What should you be thinking about as you begin your college search?
Following are ten important questions to ask yourself:

What do I want to major in?
If you are certain you know what you will major in and do not desire to take courses outside of that area, one of the specialized colleges may be right for you—an art school, engineering college, business college, conservatory—otherwise, a liberal arts college may be the best choice.

Do I want a college that is academically rigorous?  Or is it more important to me to not have to work quite as hard so I have more time for a job/internship, athletics, social events, religious involvement, etc.?
Finding a balance is critical.  You need to know what type of environment helps you thrive.  Attending a college with a prestigious name will not help your future if your grades are terrible.

Do I like the idea of being known by my professors or do I prefer to be anonymous?
It can be difficult to get to know your professors at a very large university.  It takes a tremendous amount of self-confidence and assertiveness to make sure they remember you (in a positive way).

Will I consider a single-sex and/or historically black college or university (HBCU)?
There are some distinct advantages to these colleges.  The entire focus at a single-sex college is on young women or young men.  Statistics show students who have attended single-sex colleges are more likely to continue on to graduate level work, be entrepreneurs, and move up to high level positions in the work force.  And socially, when you have a college of all men or all women, don’t you think it will attract the opposite sex?  The HBCUs also have a high level of success for their graduates, which is often attributed to the fact that the students always felt empowered.

If your faith is important to you, do you want to attend a college that is religiously affiliated?
Attending a college of a particular faith ensures a significant number of other students with similar beliefs and values.  Bear in mind, not all colleges that were founded by a particular church are still closely tied to those principles.  You will want to investigate each college to determine just how strong an affiliation still exists.

How big do I want my college to be?
Almost 80% of private colleges in the US, and almost 25% of the public colleges, have enrollments of under 2500.  There are pros and cons to large and small. Large schools often have more activities, facilities and course offerings, but they also require the students to be more independent and responsible for planning their own education.  Frequently, students must make their own living arrangements after the first year, and parking is often difficult (the parking issue tends to be important to students).  Smaller colleges are usually able to offer more personal attention when it comes to advising, instructional help, career counseling, etc.  Housing is rarely an issue as they can typically accommodate all their students, and parking is usually not a concern.

How far do I want to be from home?
Distance from home is often a significant factor for students.  Nationally, the average student goes to college within 300 miles of their home.  Ask yourself if you want to be able to get home frequently, or do you want to use the opportunity to experience another part of the country or world?  The further you are willing to look, the more choices you open up to yourself.

Am I more comfortable in an urban, suburban, or rural environment?
All three have many advantages and disadvantages depending on the student, so it is vital for you to consider your comfort level and what you are looking for in a college.

Do I prefer a warm climate, cold, or somewhere in between?
If you do not like the cold a college in Vermont will not be a good idea.  The visit in August might be beautiful, but you would not be there during the warm months.

What is my academic profile?
It is so important for you to be honest with yourself when making an assessment.  The more honest/realistic you are the greater your chances of being successful in the application process.  Find out the average GPAs and scores of accepted students and see how you fit within that context.  Those are averages, but if you are too far off the mark it greatly reduces your chance of acceptance.  With the highly selective colleges—even if you are right at that mark it is no guarantee of acceptance.

Corey Fischer is an Independent College Consultant with CollegeClarity, LLC.  She has over 16 years of experience as a high school Director of College Counseling and in admissions with selective colleges.  ColllegeClarity, LLC is committed to clarifying the college process for families.  For more information visit www.collegeclarity.net or call 540-717-2288.

Venture Crews have kids and young adults from 14 through their 21st birthday.  Crew 198 is a coed organization and all youth protection guidelines established by the BSA are followed with both male and female adult leaders present at all meetings and outings. Although we are not a Boy Scout Troop, we are part of the Boy Scouts of America, and the Venturing program is an offshoot of the Exploring program.  A Venturing Crew is completely run by the youth officers with adult advisors there to assist and ensure that the program is safe and is following the guidelines established by the BSA.

Crew 198 events are centered around high adventure, such as:

Caving
Climbing
C.O.P.E Course
Backpacking
Whitewater Rafting
Canoeing
Hiking
Crew 198 takes pride in training for our youth. Almost all of the scouts have been certified in; Health Provider CPR, C.O.P.E. Instructors (Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience), Leave No Trace Outdoor Ethics. Crew 198 is in the process of completing the NRA Rifle Certification for the Crew. Six of the scouts are certified in Wilderness First Aid

Crew 198 is holding a summer camp activity this year from June 22-28 where they will travel to Boone, NC.  A local outfitter there will be taking the crew Whitewater Rafting, Hiking, Caving and Gem Mining.  In addition the crew will also take a couple of side trips to visit local sights.

The plan for the end of this year is to continue to camp and and find interesting activities, fundraise, etc.  Our hope for 2010 is to all be certified in PADI Scuba training and to take that skill and use it for new adventures.

Crew 198 continues to grow, and are looking to grow even more. Boys and girls age 14 who have completed 8th grade through their 21st birthday are eligible for joining.  Adults may also get involved, the crew needs to build a strong committee to support our activities and can always use more Associate Advisors. Like the youth, they would register with the BSA, and all adults undergo a background investigation and are required to be trained as leaders including youth protection guidelines established by the BSA.

Crew 198 is sponsored by Culpeper UMC. Meetings are held at Culpeper United Methodist Church on the second floor in the ladies’ parlor.

Get in touch with Crew 198
www.crew198.org
crew198@mac.com
Gavin Helme – Advisor – Crew 198
15191 Montanus Drive
Culpeper, Virginia 22701
(540) 308-1143 Cell
(866) 204-5457 FAX