Tips for High School Juniors--Thinking about colleges

High school juniors out there--watch out. If you haven't taken the ACT or the SAT yet, get preparend. And I'm not referring to the test. I'm talking about the amount of mail you'll receive from colleges and universities after you sit for the test. By the end of the summer, you’ll probably have a stack of college brochures tall enough to poke through the stratosphere. Let’s be honest–choosing a college is no easy task, and some of these brochures only complicate matters. Right now you might still be trying to figure out: How will I pay for school? Do schools have my major? What do I want to study? Do I want a small school or a large university? Concerns like these are valid, and with over 4,000 colleges and universities to chose from, how will you ever decide? And you thought some of the SAT questions were hard! Relax–this month’s post will help point you in the right direction. In no time, you’ll know how to select the college that’s right for you. Here are my ABCs for choosing a college.

A. Academics: Keeping your academic and professional interests in mind should be a key aspect of your college decision process. Make sure a college offers your major. If you are undecided, select a college that is broadly-based and has a variety of majors to choose from. Looking specifically at colleges’ graduation requirements and core curricula will help you determine if there is room to try different classes or electives. Additional classes can expand your skill set and perhaps even your marketability on the job market. Think about international opportunities. Do you want to study abroad? You should also look at the faculty: what is their background, do they focus on teaching or research, what type of support will they provide? Consider how classes are taught: Is it a lecture format, or are there hands-on or experiential learning opportunities for students? You might also be mindful of colleges’ rankings and their annual report to the US Department of Education. Finally, look at career and graduate school placement. Where do students with your major work after graduation? Does the college provide career planning and assistance with employment placement?

B. Belonging: The college day is organized differently from high school. Unlike high school, you’ll be in class for only 3-4 hours per day as opposed to 7-8 hours per day. As a result, you have more free time. That’s not to say that you don’t need to use your free time to study; rather, you’ll have greater opportunity to take advantage of social, extracurricular and club activities. You want to find a college that “fits” with your personality and your interests. Make sure to visit the campuses that you are considering. Colleges can look very different in person as opposed to what’s printed on a glossy brochure. Get a sense for the students, their interests and what they do with their free time. Do you want to be a part of a fraternity or a sorority? What do students do on the weekend? Step back and reflect: Is this a place where I will be happy? Can I picture myself here for the next four years?

C. Cost: Cost is one of the main factors to consider when choosing which college to attend. In examining costs, consider expenses beyond tuition. Many students and families fail to consider the big picture and thus don’t realize that tuition is only a fraction of the overall costs. Other costs to consider should be housing, food, books, student fees, and cost of living expenses around the colleges that you are considering. Also don’t forget to look at your scholarship and financial aid offers. Be sure to read the fine print. Are the scholarships renewable? Do I need to take a certain number of credits? Do I need a maintain a certain GPA in order to keep my scholarship?

If you keep some of these ideas in mind, choosing a college should be as easy as 1-2-3. Or in this case, as easy as A-B-C. Good luck.

FLC Skyhawk Gets a Name

Over the past few weeks, Fort Lewis students have been considering names for our masot--the Skyhawk. Skyler debuted his new name during the varsity basketball games on Saturday. Hundreds of fans cheered the announcement and then went on to watch both Skyhawk basketball teams beat New Mexico-Highlands.

Skyler's new name came following a vote by the FLC and Durango communities. The quest to find a new name for the FLC mascot began weeks ago with a call for entries for the “Name the Skyhawk Contest” sponsored by the Associated Students of Fort Lewis College (ASFLC). Hundreds of name suggestions poured in.

The name choice was recently narrowed to 11 finalists and was put it to a vote. The voting was open to the College and Durango communities, as well as alumni.

Comment on my blog and tell me what you think of the new name.

FLC Partners with Durango Mountain Resort

As ski season is now underway, Fort Lewis has some exciting news to share.

Fort Lewis College has partnered with Durango Mountain Resort (DMR) to offer a complimentary lift ticket to DMR for all prospective student visitors. The voucher also entitles guests/family members on tour with prospective students to one lift ticket per person at a 50% discount.

Call our admission office at 1-877-FLC-COLO to schedule your campus visit.

FLC Facebook Group--Class of 2013

Happy New Year!

Fort Lewis is starting off the new year with our "Class of 2013" Facebook group. With the success of last year's Class of 2012 Facebook group (over 50% of our admitted student joined the group), we are excited about opening up this year's admitted student group.

This is a group for all admitted students who plan to attend Fort Lewis College in Fall 2009. By joining this group you will have the opportunity to meet other students who will be attending or are deciding to attend Fort Lewis. You will also receive updated news and important information about Fort Lewis College.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=57179183208

Join our group, and become a part of the FLC community.

Go Skyhawks!