Do you feel that more information could have been provided to you about college while you were in high school?
609395
Yes indeed.  There have been recent studies which reveal that as much as 40% of high school students report that they were given no information at all about college.  It isn't enough to assume that the "good" kids will find the information on their own.  This is the mentality that threatens to make higher education a commodity reserved for the wealthy (if it isn't already). It isn't as if, nationally, all schools would step aside and agreeing to provide less information to their students -- its the underprivileged high school students who are left in the dark while students from wealthy families receive the information about SAT Prep, College Prep, help from financial advisors to "maximize" their financial aid eligibility, etc.\n\nBased on my experience working in Higher Education (Financial Aid), I  have no doubts that students need to receive more financial aid information.  Both students and their parents need to have more realistic expectations about the costs of education today (most know that it's expensive but they think that they'll "find a way" to pay).  Comments like the one from the above poster perpetuate the myth that "expensive schools give more financial aid." There are more expensive schools that DON'T give out good aid packages than those that DO!  It's true that they're all looking for the best students, but that doesn't mean that they can afford to "woo" the students that they want (schools that are "top" in their field like Harvard, Juilliard, and MIT might be able to, but these are the exception and not the rule).\n\nAs for my personal experiences with the process: I didn't receive ANY information either, and it made what should have been an exciting process feel like a chore. It was many years ago, but I remember being called into the guidance office with a group of about 10 other students.  They plunked us down in front of a large table piled with college "How To" guidebooks (of the "For Dummies" ilk), gave us each a piece of paper, and told us that by the end of the period, we had to list of 10 colleges we might want to apply to...  Anyone who had siblings in college knew how to narrow down the THOUSANDS of schools out there but, being the oldest in my family, I didn't even know the difference between UC Berkeley and Berklee College (or Stanford and Samford).  I didn't know which schools were "reach" schools and which would be my "safety" schools -- these aren't the sorts of things you can tell by the school's name!  When this "session" was over, I couldn't help but cry.  Eventually, the guidance counselor found me a book where I could search for schools by major.  But, sheesh, what a way to have your students "test the waters" by throwing them in the deep end!\n\nAs for what kind of information I could've used: information about the various schools' reputations.  Assuming a school has the resources, why not offer one-on-one counseling where the student is asked about their academic interests and then pointed in the right direction? Most students have a sense of whether they want a big or small school, co-ed or not, city or rural, etc. -- it would seem to be less overwhelming to start with what you know rather than drawing attention to all the "missing pieces" in a student's college search.
1098370
I think you can talk to your school about it... that's what the colleges around here do.
677108
Recently, when I was talking to my Guidance Counselor at school, she asked what colleges I had been considering(because I go to a very prestigious high school) and when she did so, I very solemnly answered that I was not, in fact, considering college. She looked at me with a mixture of amusement and confusion and asked again, more seriously what I was considering(as if I had been joking). I responded then that I had thought a lot about it, and I could either go to and graduate from a college, get a decent job and salary, and then proceed to live a mediocre life with all the worries, etc. that come with it. I followed this statement with how instead, I'd rather not have to worry about money OR the stress of going to college and instead go into the pornography industry because then I'd make MUCH more than if I went to college, and also be able to fulfill all of my sexual desires as my JOB! I told an extremely shocked face that it doesn't get better than that for a living. There was an awkward pause in which I considered explaining that GAY porn stars make even more money than do regular and that they are not even gay, but the silence was then broken with a very serious "Anthony, listen..." as she took her glasses off and I prepared for a very long discussion about morals. . . .
89621
Well, I am only 26 and I wish I had taken college more seriously.... I graduated, but not with a super high GPA and it made it very hard to find a job.
1178677
Absolutely!!!\nCollege life is not just about the school, it is about the first foot in to adulthood. The University experience not only allows for a better education and so more earning potential, but life experience. That life experience arms students with the skills necessary to survive in "the real world". I learned to set my own curfew, pay bills, do laundry, feed myself three times a day, and acquire general responsibility for myself.  These were skills that could not be taught in a classroom. I'd stay away from the Greek life if possible. At most schools it is just a drinking club and can be dangerous as a result.
