges can involve parents in a collaborative way that frees the student to choose and the…

Presents three papers that offer advice to college-bound students and their parents. The first suggests that the more prestigious the academic institution, the more decadent the intellectual and social milieu. The second argues that higher education is best when it is local. The third warns students to keep learning outside the college…

Feels admission process should reflect more of what colleges value and be purposefully structured for the prospective student as learning experience. (CM)