Your Senior Year should be the best year of your life. It should not be dominated by the college search, but rather maintaining a balance that will allow you to participate in all school and extracurricular activities of your choice while laying the groundwork for attending college in the fall. For these reasons, The Patrick School begins guidance on the college search early in the high school career. The school Guidance Counselor is always available to develop an individualized plan and answer questions. Students begin making visits as a group to college fairs during their sophomore year. All prospective college student-athletes have their academic progress monitored by our NCAA Academic Counselor from the beginning of their academic career to ensure that they are taking the right courses, registering for SAT and ACT tests, maintaining the proper GPA and making progress toward becoming academically eligible to accept an NCAA scholarship if offered one. The follow guidelines are a good place to start for all students as they begin to think about college:
Know Yourself:
__Recognize Your Strengths and Weaknesses
__Consider ALL Colleges of Interest
__Look At Your Future With Enthusiasm
Consider Your Reasons For Attending College:
__Personal Goals
__Career Preparation
__Learning Opportunities
__Life Values
__Influence of Family & Friends
Identify College Characteristics Important To YOU:
__Majors & Educational Programs
__Type of School
__Location & Size
__College Affiliation and Accreditation
__Academic Reputation
Investigate & Compare Colleges:
__Prepare A College Comparison Checklist
__Weigh Advantages & Disadvantages
__Contact Admissions Offices
__Plan Your Campus Visits
Checklist For Campus Visits:
__Take A Campus Tour
__Talk With Students & Faculty
__Investigate Your Academic Program
__Meet With An Admissions Counselor
__Verify Admissions Requirements
__Discuss Your Chances For Success
Make Some Decisions:
__Confer With Your Parents & Counselor
__Evaluate Your Options At Each College
__Keep Rethinking Your Goals and Plans
__Show Initiative & Be Assertive
__Select A School That “Fits You” Best