By Matt P., Technology LibrarianWhich college to attend? That’s one of the many questions facing students and their parents as the final years of high school begin. Options such as cost, location, class size, school reputation and programs of study are a few of the criteria to consider.
But another good place to start is by taking an inventory of what you want to be when you “grow up.” What are your academic strengths and weaknesses? What are your interests and hobbies? Do you like working with people? Are you someone who likes to tear down a car engine and rebuild it, or someone who’d rather be fishing?
For help with this process, check out Making the Right College Choice: Technical, 2-Year, 4-Year, or The Portable Guidance Counselor: Answers to the 284 Most Important Questions about Getting into College. Both books will help parents and students ask and answer some important questions. For these and many other helpful titles, visit our online catalog at cadl.org. Choose Library Catalog in the left-side menu and then type “college choice” in the search box.
Once you have an idea about what you what to do, it’s time to figure out the best place to help you do it. Knowing what you can afford will certainly help limit your school choices. You also need to know which schools offer the degree you want. Some good college and university directories include the Fiske Guide to Getting into the Right College and Peterson’s Four Year Colleges. These types of books provide a ton of useful information such as the history of the college, the tuition rate, availability of financial aid, majors and degrees, application deadlines, and admission requirements. Check the schools’ websites as well, and be sure to call the appropriate department if you have any questions at all.
Let’s say you have a goal in mind but don’t meet the school’s qualifications. If you need to buckle down and study, let the library be your study partner. We have books on grammar, vocabulary building, biology, math and much more. Find them by searching the catalog at cadl.org and typing the subject into the search box. In addition to books, we also offer a special database called LearningExpress Library.
This resource has a large collection of college prep practice tests and entrance exam tests (such as ACT and SAT). You can take practice exercises on writing and grammar skills, geometry, data analysis and more. Access is free but you will need your library card to access this resource from home.
While an education is very important, you may find that you cannot afford college right now or prefer an alternative. Consider applying to a two-year college or vocational program. The library also has directories for these programs, providing the same useful information about costs, programs and admission requirements.
Already been accepted at the college or vocational school of your choice? Congratulations! Now it’s time to move away from home and learn some life skills. A search on “college life” in our catalog returns a variety of materials covering topics such as separation anxiety, depression, money and more. These resources can help both the parents and the college student adjust to their new lives. Good luck!
The Capital Area District Library Reference Department is located at 401 S. Capitol Avenue in Lansing, MI. Contact them at 517-367-6346 or by e-mail at reference@cadl.org.
This was printed in the August 14, 2011 – August 27, 2011 Edition
