What To Do If You Don't Get Into Your Dream School

ROCHESTER, MI —'Tis the season for college admissions letters. Over the next few weeks, students across America are opening up hotly anticipated letters determining their academic fate. It's a thrilling, stressful and uncertain time.

And that's where Kaitlyn Busam comes in. Busam is an admissions adviser at Rochester College, and she shared with Patch her insider tips for successfully navigating the college application process - and what to do to set yourself up for success when you actually are on campus!

Patch: What's your advice to students who don't get into their dream school? Reapply or explore new options?

Kaitlyn Busam: I would recommend students do both. Reapply and maybe retake the test - whether the ACT or SAT. I always advise students to take it again because they won't be as nervous and will know what to expect. Often students' test scores go up two or three points on average. If the student has taken the test a few times and it's not the score they're looking for, I encourage them to get their feet wet at community college. If students keep a B or higher and come to us or another school after your first or second semester, we'll work with you. Those first few semesters are make it or break it.

Patch: Another scenario: A student is torn between attending a few schools and can't make up their mind. What's the next move?

Kaitlyn Busam: Get on the campus! You can visit websites and talk to admissions officers on the phone but you're not going to get a feeling until you're on campus. Talk to professors and the current students. The people whose job isn't to sell you the school. You'll get an honest feel of the community.

Patch: The cost of college is soaring. The College Board reports that a year at a private college will run you on average $33,480 and a year at a public college is $9,650. What are some ways students can pay for college?

Kaitlyn Busam: Always touch base with your admissions officer and simply ask "What am I eligible for? Here are my scores, grades, activities." At Rochester College we begin scholarships at a 21 on the ACT or equivalent SAT and the scholarships go up from there. There's a pool of scholarships we offer.

As far as outside scholarships, there are grants that students are eligible for that they may not even know they are and the federal student loan options truly are a great investment for students.

Patch: Students invest so much time preparing to get into school but there's little preparation for the reality of life at college. Once students are actually on campus, how can they maximize their experience?

Kaitlyn Busam: Socially - do stuff! You can't be in your dorm. There is always stuff happening on this campus and I'm sure other campuses are the same way. Get out there and do it. Meet people and get involved in different organizations. Once you engage in your community you're much likelier to stay.

Academically, the best way to maximize the first year of college is to engage with professors and then professors will be able to keep you engaged. Specifically at Rochester College, we're very unique in that we're a smaller institute. Students get the same education as a big university but at a smaller location. You get to know the faculty here and I encourage the students to utilize that to their advantage. Visit their office hours. They want you to succeed.

Photo courtesy of Rochester College