Schools
Sacred Heart Juniors Plan for College
All girls parochial school hosts seminar on how to choose the right school.
Researching and applying to colleges might seem like it takes longer than actually going to college itself — at least the first semester. Yet at this point in the year, high school juniors and their parents are sifting through the thousands of options, and trying to pinpoint which college is the best fit.
“It’s an exciting process, but it’s an important process,” said Kathleen O’Neill, guidance counselor at Sacred Heart Academy. “A lot of time, and thought and energy needs to go into the process.”
Recently, Sacred Heart Academy held an informational seminar on this topic. Participants heard insight about what to look for including majors, location, size and financial aid. The seminar covered the crucial need for students and their parents to prepare early for the college application process, and for parents to be reflective on what questions should be asked as the hunt for the perfect college begins.
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Considering that the average applicant applies to eight to ten colleges, a roadmap for the process is helpful, experts say. Tools that can be used in the search include books, such as the Princeton Review Compete Book of Colleges and the Fiske Guide to Colleges.
Other ways to find out about university options? Chat with a college representatives when they visit your local high school during lunch. Attend a college fair. Sacred Heart Academy will host one for its juniors on April 7 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Hofstra University’s 2011 Spring College Expo event on May 11 is open to the public. A student can also arrange campus visits, and seek out their school guidance counselors.
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“A good mix of safety, target and reach schools should be encompassing their list,” said Erin Weston, an SHA school counselor.
Applying to schools has also gone high tech. SHA started using a new computer program, Naviance, which helps students navigate college information and fine-tune their own career aspirations. Other Web sites that can be helpful include collegeboard.com, actstudent.org and fairtest.org.
“Each school does have different criteria, so when in doubt always check with the school itself,” Weston said.
