Students stroll through the campus of the University of Southern California on August 20 in Los Angeles.
Choosing the right college for your teen involves several important considerations. What type of institution best fits their needs? How should they approach standardized tests? What can they gain from a campus tour? What are the dos and don’ts for crafting a standout admissions essay? And once they secure an admissions interview, what steps should they take next?
These questions are critical as americabrief & World Report prepares to unveil its highly anticipated annual rankings of the Best Colleges and Universities in America
.Alumni and current students will inevitably scan the list for bragging rights. However, for teens and parents about to embark on the college admissions journey, it’s crucial to understand that the Best Colleges rankings are primarily a tool—a guide through one of the most significant decisions your family will make.
If you’ve been following Decision Points recently, you might have noticed the wry notes about my recent college move for my son. It marks the culmination of an admissions journey that spanned nearly two years (though he’d argue it felt like two decades).
Explore the latest Best Colleges rankings.
Over the next few weeks, we’ll delve into what it takes to navigate this often perplexing, sometimes frustrating, and occasionally harsh process. I once likened getting into the school of your choice to throwing a deck of cards into the air and somehow catching the ace of hearts as they fall back down.
That’s where Decision Points comes in. While I’m not a certified college advisor and this isn’t tailored advice, my experience growing up in a higher-education family, managing student-led admissions efforts at my alma mater, and conducting alumni interviews for three decades gives me a unique perspective on the process.
We’ll explore various aspects of college admissions in future columns, but for now, let’s cover two crucial first steps for 10th and 11th graders—assuming you’ve already discussed whether college is the right choice for your student.
Making a Calendar
Over 18 years, I’ve tried to impress upon my teen that failing to make decisions is, in fact, making a decision. Missing deadlines for PSATs, SATs, or AP exams won’t freeze the calendar—it will just exclude them. Be sure to track deadlines as junior year begins. While many schools adopted test-optional policies during the pandemic, the trend seems to be shifting back, especially among elite institutions.
Making the List
Remember, this is your teen’s experience, even if you’re footing the bill. A good starting point is helping them figure out what type of school they want.
Create a list that includes “reach” schools (hard to get into), schools with an even chance of admission, and “safety” schools (most likely to admit your student). Be honest with yourselves about these choices.
Help your student consider whether they prefer a city school, a suburban environment, or a college set in a scenic location. This isn’t about committing to specific institutions like Middlebury or Howard, but about understanding the type of campus, size, and atmosphere they prefer.
Explore university websites and use online tools to browse colleges by location, cost, size, and fields of study. Keep an open mind and use high school visits from school representatives as an opportunity to spark interest.
In future columns, we’ll discuss how to maximize a campus visit, tackle the admissions essay, and prepare for a successful interview.
Stay tuned as we continue to navigate this important journey, and we’ll return to politics in tomorrow’s update.