SELF ASSESSMENT ISSUES
In order to prepare students to make informed
decisions about colleges, they must first be able to
think critically about their own abilities and
aspirations. Matching talents with desired colleges
is at the heart of the college search process, and
students are better able to do so after having
considered some important questions about themselves.
An honest and thoughtful self-assessment can reveal
what to look for in colleges as well as prepare
students for essay and interview responses. After
looking seriously at themselves, students can then
determine which colleges are right for them, and be
prepared to effectively present themselves to those
colleges. The following questions are intended to
guide student in their self-assessment: Goals and
Values 1. What aspects of your Hill School experience
have you enjoyed the most? What has been the most
disappointing experience for you? What would you do
differently? 2. What do you care about most? What
values are most important to you? 3. How do you
define success? Are you satisfied with your
accomplishments to date? What do you want to
accomplish in the years ahead? 4. Which of your
personal strengths would you most like to develop?
What would you most like to change about yourself? 5.
What events or experiences have shaped your growth
and way of thinking? Education 6. What are your
academic interests? What courses have you enjoyed the
most? Which courses have been the most difficult for
you? 7. How do you best learn? What methods of
teaching and style of teaching engage your interest
and effort the most? 8. How do you describe The Hill?
Is learning and academic success respected here? Has
The Hill encouraged you to develop your interests,
talents, and abilities? Has The Hill limited you in
any way? What would you preserve or change about The
Hill if you had the influence to do so? 9. How much
do you genuinely like to read, discuss issues, and
exchange ideas? What has been your most stimulating
intellectual experience in recent year? 10. How well
has The Hill prepared you for college? In what areas
of skill or knowledge do you feel confident? Have you
been challenged by your courses? 11. Have you worked
to your potential? Is your academic record and
accurate measure of your ability and potential? Are
your SAT scores? What do you consider the best
measures of your potential for college work? 12. Are
there any outside circumstances which have influenced
your academic performance? Activities and Interests
13. What activities do you most enjoy? Which
activities have meant the most to you? 14. Do your
activities show any pattern of commitment,
competence, or contribution? 15. How would others
describe your role in your school or home community?
What do you consider your most significant
contribution? Environment 16. How would you describe
your school, family, and home town? How has your
environment influenced your way of thinking? 17. What
do your parents and friends expect of you? How have
their expectations influenced the goals and standards
you set for yourself? What pressures have you felt to
conform? 18. What has been the most controversial
issue in your school or community? How does the issue
concern you? What has been your reaction to the
controversy? What is your opinion about the issue?
19. What distresses you most about the world around
you? Assuming the opportunity and obligation to
change the world, where would you start? 20. Do you
have any current heroes? Historical heroes? 21. What
books have you read that have changed your way of
thinking? Personality and Relationships 22. How would
someone who knows you well describe you: your finest
qualities? Your shortcomings? Would you agree with
their assessement? How have you grownand changes
during your high school years? 23. Which
relationships are most important to you and why? How
are you influenced by others who are important to
you? What pressures have you felt to conform? How
important to you are approval, awards, and
recognition? How do you respond to pressure,
competition, and challenge? How do you react to
failure, disappointment, or criticism? 24. How do you
feel about choices and making decisions for yourself?
What are the best decisions that you have made
recently? How much do you rely on direction or advice
from others? Have you ever chosen anything because it
was new or interesting? College Preferences 25. What
satisfactions and frustrations do you expect to
encounter in college? What are you looking forward
to? What worries you most? What is the overriding
consideration in your college choice? 26. Why do you
want an education? Why are you going to college? 27.
Which interests to you want to pursue in college? Do
your interests require any special facilities,
programs, or opportunities? Are you most interested
in career preparation, technical training, or general
knowledge and skills of inquiry thinking? 28. What
degree of academic challenge is best for you? What
balanced of study, activities, athletics, and social
life suits you the best? How important is it to you
to perform at the top of your class? Would you be
satisfied I the bottom or middle of the class? How
well do you respond to academic pressure and
competition from others? 29. How much structure do
you need? 30. How would you enjoy living in a
different part of the country? What kind of
surroundings are essential to your well-being? Do you
prefer a fast-paced environment, and organized
environment with planned activities, ore a relaxed
environment where you can go your own way? 31. How
free do you feel to make your own college decisions?
Do you and your parents agree on your plans about
college? How important to you are the opinions of
your parents and friends? How important is prestige?
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