Finding the Right College

for You

MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR- COST!

VERY, VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR... Does the school have your major???

How important a school's geographic location is to you:

♣close to home? in Cincinnati? As far away as possible?Which geographic regions appeal to you when looking for a school?

What settings appeal to you when looking for colleges? ♣Big city or Small city♣Big college town or Small college town♣Urban setting or Rural setting

Which college size (# of undergrads) appeals to you? You may like more than one.

Thomas More: 1,700 / Mount St. Joseph: 2,100

Xavier: 4,300

Dayton: 7,700

Miami University: 14,900

NKU: 19.900

UC: 22,500

OSU: 42,000 (56,000 overall!)

Some Deciding Factors...

✴ Single-sex or Coed?

✴ A religious affiliation or population that is important to you?

✴ An academically-demanding environment, or low-stress?

✴ Do your personal or career interests require specialized facilities?

✴ Is a strong creative arts program important to you?

✴ Are you interested in a particular athletic program?

✴ Are you interested in joining a sorority/Greek life?

✴ Are you interested in an off-campus internships or research?

✴ Do you want to study abroad? If so, where?

Some Deciding Factors...

What are your "must-haves" of a college?

Check that state school's four-year graduation rate before choosing it over a private school for financial reasons.

Contact someone from your high school who's currently attending the college

Check out freshman retention rate (it should be 93% or better)

You should find out all you can about the campus crime statistics.

Scoping the digs... This is where you will be living for at least four years. Is the food edible? Does the school guarantee housing? How are the dorms? Are the bathrooms clean? If you don't think you'd be able to live there, you probably shouldn't try. This is why campus visits are so important.

How to Narrow Your List Colleges

Campus Visits✴ADMISSION OFFICERS... discuss school's requirements, deadlines, financial aid programs, your qualifications

✴FACULTY in the appropriate department... ask them about the course requirements, graduation rates of their students, and internship opportunities.

✴ COACHING STAFF if you're participating in sports or considering an athletic scholarship. Find out about the practice schedule, the amount of travel required, the GPA requirements, etc.

✴STUDENTS. If you're visiting during the summer, they may be hard to find. Try the library, the student union, the gym, and other public spaces. Are they friendly? Interesting? Are they people you’d feel comfortable around?

Other things to look for

✴The Dorms: Would I be comfortable living here?

✴Popular Classes: Are the classes too large (i.e., easy to get into) or too small?

✴Academic/Administrative Offices: Are they friendly? Eager to answer questions?

✴Student Union: Is it bustling with activity? Do students seem happy?

✴Library: Are the students studying or socializing? Would I be able to study here?

✴Career Center: Are there sufficient—and interesting—jobs posted? Are there employment

opportunities for both students (part-time) and grads (full-time)?

Costs to Consider...• DIRECT COSTS

• tuition

• fees (labs, supplies, activities, etc )

• books and supplies

• INDIRECT COSTS

• dorm/rooming/apartment

• board / meal plan

• daily transportation

• travel expenses

• personal expenses (laundry, fun!)

• medical, dental, emergency monies

LET’S MAKE A LIST...What are your “MUST-HAVES”???

one or two "dream" schools (colleges you would love to attend, it might be tough to get into but you aspire to go there)

three or four "match" colleges (schools which seem to be a good fit for your academic profile, and are likely to admit you)

one or two "safety" colleges, colleges you believe are quite likely to get accepted somewhat easily.

Admissions: What Really

Counts?

What Factors Most?Many SMALL, SELECTIVE SCHOOLS pay greater attention

to personal statements and essays, teacher and counselor recommendations, leadership experiences, and the individual talents of applicants. They typically offer the chance for a face-to-face interview.

LARGE, PUBLIC, STATE SCHOOLS systems often use a mathematical formula based on a student's grade point average (GPA) and scores on the SAT or ACT. They tend to favor in-state applicants.

Regardless of the college's evaluation system, you should present a well-rounded picture of your skills, experience and personal traits. Applications should highlight your ability to succeed at each particular institution, and what you can contribute to student life on campus.

1. TRANSCRIPTS(Classroom Grades)

A student's grades in college-prep classes remain the most significant factor in college admission decisions.

Highly selective colleges look for students who:

• Complete core academic requirements

• Challenging course load, even though they may have slightly lower grades than they'd achieve in lower-level courses

• Enroll in several college-prep courses and perform well

• Take four years of a world language, showing evidence of academic discipline and challenge

• Although still reviewed by many colleges, class rank has declined in significance as many private and religious schools have eliminated ranking

2. Test Scores

• Standardized test scores remain important at many colleges. Examinations such as the SAT Reasoning Test™ and SAT Subject Tests™, or the ACT, allow colleges to compare students from across the country.

• Scholarships may be awarded if a certain score is achieved

3. Personal Statement/ Essay• Personal statements and essays are both a

measure of writing ability and a window into each student's background. Admissions officers want to hear an original voice in the student's own words. For a successful essay, get to the point quickly and personalize your writing through specific examples.

4. Activity List / Resume

(Extra-Curriculars)Evidence of extracurricular activities is important to the

admissions process, and depth of involvement is more

impressive than breadth. Students can achieve this if they...

• Focus on a limited number of interests

• Document long-term involvement with organizations

• Highlight activities related to a major or career goal

• Show leadership skills and ability

5. Recommendation Letters

At selective colleges, strong school support in the form of recommendations from counselors and faculty members have become more important than ever. These recommendations should be highly specific, describing not just each student's love of learning, but the ways in which the students have demonstrated that they can

• Add to the classroom experience

• Challenge themselves

• Attempt original projects

Generic Dates to Keep in Mind...•November 1 or 15: early decision deadline

•December 1: application deadline for special

programs

•January 1: FAFSA forms available

•January 1 ~ February 1: general application

deadline

•May 1: admission decision made,

confirmation given

WHAT’S DUE FOR CLASS?

•Throughout the quarter... ACTIVITY LIST

•Throughout the quarter... COLLEGE ESSAY

•DEADLINE: OCTOBER 23RD AND 24TH...

ONE FULLY-COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED APPLICATION TO A COLLEGE APPROPRIATE TO YOUR SKILLS

•In order to receive credit, I must see the CONFIRMATION of your application submissions (either email or webpage)