I am a student at a highly competitive high school in Minnesota. What types of things did current students or graduates look for in the process of searching for a school? The main thing I have been looking at are what schools have my major.
Tim it all depends on what type of person you are. Do you want a large school like say, the University of Minnesota with large introductory classes, big sports teams, lots of majors, and a large campus? Or do you want a small, private liberal arts college with small classes, more interaction with your professors, and a smaller campus? For me, I wanted to go away. I also wanted to study either Politics or History, and I kinda leaned towards a smaller atmosphe and somewhere where there is a solid campus life. Good luck in your search.
My advice... Not only are the academics important, of course, but the vibe of the campus is too. Unless you play on stayin in 'sota, you have to go somewhere where you feel that you could be happy. Good weather helps, so does finding people with similar interests. Id say dont commit to somewhere sight unseen, take a greyhound or go with one of your parents and look at campus's. This isnt just an education, its pretty much your life for the duration of your degree. Happiness is priority number 1.
First priority is looking at your major and making a list of schools that interest you. If you are planning on something like Engineering, then you will want to consider what the schools reputation is for helping their graduates get jobs. If you are considering a major like journalism or theater then you will want to consider what types of opportunities there are on and around campus to hone your skills. If you are looking at something where school reputation is important like accounting then you'll want to look at the rankings. Once you've compiled a list of schools and programs that fit what you want, then you have to start considering your environment. Large, medium or small campus. Urban setting or college town. Sports programs to watch. What the intramural programs are like. Are you interest in the greek system. Do you want to be near or far away from home. plus many more Then you take all of that information, list out your top choices and then evaluate your chances for admission.
Talk to counselor of course, since apparently most people have good counselors for this. I didn't. My counselor didn't even know that I was going to college, or that I was on track to get into college, and possibly that I even existed until I told him I needed my transcripts sent. I've talked to the other counselors more than I have my own. I don't even think the guy really does his job too much, I think he just goes home and smokes pot all day, but I could be wrong. I did the same search. Started looking at schools by majors. Then looked at which ones had the best rankings some. Looked at what each program offered. Then looked at where the best opportunities were at each college. Then of course visit them, and see if they are somewhere you actually want to be. I only applied to 4 schools. 1 Reach, University of Texas- Austin, 1 match, Northwestern, and 2 safeties, UW-Madison and University of Missouri-Columbia. Some schools may begin recruiting you. MIT, Brown, and Marquette recruited me some. Marquette was the only one willing to offer a full ride scholarship, MIT "guaranteed acceptance", and I have no idea what the hell Brown's intentions were. Just stay in the top 10% of your HS Class with an unweighted GPA greater than 3.80, and try to score 28 or higher on your ACT, and you should be pretty good in regards to getting into colleges. On the Apps, some people just list a bunch of crappy extracurriculars. They want to see something you've been dedicated to long term over being in everything, like I'm in Key Club, National Honor Society, Debate Club, Model UN, Volunteer Club, volunteered 400 hours, did 2-3 service projects...blah blah blah....they are going to see right through that. Especially at the highly selective uni's like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, they will just call that kid a loser that was application padding, and they'll just think the kids a loser and reject him. They want to see something like playing on a varsity sport, playing it a long time throughout your life, being a captain on it, Eagle Scout/Gold Award are things they love, etc. They just hate those kids that found clubs for no other reason than to pad their applications. They have a good eye for that stuff.
The reputation of the university you go to is very important. I know that in England, if you study at Oxford, Cambridge or the LSE you are pretty much guaranteed a job paying £30k per year (like £60k) straight off the bat, most of which you'll be able to get six figures in after 10 or so years if you're good at the job. I would hold reputation in high regard, and it could be worth applying to a school of high reputation in a major that is not your first choice (if they don't do your major). I'm not sure quite how the process runs in the US, but you should definitely put in the extra hours studying for normal exams, and especially for entrance exams if the school has them. Good luck with it all.
OXford or Cambridge is my dream but there is no way I'm getting in. Plymouth have Offered me a half Shcolarshipif i get two A's, a B and a C. And i have to take an Accounting Degree and Box for them
Personally I think I have a good shot at Oxford. I got 9 A*s and 2 As at GCSE, and predicted As in Politics, Economics and Business Studies at AS Level and an A in my Maths A Level (I'm double-blocking it). Then next year I think I can get an A in a Further Maths A Level and As in Politics and Economics (I'm dropping Business). That would basically give me 4 As at A Level and 1 at AS.
I have to drop something and it might as well be Business. It's black-listed by Oxbridge anyway. They don't particularly like you taking it.
