[originaltext] Hello, everyone, today I will talk about how to seek admission

Hello, everyone, today I will talk about how to seek admission to a college or university.
   In the US, most college applicants are high school students. Many are 17 or 18 years old. One might ask how anyone at that age could know exactly the kind of field they want to work in for the rest of their lives? Do they even want to work in the field they plan on studying? So how do young people begin to make the first big step when applying for college? Charlie Leizear, the director of first-year admission at Occidental College, says his first suggestion to students is to look for help anywhere they can find it. He says there is a lot of information available to students about how to both choose a college and apply for admission. For one thing, he tells students to think about using their personal connections—friends or family members who have attended a college. Also, most high schools in the United States and many other countries employ guidance counselors for this exact purpose. A big part of the job of a counselor is asking students what they want to do after high school. They ask these questions to help students decide if college is right for them, as well as identify what a student might want to study.
   But, where do students at schools having no guidance counselors turn for help? One resource Leizear suggests is Education USA, a program supported by the US Department of State. This program has offices in more than 170 countries. Education USA offers non-US citizens advice and information about American colleges and universities.
   For example, most schools require students to take some form of standardized test. This test shows a student’s level of academic performance. Also, in the case of international students, it shows their English ability level. Education USA explains to students in foreign countries how and where they can take standardized tests. The program also helps international students apply for visas so they can live, study and possibly work in the United States. And, perhaps most importantly, Education USA helps students find ways to pay for their education.
   Leizear says paying for higher education can be the biggest barrier to college students, both in the United States and overseas. Most US colleges and universities offer students some form of financial assistance. Leizear warns college applicants against using services that ask for money and offer guaranteed acceptance into top schools as a resource. Often these services cannot actually follow through on their promises.
Questions 16 to 18 are based on the recording you have just heard.
16. Why does a guidance counselor ask students what they want to do after high school?
17. What do most American colleges and universities ask applicants to do?
18. What is the biggest problem for college students according to Leizear?