Roadmap to College for English Language Learners and Multilingual Learners

Choose a college that helps you prepare for the future you want. Remember that going to college has to be your decision and your choice. Don’t let the influence of television and other media, classmates and friends, family, and teachers push you in another direction. No one else can make this decision for you. Ultimately, you need to be able to live with the choice you make.

Think about your studies in school and consider what you are most successful at and enjoy doing.

What are your interests, abilities, aptitudes, likes, and dislikes?

What classes are your favorites? ...and why?

FINDING YOUR BEST FIT

After you’ve identified your interests and aptitude, you can figure out what college culture is your best fit.

Does the college you are considering teach in a way that fits your learning style? Do you learn better in large lecture halls of 200 plus students or in small groups of less than 10 students? Do you learn better with writing assignments, online activities, presentations, or group projects? 

Colleges have different programs, facilities and resources, opportunities, faculty expertise, and financial support options for students. Colleges are evaluated for their graduation, retention, and career placement rates; rates of promotion (the time it takes to earn a degree) and admission to graduate school, and other important factors. Geographic location is an important factor in choosing a college.  Are you prepared to live away from home or do you need the everyday support of your family? Can you be comfortable in your college’s community? Are there people (students or faculty) who speak your home language or are from your culture?  Is there diversity?

Many colleges offer virtual online tours so you can get a first impression of whether or not you would fit in that particular college environment. Students should visit a variety of different schools to get a sense of what feels right.

Find colleges that have the best academic support re-sources for English Language Learners/Multilingual Learners (usually in a Learning Center or Writing Lab).

1. Meet with your high school guidance counselor as early as 9th grade to discuss college preparedness and then continue to meet with him or her regularly.
2. Take the SAT or ACT and do your best.
3. Find the colleges/universities that match your goals.
4. Get 2-3 recommendation letters from teachers and school counselors.  
5. Have official copies of your grades and test scores ready to be sent. (If your school’s records are not in English,  get certified translations of your diploma and transcript.)
6. Make sure you know what each college requires to apply and what the deadlines are.
7. On your application, fill out the required information: name, address, email, citizenship/visa status, family in-formation, optional section asking for ethnic identity, marital status and other personal information that can help you if you are an international student and/or ethnic minority, educational data, high school, counselor’s name and contact information, previous schools attended and college courses you may have taken, SAT and/or ACT test scores (and make sure the colleges/universities receive your official test scores from the testing agencies).
8. Provide information on your high school achievements: ac-ademic honors, extracurricular activities, volunteer activities, and unique accomplishments. Write about extra programs or classes you have taken as well as jobs you’ve had to show your dependability and willingness to work hard.
9. Often colleges will require two essays or “personal statements”—a short one and a longer one. The Common Application requires an essay of 150 words or less on one of your extracurricular or work activities, and one of 250- 500 words. The longer essay may ask that you write about a person who has had a significant influence on you; an important personal, local, national or global event; or what personal qualities you have that add to the college’s diversity. Practice writing these essays with writing instructors to present yourself in the best light.
10. A student admissions interview may be required.
11. Most of all, make sure you stress your bilingualism and the experiences you’ve had that make you stand out.