As a veteran school counselor, my advice to students who don’t have any idea what they want to study has always been: Find a school that you can see yourself being happy at for the next four years and then start exploring majors.

But what about those students who have decided on a major? How do you help them narrow their options and choose their best-fit school?

If you’ve been a counselor for a number of years, you’re probably quite familiar with the “best” schools in your area or state for a particular major — like nursing or engineering. If your student wants to explore colleges outside your geographical area or in a field you’re not as well versed in, there are ways to help.

Help them use data

Help your students understand that colleges should be willing and able to provide them with statistics on the percentage of students graduating in that major within four years. They should also be able to provide students and families with the percentage of graduates who are employed in their field within a certain timeframe (usually within 6 months of graduation).

Help them do their “major homework”

I recently had a conversation with my cousin about her daughter’s choice of college and major. I commented that my daughter had a similar interest in elementary education, but I was concerned about this school’s program because it offered an elementary/middle school licensure.

Although this might be highly valuable for some students, as it expands opportunities in the job market, I knew my daughter was only interested in early elementary, so was concerned she wouldn’t be happy there. My cousin and her daughter, however, had no idea that the education program was set up like this.

Have your student look at required coursework on the colleges’ websites ahead of time and generate any questions they may have about requirements, major classes and transfer credits. Then have them request meetings with faculty and/or students in their intended major when they are making college visits.

This doesn’t necessarily have to happen on initial visits, but once they know what schools they’re really interested in and are making their final visits, it’s imperative for making those decisions.

Help them research licensure and accreditation

Although I have been helping students and families navigate college exploration for almost 20 years, I was reminded of something very important when helping another daughter research architecture programs last fall.

Some majors have very specific accreditation requirements in order to be licensed in the field, yet colleges are not always forthcoming in explaining what their programs provide. For example, to become a licensed architect, a student must complete an accredited bachelor of architecture program (B of Arch). A bachelor of science or bachelor of arts in architecture is not the same, and would require a master’s to get the accreditation required for licensure.

Yet, unless you knew the specific questions to ask the colleges, they may not share that information. Help your students know where to look to find licensing and accreditation requirements for their specific majors, as well as how those licenses will transfer to different states if they choose a college outside their home state.

School counselors cannot be experts in every college and every major, but if we can equip our students with the skills they need to be smart college consumers, they’ll be on their way to finding a best-fit college where they can thrive.

Becky Martin, MA, LPSC, is a student support specialist at www.MyCollegePlanningTeam.com and a high school counselor with nearly 20 years of experience. My College Planning Team offers free college planning educational workshops and if you are interested in hosting one at your high school, contact workshops@collegeplanningteam.com for more information. 

If you’re like most counselors, you probably wish for more hours in the day and more days in the week to help your college-bound students and their parents find the best-fit college.

With the 2024-25 school year rapidly approaching, there’s one possible solution on the horizon: Free college planning workshops for parents that will give them the tools and knowledge they need to successfully launch their student in their college experience and future career.

Individual counselors and guidance offices are able to host these on-line workshops exclusively for their schools, helping them to expand their reach and scope of services they provide to parents and students.

The benefits of hosting one or more webinars or workshops are many. For counselors, who are jacks-of-all-trades, they provide in-depth knowledge and expertise. For parents and students, they provide information they may not easily find elsewhere, for example:

·       How to set their student up for college success as early as their freshman and sophomore year of high school.

·       How to find pathways toward affordability

·       Why it’s important to start a conversation about career goals when selecting a major

·       How to improve the chances of completing a degree in four years

·       How grants, scholarships and financial aid packages work

·       How and when to appeal a financial aid award

·       How to help a student with an IEP or 504 plan succeed in college

Jack Schacht is the Founder of My College Planning Team. They offer some great webinars that are free to attend and are presented by college-and career-planning experts from My College Planning Team, who are longtime academic and career counselors and financial aid advisors. For more than a decade they have been making presentations like these at schools and libraries around the country. The workshops are completely free and packed with information, and there’s absolutely no sales presentation or solicitation. Parents may contact My College Planning Team for one-on-one assistance, but only after the workshop.

See 2024 workshop offerings here.

If you are interested in hosting a free workshop at your high school, contact workshops@collegeplanningteam.com for more information.

Have any students looking to attend a HBCU in the future? If so, there is great webinar from Brennan Barnard of Khan Lab School that answers a lot of questions. The discussion is hosted by NPR Host Ayesha Rascoe (HBCU Made: A Celebration of the Black College Experience), along with Co-authors Tim Fields and Shereem Herndon-Brown (The Black Family’s Guide to College Admission). They discuss all things HBCU and take questions from the audience.

