The months of May and June are crazy ones for college-bound high school students. If you are one of these students, not only are you dealing with the usual end-of-the-academic-year tests and papers, you now have to figure out how the college search process fits into your summer plans. Maybe you have already begun exploring what’s out there, and are thinking hard about your personal needs and interests. If you want to get a jump on the process, these months provide a wealth of opportunities to start looking at colleges, and it pays to use the time to learn more about specific institutions and programs.

Here are some tips for your search:

• A great way to start is by visiting a wide variety of schools. Visit a small school in a rural area and a big school in a city. Take a look at a public institution and a private one. This will help you start to get a feel for what you like as well as what you do not like.
• Try not to pack too many visits into one day. If you try to see too many schools they can start to blend together. It can also be helpful to write down your impressions at the end of each visit. This will help you later on in the process as your start to narrow down your list.
• Do your best not to stress and try to have fun. This is an exciting time full of opportunities! Enjoy getting to know the different types of institutions that exist and learning what might be important to you for your collegiate experience.

Best wishes during the college search process. We look forward to seeing you on campus!

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Relax, renew, restore.  But don’t check out. Use your summer to learn about yourself—in a way that will help you think about what’s next and successfully navigate the college search process.

1. Write your resume. Include what’s most important to you and the things you’ve done that make you proud. List jobs, activities, and awards, and explain something if it isn’t obvious from the name or title. Ask a couple of adults to serve as references for you (a neighbor who has hired you to do yard work, the family for whom you babysit, or a teacher, for instance) and list them here. You’ll use your resume when you apply for a job, of course, but if you bring this with you to your college interviews, it will help you remember what you want to talk about.
2. Explore some careers. Start with the Internet, but then get out there. Set up a job shadow and spend a day watching someone do what you think you want to do with your life. You can learn a lot about a field, and about yourself, in a short amount of time. Think broadly about career paths—check out the variety of careers Colgate grads have, by their college major.
3. Take a personality test. Understand yourself and the way you work and learn, and you will find it easier to get along with others and make your mark. The Myers Briggs test is most well known, and it’s easy to find many instruments on the Internet.
4. Read. You have your summer reading list, and you’ve mapped out when you will tackle that. But read a few items on your own, too, and consider something different from what you typically read—maybe it’s a short story, or a play, or a poem. Better still, venture into a culture or continent that’s less familiar to you. You’re vacationing, but you’re still thinking.
5. Make dinner for your family. In addition to becoming your parents’ favorite child, you will exercise your multitasking skills and be thoughtful about a household budget. While you’re at it, if you don’t already do your own laundry, this summer is the perfect time to learn how.
6. Volunteer. It’s probably the most frequently expressed realization of young people: “I gained so much more than I gave.” Community service is good for all involved. It doesn’t matter what you do, just do something.
7. Use science. You’ve mastered the scientific method in class, now put it to use in your life. Experiment with the way you water the garden. Determine which foods best prepare you for a workout. Teach Spanish in three different ways to the kids you babysit. Plot it, graph it, analyze it, use it.
8. Get a job. Enough said.
9. Visit some colleges. If you have finished your junior year of high school, this summer is the perfect time to take a road trip or two. Your first few visits can be to explore types of colleges, and you can do this close to home. Test your assumptions about big and small schools, urban and rural. Once you’ve learned a little more about your own preferences, you can refine your list and make some plans. If any of your schools offer interviews, you’re going to want to take advantage of that. Check out our article on making the most of your campus visit.
10. Write your college essay. No one will be happier than you if you can get this wrapped up over the summer. Your first assignment is discovering a topic. You can use a friend or family member to help you brainstorm. What was that moment when you started to see the world differently? What matters to you and how did that come to be? When you start writing, stay true to your voice. You’ll want to work on several drafts, and leave some time in between to get some distance. Employ everything you’ve learned about writing—this is where it all comes together. And don’t skimp on the last step: proofread!

Vacation. If you made it this far, you are no doubt a high-powered student and you want to make the most of your summer vacation. The word comes from the Latin vacātiō, meaning freedom from something—and your vacation is an important time to grow and challenge yourself while you are free from your familiar routine of school. Take advantage of this freedom and learn about yourself, dream about your future, and exercise your mind in new ways.  You’ll have a lot to be proud of by the end of summer!

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Wednesday, May 1 is the deadline for admitted students to enroll at the college of their choice. We are excited for the class to take shape!

You must fax your enrollment form (signed by the student and a parent or guardian) and your credit card authorization form (for the $500 deposit) to Colgate by May 1. If you are mailing your enrollment documents through the postal service, the envelope must be postmarked by May 1.

Please note that all documents must be complete by the May 1 deadline: enrollment form with signatures and $500 deposit.

Congratulations!

