Today we continue with item 5 on Marilee Jones 10 tips for the college search.

8. Maintain your privacy. It’s important that you keep your college choices to yourself, at least at first. Others may discourage you for their own reasons, and their negativity can knock you off course. It is no one else’s business where you want to apply to college. Protect that part of you.

This one is strange. On the one hand, you should be transparent on your plans, your hopes and dreams. You ought to enroll your allies into the process. On the other hand, people can be cruell, even if unintentionally. NACAC assures you that you have a right to apply where you want and not have to tell others. Oddly, the common app has a place to list the other collges you are applying to (Optional–most counselors recommend leave it blank.

I think rather than claming up, select two people you trust (one of which really needs to know something about colleges or at least be willing to read up on the colleges that you are considering. You may discover somethings about a college you had not considered or known.

Should you join Facebook groups for  a particular college? Honestly I would wait until you are accepeted. It is a great way to interact with possible college classmates, but when you are in the application cycle, you may be better served by hanging back.