Overview
This section contains resources for use in helping students figure out which type of college might be best suited to their needs and wants. Researching campuses and exploring the advantages and disadvantages of different colleges and campuses will help students understand which kinds of schools would be a good fit for them.
Objectives
Students should be able to:
- Explain their criteria for choosing a college;
- Identify the differences between colleges and college campuses, and
- Identify some challenges of transitioning to college.
Introductory Questions
- In terms of academics, what features or options do you want in a college? For example, majors, career pathways, research or mentorship opportunities, and so on.
- When you think about the college experience, what are some features that are important to you? For example, being close to home, dorm experience, diverse student body, large or small campus, athletics, and so on.
Suggested Class Sequence(s)
Class sequences are connected topics with activities, worksheets, and readings which take two or more days of class to complete.
Research CUNY colleges and their resources, take a quiz to help focus on a major, and examine assumptions about college
Videos
Short videos help tap into multiple modes of learning and can provide a good introduction to or illustration of a topic. See suggested protocols for classroom viewing.
- Mindset Video _ Student Challenges
Learn from peers’ experiences of challenges, triumphs, and goal setting in college.
Readings
All readings should be paired with a structure or protocol, especially if any reading will be completed in class.
- This First Year of College Will Be an Experience
Excerpt from OER textbook on college success, with a focus on preparing and adjusting to college
Activities
Activities include individual or group tasks that can be completed in less than one class period; some activities may be repeated in a sequence and are re-listed here for ease of access.
- What are the different kinds of colleges?
Learn about the different types of colleges - What are colleges looking for?
Role-playing exploration of college admission criteria - What Do I Want From My College Experience?
Decipher the advantages and disadvantages of different types of college experiences using college profile scenarios. - What Do You Know About Post-Secondary Options?
Learn about the various types of options for college, including types of colleges and types of degrees. - Finding Your Fit: Getting Support
Learn more about adjusting to college by reading about some strategies and tips about what to expect. - College Knowledge Kahoot game and associated College Vocabulary quiz
Learn the basic vocabulary associated with college.
Resources
- Big Future: Step-by-step College Search
This College Board website walks students through aspects of finding a good fit college and creates a list of good match schools based on a survey. Requires account creation.
Share Content
- Click on this link to access our submission form that will guide you through submitting your materials. The form is designed to make submitting your content straightforward and ensure your contribution aligns with our platform’s style and goals. On the form you will find:
- Clear definitions of each type of submission you might contribute, whether it’s a video, reading, sequence, standalone activity, or resource.
- Guidelines for writing descriptions specific to each type of submission, such as what to emphasize for standalone activity descriptions versus readings.
- Instructions on proper documentation and linking to ensure credits are correctly attributed.
- Annotated examples of each type of submission to help you visualize what a complete submission looks like.
- Please note: We may make minor adjustments to enhance clarity or structure, like refining steps, directions, or adding reflection questions, but we’ll keep the original intent intact.
