Educational Media Reviews Online

This is a very good and concise overview of the process required to get into the college of one’s choice, as the title indicates. The video is well organized, discussing grade by grade the steps that students should take in preparing for their college search, beginning in 9th grade and moving through to their senior year. Particularly effective are the interspersion of short interview segments by recently admitted college students, a high school guidance counselor, a college admission officer, and two on-camera commentators that appear to be close to high school age. The commentators provide effective introductions to the interview clips and review major points.

There is good balance between noting that college admission is a serious matter requiring effort while being a manageable process. For example, it is stated that students should realize there are a number of colleges that would be a good fit for them rather than thinking there is only one “right” college. The excellent advice to “own the process,” reinforces that students should do their own research and decision-making rather than expecting it would all be done for them.

The production values are excellent. The 24-minute length allows for discussion even in a fairly short classroom period. Since it offers help to 9th – 12th graders, it could be used as early as 8th grade and possibly repeated with 10th or 11th graders. Ample discussion time should be allowed as there are bound to be students who feel behind schedule or pressured in seeking college admissions. Even with discussion time to answer questions and allay concerns, the video is targeted to students prepared to be serious about their college search. For those reasonably good students planning on applying only to local community colleges or state institutions, some of the recommendations will come across as too intense.

A helpful teacher’s resource book with several student handouts, activities, fact sheets, and pre-test/post-test of key points is included.