The webinar is live Thursday, May 30th at 6:30 pm Eastern and then archived for later viewing. Here is the link to register: https://tinyurl.com/CGN24May30

U.S. News and World Report publishes some great content about the college search. They recently published an article about 32 questions to ask on a college visit. Here are some of those key questions they recommended asking:

Questions About Admissions

• Does this school consider demonstrated interest?
• Is there an opportunity for prospective students to sit in on a class to experience a real lecture?
• Are there options to receive a lunch or dinner pass at the dining hall to try the food?

Questions About Academics

• Where do students typically study?
• How does advising work?
• What are the academic strengths of this school?
• What opportunities are there for study abroad and exchange programs?
• If available, are these global programs directly run by this school – where faculty members travel with students – or are these study abroad programs outsourced to a third-party company?
• Are these study abroad experiences built into the tuition or are there additional fees to participate?

Questions About Financial Aid

• What is this school’s average financial aid package?
• What is the average net cost when students enroll?
• What is the current level of funding with endowed scholarships – how much are donors contributing to scholarships?
• Do you offer merit aid? If so, what are you looking for in a candidate?

Questions About Campus Housing and Community

• What are the housing options?
• What are the fee structures for these different options?
• Are students required to live on campus?
• How does your campus define diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging?

Questions to Ask Your Tour Guide to Gauge Campus Life

• What surprised you about this school? What’s something you didn’t expect?
• What keeps you coming back to this school each year?
• Have we seen your favorite place on campus?
• What event on campus gets the biggest turnout every year?
• If you were struggling with an issue, would you know who to turn to? Who would that be?

Questions About Work and Research Opportunities

• What are the opportunities for undergraduate research on campus?
• How do those research opportunities give students valuable hands-on experiences that enhance their resumes?
• What are some specific ways this school helps students gain hands-on experience through internships?

Questions About Student and Career Outcomes

• What is the retention rate from freshman to sophomore year?
• What is the five-year graduation rate?
• What is the job-attainment rate of graduates within six months of graduating?
• What percent of students are going on to graduate school?
• What percent of students are intentionally taking time off post-graduation compared to those who are not able to find jobs?
• What size is the alumni network?
• How are alumni actively engaging with recent graduates to help connect them specifically to opportunities in their fields?

It’s coming down to the wire for seniors to make their final decisions. Many families are investing in first or second visits to help the student seal the deal. Here are some valuable things to consider when you’re making those final visits:

SOCIAL FIT FACTORS:

1. Campus Culture: Students should get a feel for the social atmosphere and whether they can see themselves fitting in. Observing interactions among students and participating in campus events can provide insight into the campus culture.
2. Housing and Dining: Checking out the dormitories and dining options can help students determine if they’d be comfortable living on campus. Spending a night in a dorm, if possible, can provide a firsthand experience of campus living.
3. Surrounding Area: Exploring the area surrounding the campus can be important, especially if students plan on engaging with the local community or require certain amenities.
4. Talking to Current Students: Conversing with current students about their experiences can offer valuable insights that aren’t always highlighted in brochures or tours.
5. Getting involved.  Remember actual class time is typically less than 10 hours each week. This leaves a lot of free time for students to explore their interests.
   • Which clubs and organizations do you see yourself being part of?
   • What kinds of opportunities are unique to each campus?
6. Can I see myself here? 
   • Do I feel the vibe?
   • Does the campus culture politically align with my beliefs?
   • Do I feel comfortable academically? Can I see myself thriving in my classes?
   • Will my needs be met by the available resources and support options?
7. Food is a critical need. Evaluate the food options, dining plan varieties, and even the quality of the food. Yes, this means you should experience at least one meal in a dining hall.

ACADEMIC FIT FACTORS: 

1. .Academic Environment: Attending a class or meeting with professors in their intended major can help students assess the academic rigor and teaching style. It’s also valuable to inquire about research opportunities, mentorship programs, and other academic resources.
2. Facilities and Resources: Exploring libraries, laboratories, recreation centers, and other facilities can give students a sense of the resources available. It’s important to check if these facilities meet their academic and extracurricular interests.
3. Student Support Services: Understanding what support services are available is crucial. This includes career services, counseling, health services, and academic advising. Students should feel confident that they will receive the support they need.

FINANCIAL FIT FACTORS: 

1. Financial Fit: If financial considerations are important, it might be helpful to meet with a financial aid officer to understand the total cost of attendance and available scholarships or financial aid packages

Priority List of your needs. Make a list of the most important factors that represent your strongest needs and wants.

• Rate each school on a 1-5 scale, measuring the school’s ability to meet your desires (needs/wants).

These components can greatly influence a student’s college experience and should be thoroughly considered during their final visit to make an informed decision.

Lee Bierer is an independent college adviser based in Charlotte. Send questions to: lee@bierercollegeconsulting.com; www.bierercollegeconsulting.com