The Zinch Report

It has been far too long since I last wrote on this blog. My apologies for being silent and I will try to write more often especially now that school has either started, or is about to begin. Speaking of, I've started a new job at the Williamsburg Charter High School in Brooklyn, NY and it's amazing. Hi to all my students at the WCHS!

 Now, back to business. Let's talk about senior year and starting the college selection process...

For now, keep an open mind about where you might apply to college. Try to visit a couple campuses and vary the range - check out a huge university as well as a small liberal arts college, if possible. This way, you will have a sense of what feels comfortable, what feels exciting, what feels overwhelming and where you can see yourself fitting in. Keep perspective about letting your friends influence your decision. In other words, don't let your friends decide where you apply and don't apply to a college just because you have a friend there or a friend who will apply. Your college decisions must be based on your social and academic preferences and interests and yours alone.

Be open to the advice of your guidance/college counselor but be sure to do your own research. You will be the one who spends 2 or 4 years at the college so do your homework and find a list of colleges/universities that have what you're looking for: do you want to study abroad? do you want to live on campus? what do you want to major in? how important is it to you to have good sports teams? do you want to live near home or try a totally new environment? urban? rural? big school? small school? Whatever your preferences, there is a college for you.

The college process will teach you a lot about yourself so be sure to think critically about what you want to get out of your college experience.  I will write in more detail about the different stages of the college application process, but for now, start thinking and do your research. It's the fun part!