"So, what are you doing after graduation?" Many juniors and seniors get bored answering that question over and over. Most students, however, choose to go to college for further study. Here are some practical tips to prepare yourself for the journey.

“那么，你毕业之后打算做什么呢？”很多初高中生早已厌烦了一遍又一遍地回答这个问题。然而，大多数学生的选择是上大学继续深造。以下是为准大学生们即将开始的大学旅程准备的一些实用小贴士：

*Talking to Your Parents  
What if your post-graduation plans differ from what your parents have in mind? Talk openly with your parents about your plans — both for the short term (like what you want to do next year) and the long term (what you think you'd like to do in life). If your parents want you to go to a college but you don't feel that college is right for you, explain why.

* 和父母聊聊  
如果你毕业之后的计划跟父母的想法不一致怎么办？和他们开诚布公地谈一谈，把你的计划——包括近期安排（比如你明年打算做些什么）和远期规划（你想从事什么职业）都告诉他们。如果你认为父母为你锁定的大学并不适合你，向他们解释原因。

* Getting Advice  
Your parents probably don't know everything. For school and career guidance, visit your school counselor¹ and talk with adult friends. Make an effort to talk to people in the fields that interest you. Ask friends and older siblings1) who are in college about their schools and about other schools they're familiar with.
Whatever you choose to do now does not have to be what you do forever. You can always go back to school or change a career path — lots of people do.

* 多方搜寻建议  
父母也许并不了解一切。你可以咨询学校辅导员以了解大学情况和获取职业指导，也可以和成年朋友聊一聊。尽力找机会和那些从事你所感兴趣的职业的人交谈。可以向上大学的朋友和兄弟姐妹了解他们的学校以及他们熟悉的大学的情况。
你现在做出的任何选择并不代表你就永远干这个。你可以经常回学校进修或者改变职业方向——很多人都这么做。

* Making a Decision
Some people know from an early age exactly what they want to be and how they plan to get there. Rachel's dad is a doctor and his love for his chosen career inspired her to follow in his footsteps. Rachel, who is about to start medical school, said she chose her undergraduate program with the idea of medical school in mind.
Not all of us are so sure of our plans, though, and that's OK too. School is also not just about careers and getting a high-paying job after graduation — it's a place for learning about yourself and the world.　　

* 做决定
有些人很早就清楚地知道他们的人生定位，也知道如何规划从而实现他们的理想。瑞秋的父亲是一名医生，他对所选职业的热爱激励了瑞秋跟随父亲的职业道路。即将进入医学院学习的她说，在选择大学本科课程时，她就已经在心中抱定了选择医学院这个念头。
然而并不是所有人都明确自己的计划，但这也没关系。学校并不只是关于职业生涯和毕业之后找到一份高收入的工作——它是一个不断认识自我和世界的地方。

* Selecting a School
If college is in your future, you need to plan. Which schools appeal to you? How do you decide on a school when there are thousands to pick from? Start by asking yourself questions about your preferences2):

* 选择学校
如果你决定将来上大学，那么就要好好计划。哪些学校对你有吸引力？成千上万所大学供你选择时你将如何做决定？首先问自己以下问题，了解你心目中的“优先选择”：

* What are my strengths?
* Am I interested in liberal arts or science or business?
* What kind of learning environment is best for me?
* Would I be more comfortable in a small school or would I feel confined?
* Do I want to stay close to home or live far away?
* Would I prefer to be in a city environment or a small college town?
* Do I like being with people who are mostly like me or do I want to meet a diverse group?

* 我的优势和强项是什么？
* 我感兴趣的是文科还是理工科？抑或是商业？
* 哪种学习环境最适合我？
* 如果是在规模较小的大学学习，我会感觉更舒服还是受限制？
* 我想离家近一些还是远一些？
* 我更喜欢城市里的环境还是小的大学城氛围？
* 我喜欢和跟我十分相似的人相处呢，还是想要认识不同类型的人？

Once you've narrowed down your choices, you can visit their websites. When you've whittled² your list down3) to a manageable number, make arrangements to visit. Try to do this when school is in session so you can get a good idea of what life is really like on campus.

一旦你缩小了选择范围，就可以浏览它们的网站。当你将学校数量缩减到一个可控制的范围后，安排时间去那些学校参观。参观时间最好是在学期内，这样可以更好地了解真实的校园生活。