So Many, And Yet So Few

There are 4,158 colleges and universities in the United States, and your child (and you) has to choose a handful, or as some do, an armful, to submit applications to. When this notion exists in the distant future, it seems as if the choices are vast and plentiful, but, my friends, the selection shrinks and narrows, very quickly. And let me tell you why.

When we first approach this dreaded time, most people (kids and adults) do not have a clue as to how or where to begin. We are all apt to fall prey to “choice overload” rather quickly but try to resist; as I said, that long list doesn’t stay long for very long. You can also know with certainty, that there is no one definitive choice. You have the ability to be happy in a variety of places, so it’s best not to have all of your hopes riding on one particular school. The fact is, no one’s credentials guarantee anything.

Some people I know (whom I will not mention by name), chose their schools either because their “cool” neighbor went there or by randomly picking one that began with an “A”, one with a “B”, and one with a “C”. (That particular guy wound up going to Antioch College in Ohio), but let me not digress to that unusual methodology! Although the simplicity of that method might seem attractive, I think … no I’m positive, that it can be approached in a much better way, with slightly more effort.

Understand that the college search process is primarily about your child. Encourage them to do some soul searching, and come up with some answers to what will satisfy their needs, goals and ideals about this once in a life time endeavor. Their goal is to find an environment that offers most, if not all of the features that they feel will allow them to have the most satisfying and productive four years. Once they’ve established some of their preferences, make sure that you are on the same page as them, since more than likely, you will hold sway over the final decision.

Have no fear; once you start sifting through the many variables, several names will begin to emerge and all the others will slowly disappear like a puff of smoke … never to be thought of again. Yes, it happens just… like… that! So have fun with the process, knowing that most people wind up making good and satisfying choices.