848974
I am 78 years old and was the first in my family to go to college. In fact, although I have dozens of cousins and they had a number of children, only a few of my family have finished college to this day.\n\nThis is what I have observed. I have spent my life in college administration and my cousins and I do not chat about the same work interests. However, they have all been good citizens and have led productive lives and, unlike me, have many practical skills. They keep up with current events and have a refreshing outlook on life. \n\nI enjoy talking with them and am proud of them!
970668
I don't remember anyone specifically teaching me anything about it, so I think it was information I gained from multiple sources that I was exposed to as I grew up. Strange, that.
536619
I personally don't, but I would imagine that they have all kinds of thoughts going on in their heads as to what might have prevented you from finishing High School through the normal means.  Unfortunately most of those thoughts are negative.\n\nMy friend dropped out, and got her GED, so she could graduate EARLY and start College early!
1094088
I went to Job Corps. I was in Business/Clerical trade where I learned to type. Among other things I got my high school diploma from the local high school. This looks better on my resume than GED. I took a couple of college classes that they paid for but they refused to pay for any more. That's a sore spot with me :(\n\nI also learned a lot of things that I didn't imagine I would learn at Job Corps. I learned how much I could drink without dying of alcohol poisoning. I learned how to handle my liquor. I learned how to roll a joint. I learned that there's all types of guys and you can't judge a book by its cover. I learned what love is (kinda). I learned that sometimes you have to put up with a whole lotta crap from staff and students to get the ultimate goal of education but it's worth it in the end. Going off campus for weekend passes helped me a lot. I didn't go home much but I begged my friends to take me home with them. I can't tell you how much I learned from this. I learned how I don't want to live in poverty like my friends did. If you need someone to talk to I would love to listen. My yahoo ID is i2cu8122000
35657
I loved going to college.  It was truly the best time of my life and would love to do it again one day to get another degree.  School can be a lot of fun if you make it that way.  In high school, I really wish I would have applied myself more.  Yeah, school is hard but it is worth it when you get older.  If there was a way that adults could take high school over again, I would sign up in a minute.  I would take all the classes that would better prepare me for things and apply myself more.
1182146
I graduated in the class of '99 and I must say I was nowhere near as studious as you. I tended to blow off assignments if I didn't feel like doing them, but I have a photographic memory so I always aced my tests without cheating. I never skipped class but that could've been because my very strict father taught Physics at my high school and if I missed class he'd know about it. Besides being lazy and generally not caring much about my education I was not a terrible student. I've never done drugs and didn't start drinking or having sex until after I graduated high school. Since then I spent some time in the military which taught me discipline and I recently started college. I don't think kids are any worse now than they were when we were in school... I knew about a lot of my peers doing the same things you mentioned your students doing, I just didn't do the same things.
2262
yes definitely. They always tried to tell me to go to school. I was stubborn and I kept on skipping school.  Even though I officialy have a diploma , I feel like I didnt really earn it.  I missed out on a large portion of my education because I skipped school. I'll always regret not taking my parents words seriously .
958594
thats genraly the idea. at least it was when i was in high school
273702
I went there anyway and gradually found it interesting. I've gone through such a period. But finally, I went through school, college, university and I'm really happy I did it. Or else, I would have missed out on so much in life....
6818
Yes. Since you are in college it would appear that you have already escaped high school.
1154534
I regret not going to college before I had a family. \n\nWhen I applied before- my mother had abandoned my younger siblings and I couldn't get financial aid because I didn't know where she was.  I was under the age to not have my parent's income considered.  The financial aid counselor just told me no- and I left crying. \n\nNow that I have a job and small children, I am not willing/able to jump through the appropriate hoops for a degree.  I want to spend my extra time with my kids.\n\nKind of funny considering I graduated (in 1991) with an advanced studies diploma and went to a gifted school for three years.
539013
how about some interesting stories happened to you when you were at the student's age?that could shorten the distance between you and the students!