Preparing for your College Search

So here is our first piece of advice: VISIT

1. Visit Early

• Make sure that you visit different sorts of schools, from really big state schools to small, private, liberal arts schools, and see which ones feel the most comfortable to you. A good fit should feel like it will both challenge and support you.

• If a school makes it to your short list, then try to visit more than once and register for different types of visits (a group visit day as well as an individual visit).

• If there is something you want to do, like sit in on a class in your intended major, then make sure you ask! If a school won't help you individualize your visit, will they let you individualize your education later?

• Finally, start NOW! At the latest, you should begin visiting schools by the spring of your junior year. This is typically the first, and often the most important, step you will take in choosing a school.

2.  Think Long-term

You have probably heard this advice along the way for how to choose a college:

1. Figure out what career you want to pursue.

2. Research what major will lead to that career.

3. Find a college that offers that major and go there.

This would make sense, except for two problems. First, while national statistics vary, this is clear: most people do not end up in the career that they expected to be in at age 18!  So why would you use this career to choose a major or a college? As evidence of this, consider that 50-70% of students change their major at least once, and the average student changes his or her major 3 times before graduation!

Second, there is generally not just one major that leads to any career you might choose. There are a few exceptions, such as education or accounting, but for most careers you can get into them with practically any major. Want to know a fun fact? Humanities majors (e.g. literature, philosophy, languages, etc.) have a higher acceptance rate at medical schools than biology majors! Likewise, many science majors end up being entrepreneurs, social workers, and bankers. Especially at a liberal arts college like Georgetown, your major does not determine your future career.

So here is my second piece of advice for you: don't choose a college based on any particular major you think you want to pursue!

Instead, choose a college that will prepare you for any career you might pursue. At Georgetown and other liberal arts schools, we prepare students with the "soft skills" necessary for success in any career and in life, from careful reading to critical writing and clear thinking. No one knows what the future will bring, but with a liberal arts degree, you will always be prepared for it; as recent articles have discussed, many top employers recognize this and prefer liberal arts majors (for example, see this article in the New York Daily News).

At Georgetown College, our students are well prepared for a career in one of our excellent majors. We are especially strong in the Biology and Chemistry departments, Business fields, Kinesiology (such as Athletic Training or Pre-Physical Therapy), Psychology, Communication and Media Studies, and Education. Even more importantly, at Georgetown College our students are prepared for whatever life brings with our exceptional liberal arts foundation!

Here is what I always recommend when choosing a college and a major:

1. Find a college that you love, and where you feel at home (see email one: visit!)

2. Find a major that you love and that motivates you to excel, and 

3. You will find a career that you love, that is part of a rich and meaningful life!

3.  Value

Many private colleges have a sticker price that can seem shocking, but don't let that deter you from applying, because this will usually not be the price you pay. This system may seem odd, but there is actually a very good reason for it: by having a higher sticker price, we can offer larger scholarships to students who fit our mission and academic profile and help them attend a school where they will be successful.

The average student who attends Georgetown College this year will receive estimated average aid of over $28,000!! Depending on your academic record, whether you participate in the Honors programs or music (band or choir), and whether you are recruited as an athlete, you might receive even more aid than that!

Another consideration on the purely monetary side is how much more money you will make by choosing one college over another - this is the value of a school. For example, attending a better college, receiving a better education, acquiring more skills and opportunities for networking that schools like Georgetown provide, will help you earn more in your future career. If you make $7,000 more per year because you attended Georgetown instead of some other average college, then even if Georgetown costs you $10,000 more per year (which it probably won't), you would still make up the difference within just a few years of graduation, and be making more money for the rest of your life!

This is not just a made up example! According to a major study completed last year by The Economist, Georgetown College will in fact help the average student make about $7,000 more per year than he or she would otherwise make! In fact, we rank 43rd in the country, and 1st in Kentucky, for the difference that we will make in your future earnings! You can see the whole study, and make your own comparisons, by clicking here. You will find that at many colleges and universities in Kentucky, their graduates actually make less money after graduating than would be expected. This is a good list to consider very carefully, because clearly schools that make a positive difference in your future earnings are not just helping you make money, they are helping you to be prepared for every aspect of your life and changing career!
 

4.  Prepare for the ACT/SAT

You may have taken at least one of these standardized tests already, or you will be taking one soon, so here is your fourth piece of admission advice: be prepared! While colleges recognize that standardized tests cannot tell us everything about your abilities, most colleges will still use these standardized tests in some way.

So how can you prepare? First, there are many coaching and training opportunities, and these can help. But there is often a charge for these, so you may benefit by trying to prepare yourself on your own first for free (a quick online search will find many options). Then, if needed, you may want to use a coach or class when taking the test again. Second, make sure you know the list of schools you want to receive your scores.

Many colleges, Georgetown included, will just take into consideration your highest scores, so you are usually best served sending scores for free when you take the test rather than having to pay to send them later. Finally, as your guidance counselors have probably told you, get plenty of sleep, eat a good breakfast, and don't stress - you can always try again later. Then say a prayer and do your best!

5.  Choose a good fit

Choosing a college is an important decision for your future. Because of this, we just want to remind you to do your research and make sure the institutions you are considering offer a broad variety of programs, along with the flexibility to create your own program. Remember, a school that is a good fit should feel like it will both challenge and support you. 

Did you know that 50-70% of students change their major at least once, and the average student changes his or her major 3 times before graduation! The reason for that is simple. College is a time when you discover your interests and your passion, which is often something very different from what you thought you wanted to be "when you grew up"!

At Georgetown College, our students are well prepared for a career in one of our excellent majors. We prepare students with the "soft skills" necessary for success in any career and for success in life. As discussed in this article in the New York Daily News, many top employers recognize and prefer these types of skills.

We hope you have found my advice helpful along the way! Just to summarize, here are the main tips we have for you as you narrow down your college choices:

1. Visit

2. Think Long-term - Consider more than a major. Consider a career.

3. Value - Understand the Value of each school you are considering. 

4. Prepare  - Focus on success in high school and prepare for your ACT/SAT or CLT tests

5. Choose a good fit

We hope you will consider Georgetown College, a college that will prepare you for any career you might pursue. We prepare students with the "soft skills" necessary for success in any career and in life. No one knows what the future will bring, but with a liberal arts degree, you will always be prepared for it. 

Are you ready to visit Georgetown College? You can schedule an individual visit for any weekday, Monday through Friday. We also have a unique group visit opportunity called GC Preview Day that allows you to experience more of what we offer.