College search for undecided students

MommaJ
Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:49:36 +0000

He does seem LAC-bound. But it sounds like you have to get on the road. I have a rising senior who is similarly unfocused. We did manage to narrow the field somewhat in the spring by visiting several types of schools–not to get her interested in those schools particularly, but to give her a sense of the various options. In Amherst, MA, we spent time at Hampshire, as an example of a small liberal arts school that required self-direction of its students. Nearby was UMass, so we visited to get the feel of a large state university with a diverse student body. An overnight and some meals and shopping in Amherst help her appreciate what it would be like to live in a small town influenced by a large student population. Similarly, a trip to Boston gave her a look at big city schools both with and without traditional campuses. We also visited a very remotely located college and a traditionally run LAC in a small town. It was a good start for her. She now knows she wants be in a big city or be close enough to get there frequently and prefers a campus. Size doesn’t seem to be terribly important to her. Preppy students made her cringe. Little by little, we’ll winnow it down. Thinking about the type of people your son spends time with and the kind of activities he enjoys may also help guide him in this process, since it’s not only about the academic match