TOPICS
Researching Colleges
Choosing the right college involves more than just considering prestigious rankings or the reputation of a school. It's essential to assess the academic structures and offerings, such as the type of curriculum—whether it's a semester, quarter, or block system. Students should also consider the availability of co-op programs, study abroad opportunities, and specialized pre-professional programs that align with their career goals. Additionally, schools offer various options like honors programs, ROTC, and unique study terms like J-term or May Term that can enrich the academic experience. For those seeking a blend of liberal arts and technical education, many institutions provide a diverse range of academic opportunities that cater to different fields of study, from humanities to engineering.
I’ve laid out some concepts below, which can help narrow your focus in the college shopping process:
Academic Calendars
Semester: Most common among colleges and universities, semesters are 15-18 weeks in length, with an average of 5 to 6 classes taken at a time.
Quarter: Most California public universities and a scattering of other universities around the country use the quarter system. Quarters are shorter, normally around 10 weeks. A year in the quarter calendar would encompass fall, winter, spring, and summer quarters (most students do the fall/winter/spring). An advantage to this system is that students will take fewer classes at a time but end up with more classes by the time they graduate. A disadvantage is the fast-paced nature of each course. Ten weeks fly by!
Block: Very few colleges offer the block system, but one of them is just down the road from me in Colorado Springs: Colorado College! Institutions using this system offer a very limited timeframe and very few classes within that timeframe. One example is CC’s block system, which offers one class at a time for roughly 3 weeks. Once the 3 weeks are over, it’s time for your next class! An advantage is avoiding having to multitask multiple classes at one time. All the focus goes in on the one class. The disadvantages include connecting with the professor and other students in such a short time, and the lack of variety during those 3 weeks might be difficult for some.
Experiential Learning
Co-op: Co-ops, or cooperative education, are full-time salaried internship positions that normally last 6 months. Think of these as internship on steroids! Studies show co-ops do a much better job of introducing the career field to students and are more likely to lead to job offers in the future. Schools like Northeastern University, Drexel University, and University of Cincinnati have ingrained co-ops into their curriculum and culture.
Study Abroad: Virtually every college offers study abroad opportunities, but not every college capitalizes on the opportunity! Some, for example, have dedicated campuses with their own faculty in various spots around the world. Others offer stipends and financial aid to encourage this unique opportunity. Places like University of Denver and University of San Diego report upwards of 70% of their students will study abroad at some point. Goucher College in Baltimore requires it of every student.
Research: Partnering with your professor in ground-breaking, real-life research about a topic you are passionate about, and getting paid to do it by the way, is a real option at many places! Larger universities are more likely to offer these opportunities, but don’t overlook the small ones either. It might help to learn about the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, which classifies the level of research at a given college or university, with “R1” being the highest designation.
Unique Study Opportunities:
J-Term/May-Term: Colleges and universities that offer January or May Terms might be attractive to you. Why? Because they present a month-long option (normally not required) for an educational experience! This can be beneficial for those hesitant to study abroad for a whole semester. Why not 4 weeks during J-Term instead? Students can also help stay on top of their credits by taking 1 class during this period.
First-Year Student Seminars/Programs: Most often offered at private colleges and universities, first-year programs can be extremely beneficial to incoming students. These programs of study are built into the required general curriculum and are designed to help students connect to their community, learn the culture and expectations of their new home, and complete a required class or two all at the same time. Many of these have up to 20 or 30 “themes” to choose from, ranging from film to fitness to finding gems in the local area. Check out Gonzaga University’s themes offered for their first-year students.
Trends
Freshman Enrollment Dropping
According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center, colleges and universities in the U.S. experienced a 5% enrollment decline among freshmen this past year. This is discouraging news to leaders in higher education, and experts are pointing to many possibilities as to why. Some blame the FAFSA fiasco of last year. Others say it's a direct effect of COVID-19. While others point to the lack of a positive perspective of and trust in higher education over the past couple of years. In my opinion, its a combination of all of the above plus much more.
With the knowledge of a significant “enrollment cliff” looming in the years to come, colleges and universities are scrambling to make sense of and rise above this immediate threat to enrollment. This is where a silver lining for you, the student, comes into play. Common sense would say that if colleges are worried about their freshmen enrollment, it gives current high school students who hope to pursue higher education the upper hand. I hope to see better scholarships to draw in students and make it worth their while as well as friendlier admissions rates, which unfortunately have been trending down for years. Time will tell!
Timely Advice
Communication Skills
For many students, the idea of sitting down with a college admissions counselor, whether it be for an interview or a Q&A session, is beyond frightening! The truth is, most colleges present this opportunity, whether through an official admissions interview or a meeting with the admissions counselor by way of a campus visit or recruitment visit to your high school or town. Making a strong impression is critical, and what better way to get comfortable doing so than by practicing! Doing a practice interview with a parent, your high school counselor, favorite teacher, or someone like myself can help you get comfortable with this ritual. Filming yourself can also help with identifying any habits or delivery to correct or improve.
Happy Holidays, and may 2025 bring you peace, love, joy and new possibilities!
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