Admissions Expertise As a high school junior, what are the most important things for me to do before senior year? Use your spring break or a long weekend in your junior year to strategically check out two or three campuses that represent the greatest extremes among the colleges you are considering. Visit one of the largest and one of the smallest, or a research university and liberal arts college, or a rural-located and urban-located campus. Prepare questions that address the realities of size, location, or type of institution. What do these factors mean for your academic interests or your comfort level? What did you like? Use knowledge gained from these strategic junior year visits to plan successful senior year visits. 619 Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. What are some convenient, well-paying jobs for students who need to work while in college? The most convenient college jobs will be right on your campus. Having an employer who understands your academic schedule and the primary reason you have come to college is important. Look for jobs in your academic department that can benefit your eventual degree. Want a quiet work area? The campus library works. Are you a good communicator? Campus tour guides. Good swimmer? Lifeguard at the campus pool. Check out student job postings on your campus website. You will never get rich with a college job, but it can cover your books and incidentals and keep you out of credit card debt! 902 Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. What are some of the most unexpected costs for incoming freshman? Planning to fly home for Thanksgiving or winter break? Make those flight reservations ASAP. Holiday airline prices only go up! Poster sales: every campus has them at move-in time; plan to buy a couple for those bare residence hall walls. And while you are decorating that room, you will also find someone selling carpets nearby. Professors’ class notes are usually available at the bookstore…for a price. Eating out or bringing pizza in? Plan for more times than you might think. Finally, you will want your school t-shirts for those football games; unless you can find the free ones! 507 Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. How can parents help students with the college search and application process? As an admissions administrator and the parent of two college graduates, I have known both sides of the search process. In reality, admissions staff *and* parents should *help*...but not dictate...to your students. Parents are great for listening, nodding our heads, empathizing, checking out college websites for our own information, giving gentle reminders about deadlines, driving to campus visits, not monopolizing the campus tour guides, not answering the application essay question, and being totally honest about the limits of family financial resources. Finally, remain calm at all times. :) Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed. I was rejected from my top school and waitlisted at my second choice. How do I pick a backup? Your college options may include transferring a year from now to that favorite school. Many institutions limit the number of freshmen but take transfer students with a year of college credits. You could still earn your degree from that first or second choice college. Go to their websites to check out their transfer criteria; talk with an admissions staff member about the number of transfer students they typically accept. You could enroll for a year at a local college or one of your “back-up” schools and then transfer. But don’t be surprised if you find yourself happy where you start! 889 Likes Like This Answer Already Liked This Answer Thank you, this item will be reviewed.