A True and False Quiz

1. The more prestigious the college, the better education you can get.
   True/False
   

2. The college catalog will inform you whether or not this college is for you.
   True/False
   

3. You must make your college selection early in your senior year and have all your applications in by Christmas or thereabouts.
   True/False
   

4. A small college will provide you with a more personal education; a large university will offer you a broader, richer undergraduate experience with better teaching, wider selection of courses, and a more diverse student body than a small college.
   True/False
   

5. Eastern colleges are the best and most desirable and southern schools are the worst. One should not consider those schools in the dreary and desolate Midwest.
   True/False
   

6. Single-sex colleges are dead.
   True/False
   

7. The name of the college on your diploma will determine whether you’ll get into graduate school.
   True/False
   

8. Going more than 200 miles away from home means a costlier education.
   True/False
   

9. The best schools look ONLY at your high school grades and your SAT scores.
   True/False
   

10. There are tens of millions of dollars in unused financial aid going to waste every year
    True/False
    

11. It is hard to get into college.
    True/False
    

12. Joining many clubs will improve your chances of getting into college.
    True/False
    

13. One negative recommendation can ruin your chances of gaining admission to a good college.
    True/False
    

14. Your choice of college major is important, and you should choose your college ONLY on the basis of the quality of its department in that major.
    True/False
    

15. A coaching course will not improve your SAT scores.
    True/False

Some Major Myths about College Selection

There are several MYTHS about selecting a college.  Some of these are based on bits of fact, while others are pure legend.  Keep these myths in mind as you begin your process of looking for a college. 

MYTH NUMBER ONE: There is a PERFECT college for me.

Before you start to choose a college, you should know that any number of colleges may be right for you. There are, after all, almost 3,900 colleges and universities to choose from, and they range from public to private, from large to small, from rural to urban, and from liberal arts to technical. While it is true that there is undoubtedly a TYPE of college which is more suited to your needs than another type, it is wise not to narrow your sights to only one or two colleges. A better plan is to investigate several possible options, and you will discover that each one has its own advantages.

MYTH NUMBER TWO: I need to decide on my career before I can choose a college.

At a time when you read so much about unemployment and hear rumors about college graduates having a hard time finding jobs, it is not surprising that you may think you should make a career decision at an early age. While it is important to have goals for yourself and to be aware of your major interests, you limit yourself drastically if you try to choose a specific career too early. The average college student changes majors two or three times in the course of four years of college, and most college graduates change careers three to five times in their lifetime. While there may be a shortage in a career area when you enter college, the same occupation may be glutted by the time you graduate. In fact, entire occupations have come and gone in less than a decade. The best preparation a college education can give you is to be flexible and open to change.

MYTH NUMBER THREE: We can only afford a low-priced college.

Students often rule out some colleges because the total cost of tuition, room and board appears to be more than the family can afford. This is rarely the case when all sources of financial aid are explored. Private colleges in particular offer significant amounts of financial and merit aid in order to attract students from all income levels.

Most accredited institutions use a Federal formula which takes into account your family’s financial situation and the cost of the college. The college then develops a “package” for you which may consist of (1) grants, which do not have to be paid back; (2) loans, which are paid back at a low interest rate; and (3) work opportunities on campus for which you are paid. Parents and students alike need to be aware of the need for financial planning in preparation for future college years.

MYTH NUMBER FOUR: I've never heard of this college, so it must not be very good.

The average well-educated man or woman can probably only name a small portion of the almost 3,900 colleges and universities in the United States, and these tend to be the older Eastern schools, the large state universities, those with outstanding athletic teams or those that happen to be near home. It is important to remember that a college which may be right for you may be one which is now unknown to you, while some of the universities you’re most familiar with may not be appropriate choices.