College Searches

So, your daughter comes home and says those dreaded words you and your husband never thought you'd hear from one of your darling children: "Mom. Dad. I want to study Industrial Design." 

The horror! Mom's a biology tech. Dad's a computer scientist. No words could be more foreign unless she said she wanted to study International Relations or Musical Theater. What is this degree? Where does one go to study this? What skills do you need for admission? Does any school in our state offer such a degree? Where are good schools for this?  You'd have her covered if she went into a STEM field, but this? 

Don't panic. There are some steps you and your daughter can take get a handle on this decision. 

1. Breathe: This is your daughter's life, not yours. Your job is to support her, not to direct her. 
2. Contact a counselor: Seriously. Run, do not walk, to your school's college and career counselor and start asking questions. You might find that this is a foreign program to her too, but at least you'll have another set of fingers and eyes helping you search. 
3. Research: Google "Best undergraduate programs Industrial Design." Add "Virginia" or "United States" or "International" to broaden or narrow your search. Try "Top ten" too.  See if the program goes by another name like "Product design." If so, search for that too. 
4. Associations: Check to see if "Industrial Design" has an association. If so, see if they accredit any programs. 
5. Create a spreadsheet: Keep track of all the names you see pop up. Make a note of the names you see repeatedly. Cross reference them with association accreditation. 
6. Research the school's and their entrance requirements: cost, GPA/SAT, portfolio requirements, letters of recommendation needed, application cost, distance from home, accredited, rural/urban, small/large, etc. Check out the required federal cost calculator too, if you're interested. 
7. Narrow your list: Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)? Maybe. Wait, it's $60K a year plus travel expenses and it's not in the top 10? Off the list. Rhode Island School of Design? Also expensive but it's #1.  It stays.  Virginia Tech? It's a top three program, instate and accredited by the national association. It stays. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign? Middle program that requires a time-consuming portfolio. It's out. Stanford? SAT/GPA too high for you. It's out too. 
8. Confirm your choices: Head to Naviance, College Data or Fiske Guide to Colleges (book) and read up on your choices. Strike off the ones you don't like for whatever reasons. 
9. Virtual Tour: Go the university's website and take virtual tour. Like what you see? It stays. Don't? Strike it.
10. Pro Tip! Email: Email the heads of the departments that are left on your list and ask questions: How long is the lab open? Do you get into the program right away or apply before sophomore year? Do you require a portfolio at any point? Do you have to fight for space? Do you specialize in anything (prosthetics, transportation, steel, plastics, additive manufacturing)? If students don't choose your program, where else do they tend to go? What are your department's strengths? Weaknesses? Are there internship opportunities? How many students do you admit to your program? Do you favor early decision/admission candidates? Does your department offer scholarships for freshmen? Don't be afraid to ask what's really on your mind.
    
    Plus, be sure to tell them about yourself too. Attach a resume. Tell why you're interested in this program. 
11. Visit: You should have a list of 5 to 15 schools. Make trips to see what you think of the campus. Ask for department tours from the heads of the departments while you're there. Schedule an official campus tour as some universities keep track of who's actually taken the time to visit. Keep an open mind. You might find that you love Georgia Tech despite its urban location because it's a wonderfully green, encapsulated campus. You might find Auburn is too isolated or that you love its rural charm.  You don't need to see them all, just try to get a good sampling. 
    Pro Tip! Wear some swag from your current high school when you go on the tours. Students who know your school or who went there will stop and chat. I promise. This happens all the time. You'll get some personal, inside scoop this way. 
12. Apply: Some programs admit 200 students as freshmen. Some only accept 25.  The smaller and more selective the program, the more you want to consider early decision--remember that it's binding though. Early action, however, is not and is almost always a good idea. 
13. Wait: This is the hardest part. 

The search is more than just rifling through some college books or consulting with one expert or resource. You need to really spread it around to figure out what's the best fit for you. Talk to everyone (counselors, department heads, former students) and search multiple references (Fiske, College Data, Naviance, Google, departmental websites, university tours) to winnow down your search. Be organized. Be fearless. Be yourself. Good luck!