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SHOULD YOU GO
TO COLLEGE?
Take our quizzes
to find out
BY DAVE PETERSON
© Copyright
1997 by Parents' Press
Dave Peterson is a college
counselor, a former college admissions officer and a consultant
to the College Board. He used to run the "old" America
Online/College Board college admissions message boards under
the screen name of CBD Dave.
One of the biggest unexamined assumptions in modern American
life is that virtually every high school student should go on
to college, and that even ill-prepared students will find a college
to get into somewhere. But two facts should make us questions
those assumptions:
FACT 1.
Only one in every four high school seniors goes on to
a four-year college. Hundreds of careers offering good pay, security,
and stimulation do not require a bachelor's degree - and they
are hungry for more workers. Are you in fact one of the 25 percent
who really should continue on to college?
FACT 2.
Only one in every two college freshmen graduates from
the college where he or she starts! Staying in is a lot more
challenging than getting in. So deciding whether to go, and where
and why to go, are the big jobs that come first.
Let's take these hurdles in order.
Seriously, Should I Go
to College?
Don't automatically answer yes or no. The questionnaire below
will help you clarify matters so you can make an informed decision.
Mark yes or no next to each of these 20 questions, answering
honestly.
 Do
you enjoy most of the things you do in your school courses? Yes No
Do
many of your interests take effort that is more mental than social
or physical? Yes
No
Do
you usually grasp new ideas the first time they are presented
in class? Yes
No
Do
you enjoy working with ideas as much as with objects or people?
Yes No
Do
you study an average of at least two hours each day outside of
school? Yes
No
Do
you feel the schoolwork you do reflects your real ability most
of the time? Yes
No
Do
you get satisfaction out of at least half of your homework activities?
Yes No
Do
you feel your study habits are above average compared to your
classmates? Yes
No
Do
you plan your time and organize your work well, without being
supervised? Yes
No
Do
you only rarely fail to finish all your schoolwork? Yes No
Is
your memory above average compared to other students? Yes No
Do
you like to write? Yes
No
Do
you occasionally write for fun? Yes No
Can
you understand and use fairly complicated ideas in class? Yes No
Can
you see a reason for the things teachers ask you to do? Yes No
Are
you comfortable working in depth with both words and numbers?
Yes No
Do
you really like to read? Yes No
Do
you often read for fun? Yes No
Is
it nearly always easy for you to follow instructions correctly?
Yes No
Do
you consider yourself above average in "intelligence?"
Yes No
Do
all your grades tend to be above average most of the time? Yes No
Are
you really looking forward to the idea of being a scholar in
college? Yes
No
Total your "yes"
and "no" answers separately, then see the next page
for how to calculate your results.
next
> what your score means
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Ask Dave
Coming soon, a question and answer message board with Dave Peterson
for everything you want to know about college planning and admissions.
Bullets courtesy of
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