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Whether you are a senior about to decide where you are going to enroll or a junior beginning your college search, it is important to know about the variety of resources offered during the month of April that help prospective students learn about the campus community. Here is a quick overview of some of the options:

• Accepted student visit programs: Many colleges and universities welcome accepted students to their campuses during the month of April. Whether these programs are open houses, “day in the life” visits, or overnight visits, students can learn more about the campus in a program intended just for them.

• Accepted student online chats: Many colleges and universities organize online chats where high school students and their families can log on and ask questions of students, admission officers, and administrators. These chats are a great way to have a quick and meaningful conversation with someone connected to the campus.

• Accepted student receptions: Many colleges and universities will travel directly to accepted students. These receptions serve as a great opportunity to engage admission officers, alumni, and current students in conversation.

• E-mail correspondence: One of the easiest ways to have your questions answered is through e-mail. Feel free to ask a wide variety of questions or see if they can put you in touch with specific people on campus, like current students who attended your high school, professors who teach in disciplines that you are interested in studying, or undergrads who are involved in clubs and activities that you have joined.

• Admission officers: All visiting students will have an opportunity to spend time with admission staff members during their respective campus visits. The Office of Admission staff is always interested in hearing about your experience and willing to help make it the best visit that it can be.

These different options are available to you when trying to help you decide whether or not an institution would be a good personal fit. It is in your best interest to take advantage of what schools have to offer so that you can make the most educated decision possible. Good luck!

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Our review of the applications for the Class of 2017 is complete! We had a tremendous group of talented, high-achieving, diverse, and intellectually engaged students who applied this year. Decisions are now on their way to all parts of the United States as well as over 120 other countries around the world. While there can always be an unanticipated delay in delivery, we expect the decisions will reach all applicants before the end of March. Regardless of the decision you receive and where you choose to enroll, all of us in the Colgate Office of Admission have enjoyed the opportunity to work with each of you.

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As a globally diverse campus, Colgate’s student body is a rich cultural fabric from 48 states and 45 countries. As such, there are many cases when students are unable to physically visit the Colgate campus throughout the application process. The Office of Admission has implemented many ways for prospective students to get to know the campus and the community. Here are a few examples:

• Virtual tour: Can’t make it for a real campus tour? No problem! Colgate offers two fantastic virtual tours of both the campus and the surrounding town of Hamilton so that prospective students can get a feel for the area.
• Online chats: Every month, members of the Office of Admission staff and current students get together to chat with prospective students online. The chats offer high school students from across the world the opportunity to get answers to any questions they may have about the Colgate experience or the admission process. The chats can be very helpful and are always a lot of fun! The date and link for each monthly chat is on our website.
• News and blogs: As is the case with many schools, there are many articles and blogs about the different clubs, events, and departments on campus. Written by Colgate staff and students, these articles and posts are a great way to get a taste of what day-to-day life is like on campus based on your specific interests!
• Getting in touch: At the end of the day, a simple individual conversation can be the most effective way to learn more about the colleges and universities you are interested in. Many schools, including Colgate, have regional admission officers who travel and read applications from specific parts of the world. They can be your best resource when you have specific questions because they are familiar with the high schools in your area and can provide directed guidance.

While these are Colgate-specific examples, many other colleges and universities offer similar resources for their prospective students. If you are interested in a school but cannot visit, look for online chats, blogs, and virtual campus tours to get a sense for the school and community. And as always, keep in touch with the Office of Admission!

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February is a wonderful time for college-bound high school students to travel to colleges and universities across the country. For seniors, it is a perfect time for revisiting some of the schools to which they’ve applied or been admitted. Juniors should be researching and exploring the colleges and universities that are in line with their personal needs and interests. This month gives students plenty of opportunities to start making initial visits to campuses, and learn more about specific institutions and programs.

The campus visit experience may include a variety of components, depending on the school. Here’s a quick overview of several programs that tend to be considered standard for most colleges:

• Campus tours: Campus tours are led by student tour guides who are eager to share their first-hand experience with the school. A tour allows participants to view the school and get a better sense for the college community and its members.

• Information sessions: Usually conducted by an admission officer, information sessions provide a broad overview of a university and often involve a question-and-answer period. They give more insight into the overall campus environment, and can also help clear up specific details about each school’s application process.

• Overnight visit: Many colleges invite high school seniors to spend a night with a current student in his or her residence hall. Prospective students can attend classes, eat in the dining halls, and participate in other aspects of campus life. This is a great way to get a true feel for a school.

• Meetings with coaches, faculty and staff members: Students interested in specific programs that a school offers (music, art, athletics, or particular academic subjects, for example) can often contact the admission office ahead of time about scheduling appointments with coaches or professors. These meetings are invaluable in helping prospective students understand what options are available to them and what types of people the school attracts.

Regardless of the specific components of a campus visit, it is important for prospective students to see the campus and meet the people who live, study, and work at a particular school before making a final college choice. Students must feel comfortable on campus in order to truly embrace the breadth and depth of opportunities their college or university provides.

Best wishes during the college search process. We look forward to seeing you on campus!

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