Finding a good fit - Part 2

Academics may be the most important part of finding a college that fits you, but obviously there's more to college life than the classes you take. Frankly, most colleges want their students to be involved in extracurricular activities, because most studies show that students who are involved in the life of the school, tend to better and happier students.

Chances are you may gravitate toward some of the activities you were involved in while in high school, but one of the best things about college is that there are so many more things to do.  Though she had no training, I remember one of our students joined the competitive ballroom dancing club at her college. Other students have become part of the campus radio station, the ultimate frisbee team, and sustainability clubs.  The types of clubs you can join are almost endless: cultural, political, faith-based, the arts, academics, service, the environment, food, media, and many other special interests.  The point is this is your chance to explore ideas and groups you never even knew existed.

For some however, sororities and sports are often the first things that come to mind, and if you live in the south, it's hard not to get excited about football. But before you choose a college based on a football team, remember that schools only have four or five home games a year, so that tailgate atmosphere doesn't last all year long. Rather than choose a school based on their winning streak, consider how you can get involved in club or intramural sports. Perhaps this is your chance to take up field hockey or bowling - things you may have never tried before. If you are interested in playing on a more competitive level, make sure you understand the time commitment your sport will require.  Division I athletics requires a huge amount of time, so know what you're getting into before you commit.

Greek life can offer great networking opportunities, philanthropic possibilities, and life long friendships, and for some girls, it allows them to immediately become part of something at their college.  Even though she wasn't initially interested, my own daughter joined a sorority and found that much like her all-girls high school experience, it automatically gave her a group of sisters and made the transition to college much easier.  In addition, sororities and fraternities offer many philanthropic opportunities, potential career networks, and life-long friendships. So if you're thinking about joining a Greek organization, ask about the procedure (recruitment). What percentage of students are involved in Greek life; are their activities open to other students? Is recruitment open in the fall or spring? If you don't join freshmen year, will the opportunity still be available sophomore year?  What is the college's policy on hazing, and how closely is it followed?

In general, here are some other questions to ask.

• How much time do students devote to co-curricular activities?
• How do students meet with others with similar interests? In other words, how do you find out what's available, and how do you go about signing up?
• How supportive is the administration of social and co-curricular activities?
• Are there clubs/organizations that directly connect to your major or career goals? And even if you're not majoring in a specific discipline (like theater or music), can you still participate in those activities?

College will be what you make of it, and I always tell my students that no one is going to come knock your door and ask you to come out and play.  You have to go out on that limb and find some activities that appeal to you.  Trust me, it will make you a happier and healthier college student.