Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday (of course, Halloween is a close second because candy). But Thanksgiving is special because it is a whole season and not just one day. In fact, I like to celebrate the whole month of November, not by overeating, though that happens for sure, but by embracing gratitude.
There truly is so much to be thankful for. And because I spend a lot of my time thinking about colleges and universities, I’m grateful for the strength and variety of our higher educational system right now. While it might seem like all colleges are the same, especially after completing a college tour of several schools in a row during which the dining halls all start to look and smell alike; in fact, there is a lot of diversity among the over 3000 colleges in the United States.
In North Carolina alone, there are over 100 colleges, and those schools reflect the various characteristics that distinguish colleges from each other. For example, North Carolina has one of the country's top schools of the arts (UNC School of the Arts), three all-women’s colleges (Meredith College, Bennett College, and Salem College), and a public university system comprising 16 different institutions.
With so many options, it might seem overwhelming to narrow down the choices to a manageable number. Fortunately, there are strategies for conducting a college search that produces a list of schools that reflect each individual student’s priorities. That process starts with personal reflection, often something high school students are not equipped to do. It is hard enough to elicit a thoughtful response to the question, “How was school today?”, let alone an answer to “What are you looking for in your college experience?” Therefore, it is important to practice reflective thinking.
Students should ask themselves questions like:
What do I like about school right now?
Do I like this class because the teacher gives personal attention or because the content is interesting?
When I struggle with a class, do I tend to reach out for help from teachers or my friends, or do I look for other sources of help?
Do I perform best when I am pushed by my peers in a healthy, competitive way, or do I need friendly collaboration and input from others?
How do I spend my time when I’m not studying?
The answers to questions like these can help direct a college search. Students might discover that they thrive in an intense learning environment where they are surrounded by high-achieving students. Other students might realize that competition hinders their ability to learn. Fortunately, there are colleges to fit every type of student, and finding an educational culture that best supports each student is part of a comprehensive college search.
Conducting a comprehensive college search is more important than ever. Although the process of determining which schools to visit can be difficult, it is now relatively easy to explore campuses beyond a student’s immediate area. Colleges regularly offer in-person tours and informational sessions, and most also offer virtual tours and info sessions. They track student visits — both in-person and virtual — and use that information to determine the student’s degree of interest in the institution. Finding the right list of schools for each student will help to ensure successful outcomes during and after college.
Of course, I’m grateful for much more than an excellent system of higher education, and I promise I’ll take the time to reflect more deeply, but right now I’ll gladly give thanks for the colleges and universities that help our students pursue their dreams.