Finding the Perfect Fit

In “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” four best friends discover that one pair of jeans magically fits all of them - perfectly. While most young women are willing to suspend their disbelief for the sake of a good chick flick, we all know that it’s hard enough to find one pair of jeans that fits you perfectly, never mind your whole posse.

It would be great if you and all of your best friends from high school could just find that perfect school that fits comfortably for each of you, no matter how different you are from one another. Unfortunately, searching for the perfect college is a lot like searching for that perfect pair of jeans, without the magic.

But don’t let the stress of choosing a college cloud your shopper’s sky just yet - there’s hope for girls and guys of all shapes and sizes.

First things first, answer these 3 basic questions:

1. I want to attend a college that is…

a) Tiny
b) Small
c) Medium
d) Large
e) Ginormous

2. I want my college to be in…

a) a city
b) a suburb
c) the middle of nowhere

3. I want to be this many hours from home…

a) Hours? How about minutes?
b) 1-2
c) 3-4
d) 5-6
e) I want to have to fly there.

If you found yourself saying “I don’t know” to one or all of these… it’s okay! Finding the perfect fit doesn’t happen if you don’t suck it up and get yourself into the dressing room… in college lingo? Visit!

College visits come in as many varieties as jeans do; dark rinse, white wash, skinny, boot cut, low rise, and super flare all equal simple, fun and educational experiences like campus tours, group information sessions, interviews, open houses, lunches with faculty, and overnight host programs. Try a few on! If you’re totally clueless when it comes to what kind of school you want, go crazy and pick up a few you’d never wear – you never know how a small private suburban college (like Siena!) or a giant public university may fit. And trust us, we WANT you to visit! So don’t be shy!!

But which ones do you visit?? Well, a little online shopping never hurt anyone. Try College Board’s College MatchMaker where you can create searches based on your own criteria or start going straight to web addresses that end in “.edu”. I recommend starting with siena.edu, of course. ;o)

Here’s another idea – watch your mail. Colleges work very hard and spend a lot of money to end up in your mailbox (and inbox). While we can’t send you buy one get one coupons, we can send you invites to our events or informational brochures (we even call them catalogs!). So park it on the couch and peruse some of that mail. Chances are you can place an order right over the phone to attend an event or ask a question. At Siena we make it easy to reach us:

Call: 1-888-AT-SIENA
E-mail: admissions@siena.edu
IM: SienaAdmissions (every Wednesday from 7-10 p.m.)
Facebook Message: Bernie St. Bernard (our very social and informative mascot)

The most important thing to remember when shopping for colleges (or jeans) is not to stress! Think of us (your friendly admissions counselors) as personal shoppers – ask us to get you a different size, find a matching top, or recommend care instructions. You get the point… we’re here to help you find the perfect fit!