Just because you have been accepted by a great college, it doesn't mean that the college is the right one for you. Although all colleges have a reputation, some better than others, they also have individual reputations in the various fields of study (majors) that they offer. Some of those reputations are great, some are fair and many have not yet emerged. However, you may not realize that the best employers usually only conduct interviews at colleges that have a good reputation in a few fields that are of interest.

Additionally, employers do not recruit equally in each field, even at the best colleges. For students in many majors, not a single employer will visit the campus to interview students and may not even list a single job opening. That is why only about one percent of the students nationwide are interviewed on campus, much less get offered a job. Generally, technical majors draw the most interest.

As High School students and their parents investigate, visit and evaluate colleges, they should be armed with a series of questions, like the ones that follow:

1. Which colleges are well known for their work in your field of study?

2. Which colleges offer Co-Op, Internships and Part Time work in your field?

3. Do Professors at each college regularly interact with employers in your field? How many
employers? Which Ones?

4. How many employers, in your field of study, actually visited these colleges to interview
students in each of the last few years? What are the names of those employers?

5. Will the college help you make contacts for summer employment in your field? How
many students were helped last year?

6. Do Professors in your field look for help from students on research projects, books and
papers? What are the odds that you can help out?

7. Do Professors, Career Services and Alumni Association personnel at the college
regularly have contact with alumni who currently work in your field? How many alumni?
At which employers?

8. Does the college provide an easy way for you to contact alumni in your field of interest?

9. Are Professors in your field doing work that is of interest to potential employers? What
exactly are they working on? Projects, books, consulting assignments, etc.?

10. Are college courses and equipment cutting edge or at least up to date? (In technical
fields, what you learn in your Freshman year may be out of date by the time you
graduate.)

11. Will Professors, Advisors and Counselors be willing to meet with you frequently, as
you have questions or need help?

12. Do the Career Services people begin working with you in the Freshman year to
explain what you should be doing and keep you focused on what is needed to land a
great job?

13. How many students does each Career Services Professional handle? Is that a
reasonable number of students?

14. Talk directly with the Career Services Professionals and then verify their answers with
several College Seniors, in your major. Does the Career Services Office actually teach,
coach and guide you in the specifics of what to do each semester, so you will be
completely prepared for your senior year job search? Or, do they simply post
resources on their web site, leaving you to figure it out?

Believe me, it takes more than a generic, one page resume and a list of potential resources to land a great job, at a good salary, with a respected employer. Therefore, it requires a well choreographed, four year effort on the part of a college to ensure that students receive the information, tools, techniques, assistance and guidance needed for job hunting success.

Your challenge begins with the initial college search. Savvy students and their parents should consider the issues presented above, as they search for their right college. Why not graduate from a college with a great reputation in your field of study, one that also aggressively maximizes your training and preparation for the senior year job search?