Programs for Education

March, 2011 archive

Understanding College Websites 0

It was inevitable. Computer technology is here to stay. I remember in 1994, when one of my students said Mr. Goodhart, you should get on the Internet, there is a lot of great information about colleges on it. This revelation may come as a surprise to our current crop of students who were born after 1999. They never had the pleasure of working a slide rule in their advanced math classes.

But after a few years I saw a need to help students understand college websites. They were spending an inordinate amount of time on the site, but coming away with little substantive knowledge about the college. Therefore, I designed an efficient AAA  method to do one’s due diligence. When done properly the student should know the important aspects of each college’s  particular offerings and ethos. I like to hear students say that it was almost a dejvu experience once they arrived at the college for the first time.

As we head into spring it is a great time for juniors to visit a few colleges  while classes are still in session. That is, after applying the AAA method. I will never forget one college admissions officer describe her experience. She drove her daughter 357 miles to tour Lehigh University. The young scholar would not even get out of the car Why not?  asked the seasoned admissions officer (aka mom). I am not going to a college where I have to hike up a mountain every day!

No exaggeration. Now you know. Even college admissions officers have kids. Plus, they too can be tripped up occasionally by poor planning. The AAA method will provide the answers (even to questions not asked) ahead of time and smooth your journey. Go ahead and download it to your desktop now.