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The Search Process

Who am I? Contrary to common practice, we are going to begin the process of college choice by looking within before we even think about venturing a glance without.

The reason why so many people fail to successfully manage school search and selection is because they make a classic, fundamental mistake at the very outset of the exercise. Seduced by the idea of brand name, they equate popularity and appeal with academic quality and educational superiority. Consequently, they begin their search by selecting institutions which means they ignore the most important element in the entire operation, themselves. Kids (and adults for that matter) rarely stop to consider what it is they are all about. Who are they, what do they bring to the table, what are their strengths, when are they successful, what do they need to feel confident, how do they produce their best work? These and many, many other self-directed questions are the stuff of a proper launch for the effective college search, not the other way around!

Nothing of any value occurs when choosing potential colleges until we have devoted some quality time and thought to honestly exploring who we are and what works for us. Young people (and their parents) rarely think of themselves as the driving force of this exercise. Yet, it makes absolutely no sense to craft a list of institutions which meet a set of arbitrary criteria until we've figured out what sort of animal is going to go and what that animal needs to be content and thrive. So, we begin with a self-assessment; a clear-eyed, honest appraisal of our strengths and weaknesses, our talents and gifts, our learning style, our academic and social preferences and perhaps an idea as to what type of work or career we might enjoy (and be suited for).

There are any number of interest inventories, aptitude tests, personality indicators and career searches which can give us a rather useful idea of who we are, how we react in certain circumstances and what we might prefer as a calling or vocation. The results of these measures are not necessarily to be construed as unassailable truths but as worthwhile food for thought, solid first steps on our road of self-assessment and self-discovery.

We can now approach the college selection process from the proper perspective of our unique selves and direct the search criteria as they pertain to us. There is absolutely no substitute for completing this initial exercise as described because the outcomes will color every aspect of everything else we will be doing. Duly forewarned and forearmed, we are ready to begin our search for the colleges and universities which we know will be best for us.