Years ago, when I was a college student, I was clueless, so I don't feel right passing judgement on anyone just for being clueless. What bothers me is when people who are clueless choose to remain clueless instead of empowering themselves with knowledge.
As a college counselor, I gather from parents and students that it is very, very, hard to find consistent and reliable information about college online. Well, that could be true. However, when I go to the library, I see tons of books gathering dust on the shelves that are designed to help students and parents choose the right college, apply for financial aid, choose a major, etc. I've also met a lot of high school guidance counselors who spend almost every day between registration contemplating the meaning of life and planning the occasional college fair because students won't come in to plan anything in advance.
Of course, going to the guidance counselor is always more intimidating than asking a friend who knows someone who knows someone who went through something kind of similar according to one of their friends. Or, you know, Googling because the internet is so non-judgemental---except when parents blame it for teen suicide.
I get a lot of the same questions over and over and over, and it never fails to amaze me how little most people know about college or how college works, so I hope that this blog will be a helpful tool as you pursue higher education, or help someone else.
I am so thankful that Google and, especially, Wikipedia wasn't around when I was in high school and college. "Look it up" was a common phrase when asking a question, and that meant literally looking it up...in a book. As frustrating as it was, I'm a smarter and more resourceful person for it.
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