College Exploration Resources

By Sara Cronin

Former Associate Dean of Admission at Providence College, Admission Officer at UConn

 

The beginning of a new year can bring about many thoughts about the year ahead. As freshmen and sophomores consider mid-year exams, planning for second semester and even thinking about summer opportunities, now is also an excellent time to begin a library of college search material. There are numerous resources on-line regarding the college search. The best place to get information about a particular college is to go directly to the school's website. However, these website are often difficult to navigate and can provide information overload if you are just starting your college search.

Picking up a few books from your local bookstore to help you with your exploration is often a great way to begin the college search process. There are numerous resources and books that are available to help with everything from your initial self-assessment to finding a major. There are many books that rank colleges as well as others that provide synopsis about certain groups of schools.

Below is a list of some resources that you might want to consider. These books can be found at our Road To College bookstore at http://roadtocollege.com/Home/Bookstore.aspx as well as in your local library or college counseling office.

As you begin your college exploration and start to ponder the road ahead, it is important to consider some self-analysis. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What academic interests do you have? Answering these questions can help to give you a better idea about where your college search might lead. To answer these questions consider the following resources:

What Color Is Your Parachute? For Teens, 2nd Edition: Discovering Yourself, Defining Your Future by Carol Christen, Richard N. Bolles. This guide is a great way to start thinking about potential careers, identify possible skills and consider future planning.

What Smart Students Know: Maximum Grades. Optimum Learning. Minimum Time by Adam Robinson.

If you have not yet learned how to study, the beginning of high school is an essential time to focus your study skills. This is a great resource to help

How to Study, 7th Edition by Ron Fry. This book has been updated for 2012 and it is considered one of the strongest books on the market to help students with time management, test anxiety, study techniques and other useful tools.

Countdown to College: 21 To Do Lists for High School: Step-By-Step Strategies for 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th Graders 2nd Edition by Valerie Pierce.

 

Once you have put together a strong first year high school transcript and you are beginning to think about what academic programs might interest you, there are a variety of resources to help you explore different majors and possible careers.

Book of Majors 2012 by The College Board presents an in depth discussion of 200 of the most popular college majors. This is an excellent resource if you are thinking about a particular major in college, or have a good understanding of your academic strengths.

Occupational Outlook Handbook 2011-2012 by The US Dept. of Labor.

They Teach That in College: A Resource Guide to More Than 95 Interesting College Majors, 2nd Edition by Andrew Morkes offers an interesting glimpse into the opportunities and academic possibilities at the undergraduate level.

There are also a variety of books available that discuss summer program options. Whether you are considering taking a class over the summer, exploring a new culture or sharpening your skills in athletics, there are resources available to help you explore your summer options.

Ultimate Guide to Summer Opportunities for Teens: 200 Programs That Prepare You for College Success by Sandra Berger is one of several texts available in bookstores regarding summer exploration and finding fulfilling and exciting summer experiences throughout the country.

 

There are many resources available as you begin to take a closer look at the abundant number of colleges across the country. Some texts offer lists of almost all of the colleges and universities across the county, while others select what they believe are the best of the group. It is important to closely review each of these resources and understand what the selection criteria might be in selecting 'the top' schools on their list. A few of the more popular college selection books include the following:

Princeton Review's Best 376 Colleges, 2012 Edition by The Princeton Review distributes thousands of questionnaires to college students across the country and then compiles the responses for this book. This is a quick and easy reference with numerous lists of schools broken down in various categories.

Fiske Guide to Colleges 2012, 28^th Edition by Edward Fiske. There are more than 300 colleges listed in this guide that is expanded and updated every year. Both factual and subjective information is offered in this guide, which also includes information about schools in Canada and Great Britain.

U.S. News Best Colleges Guide 2012 by the staff of U.S. News & World Report. This is a very comprehensive guidebook that lists data on over 1,400 schools nationwide.

Rugg's Recommendations on the College, 27th Edition by Frederick Rugg. This text is another lengthy college guidebook which offers information on nearly 1,000 schools. The advantage of this resource is the listing of majors and the schools that are strong in those areas. This book recommends over 14,000 student-oriented quality departments at quality undergraduate colleges and universities across the country.

The Hidden Ivies, 2nd Edition: 50 Top Colleges - from Amherst to Williams - That Rival the Ivy League by Howard Greene and Matthew W. Greene

Colleges That Change Lives and Looking Beyond the Ivy League: Finding the College That's Right for You both by Loren Pope are two excellent resources that go beyond the academic numbers to offer a listing of schools that might not immediately be on a student's radar. Both of these resources offer interesting narratives and arguments for smaller, liberal arts colleges.

There are also many texts available for SAT and ACT preparation as you begin to think about your junior year and the testing that will take place. Resources abound for students in high school as they begin to prepare and think about their next step in education. Students are encouraged to take some time and sift through the numerous books that are available to find the ones that work for you.