August 2007

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The Dunce's Cap

COLLEGE NIGHT IS A MONTHLY GUIDE TO YOUR COLLEGE SELECTION

Your high school (or other location) College Night or College Fair is one of the bright spots in the journey to college. Other bright spots are the campus visits where you are treated as the special person you are and early orientation where you get the real taste of what college is like at the college of your choice.

COLLEGE NIGHT IS A MONTHLY GUIDE to your college selection process. The content is prepared separately for high school juniors and seniors. COLLEGE NIGHT changes monthly and charts the steps you need to take that month. Our guide for this year-long process uses a character named The Dunce. He writes under the byline "The Dunces Cap." Don't let the name mislead you; he really does know everything you need to know about finding the "right college" for you.

As for the college night experience itself, it's more fun than anything else you'll encounter in your college decision making. You'll meet old friends and may make a few new ones. This is the place where you can ask total strangers as well as close friends, â"Where are you going to college?" You will talk to admissions counselors who are experts on their colleges - but not other - so don't ask them to compare colleges.

Important note: Take your parents with you or be prepared to answer a lot of questions about what you asked and the answers you received.

What admissions counselors know best of all are the admissions requirements, timelines, deadlines, forms to fill out, scholarships offered, and the academic programs and courses offered at their colleges. In short, brief overview.

Some counselors also know the rudiments about financial aid: forms to file, when and where to file, and supplementary documents needed. But, generally speaking, they will not be able to tell you how much financial aid you will get; that is the responsibility of the financial aid office. However, if you ask about financial aid or scholarships, they may be able to tell you something-at least how to contact the financial aid office or what forms of aid are available.

The Dunce also recommends that while you are at the college night, check out some unknown colleges or those whose displays look attractive or the person behind the table looks friendly.

THE DUNCE

THE DUNCE