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Featuring Reena Gold, assistant director of admissions at List College of Jewish Studies (New York, NY)

Q. I have very specific educational goals. How can I best conduct my search for a school that meets my particular needs and interests?

A. Finding the college of your dreams is a challenging, multi-step process. However, when you have specific goals, that process can be made easier. It simply becomes a matter of creating a large list and then narrowing it down to a reasonable handful of schools.

First, figure out what type of setting you want. Are you looking for a coeducational institution or one that is single-sex? Do you want to be in a big city or in a more secluded area? Do you want to be among 20,000 students or much fewer? Once you've answered these questions, it's easy to identify such schools in college guide books -- useful tools for understanding tuition costs, acceptance rates, and admissions requirements.

Second, make a list of your educational goals. Is there a particular field that you wish to study? Should the school you attend maintain an ethnic or religious component? Do you need resources for a particular learning disability? Do you want a school that offers exceptional internship opportunities and/or an Honors program?

Now here's the easy part: once you've identified your needs, you can eliminate schools that do not satisfy them. For example, if you are desperate to study physical therapy you can eliminate all of the schools that do not offer it as a major.

By this point you should have a small list of potential schools, which makes it much easier to plan some campus visits. When you embark on a tour, don't be afraid to ask questions! The secret is that colleges like students who are inquisitive. Not only does it give the school the opportunity to highlight its strengths, it also lets the prospective student shine as well. Colleges want to see that you're paying attention, that you've done your homework, and that you have intelligent questions.

What you ask depends on your goals and interests. If religious life is important to you, try to meet with the religious coordinator or speak with students who are involved with such groups. Similarly, if you are interested in a particular major, speak to professors who teach those courses and ask students what they like and don't like about the major. If getting various internships and experimenting with different careers is what you want to do, visit the career resources office or talk to current students to find out if they are happy with the school's services.

Don't feel like you are at a disadvantage if you are not able to visit all of your top choices. Most schools will be happy to put you in touch with current students or staff via phone or e-mail. Not every school will automatically do this, however, it is up to you to seek out the information you want.

Q. Who should I ask for  

teacher recommendations

 ? What do they need to convey?

A. It is critical that you read the application instructions to determine what type of recommendation each school wants. Some schools may specify that they want only academic references; other schools may not have a preference. Once you've determined the type of recommendation needed, ask an individual who knows you well and will write positively about you and your work. Even if you've gotten an A on every quiz, you don't want to ask a teacher who has only known you for a month. Moreover, just because you earn high grades doesn't guarantee that the teacher has only positive opinions of you.

If there is a class that you struggled in but ultimately did well, you may want to ask that teacher. He or she can attest to the fact that you work hard to overcome obstacles and achieve goals. It's also a good idea to make an appointment with your recommender and spend time discussing not only your goals but also why you are interested in the particular schools. Such a conversation can enable him or her to write a stronger letter geared to each specific college as opposed to one generic letter that is used for all schools.

Q. I feel like I am going to be lost in the crazy college life, and am worried about what I'm going to do when I get there. Can any on-campus services help me?

A. You are not alone! Every new student has worries about starting college. The great thing is that every college offers specific programs to help eliminate such concerns. Any college you choose will have an orientation program just for first-year students. These programs typically last a week and begin just before the fall semester. During this week you will be exposed to academic and social activities, and, since school hasn't started yet, you'll have the campus mostly to yourself. It's the perfect time to get acclimated before upperclassmen arrive.

Since universities realize that it takes more than a week to get adjusted, many have also created programs which enable new students to stay in touch with their orientation groups for several months, if not for the entire first year. There are many other campus resources for you to take advantage of as well, for example: your academic advisor, residence hall advisor, campus counseling center, or a professor you really like.

If you are having difficulty either academically or socially, it'll be up to you to seek help. If there is someone you feel particularly comfortable with, use them as a resource. For example, if you created a relationship with someone in the admissions office, you can turn to them even if it's about a problem with your roommate. Everyone at your institution wants to see you succeed and should be eager to help in any way.

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