Keys to a Successful College Process Slide 2 The View from
20,000 Feet Slide 3 How to Choose? 3,500 colleges from which to
choose 10,000 areas of study Gobs of internship, research, co-op
and study abroad opportunities 1 year to figure it all out Slide 4
Figuring Out Your Destination Slide 5 How to Find the Right College
Dont be too focused too soon Do your research Dont let college
admissions data deter you unreasonably Take time to figure out what
you most want from your college experience Not all advice is good
advice Slide 6 TIP: Knowing what college is right for you really
means knowing yourself. Slide 7 How to Choose a College Academic
Program Size Location and Setting Athletic and Extra-curricular
opportunities School Culture Selectivity Cost/Financial Aid Slide 8
Academic Program Liberal Arts Buffet of classes Develops writing,
thinking, research skills Internships are important
Pre-Professional Prepares for profession Licensing For the student
who knows what they want to do Slide 9 Colleges Small classes
taught by professors More opportunities to be a big fish More
intimate community Fewer choices and opportunities Tend to be more
suburban/rural Slide 10 Universities Made up of specific colleges
More choices and opportunities Big classes, sometimes taught by TAs
More diversity Can be athletic powerhouses Slide 11 Geography and
Setting Where in the United States or the world do you want to be?
Rural vs. Suburban vs. Urban Real distance vs. Logistical distance
Slide 12 TIP : Dont discount a school for its setting until youve
been there Slide 13 Athletics and Extracurriculars Finding the
right team/coach/level of competition for the athlete Are there
opportunities to explore areas of interest outside of academics?
Theatre, political activism, community service, music groups,
outdoors clubs, etc. Slide 14 School Culture Can you imagine making
friends with the students at the college? Are they your type of
people? Slide 15 Casting a Wide Net Slide 16 What the Admissions
Office Considers GPA, academic rigor, course selection Standardized
tests (sometimes) Extracurricular profile Application materials:
essay, supplements Disclosure of difficult issues Legacy,
diversity, recruited skills Colleges relationship with high school
Slide 17 The Transcript How rigorous is the applicants course load
relative to the classes offered Are areas of interest emerging?
What classes does the applicant choose to take beyond the required
classes? Slide 18 Standardized Testing SAT vs. ACT AP exams SAT IIs
Increasing numbers of test-optional colleges www.fairtest.org Slide
19 Testing Time Line PSATs October of Junior year SATs March 12,
May 7, June 4 ACTs April 9, June 11 SAT IIs May 7, June 4 APs May 2
13 . And dont forget about finals Slide 20 TIP : Subject tests are
a better predictor of first year performance than SATs Slide 21
Extra-Curriculars All the things that make you interesting Show
consistency, involvement and leadership How you spend your
discretionary time What talents/skills/interests you bring to the
community May need to submit an art portfolio or audition tapes
Slide 22 The Common Application Slide 23 Slide 24 The Personal
Statement Used to Assess writing skills Learn something new about
the applicant Tell the story behind the application
www.youtube.com/watch?v=#A821CC Slide 25 Recommendations Should be
from two teachers Who taught you junior year Who teach majors Who
know you well Who think of you favorably One Additional
Recommendation Slide 26 TIP : If you want a good recommendation,
provide a list of your accomplishments, goals and moments of pride
for your writers! Slide 27 Other Factors Slide 28 Nota Bene College
admission officers look at students not for what they are, but for
what they have the potential to become. Slide 29 TIP : Dont worry
about past mistakes show how you have learned from them and are
continuing to grow. Slide 30 Calculating Financial Aid Cost of
Attendance - Expected Family Contribution Financial Aid Need
Financial Aid Awards come in the form of loans, grants, and work
study. Slide 31 Figuring Out College Costs Besides tuition,
consider: Health Insurance Travel Costs Room and Board Activities
Fees Books, computers and supplies Slide 32 TIP: If you think you
might need aid, apply, even if you dont think youll qualify. Slide
33 Potential Pitfalls Slide 34 Where things can go wrong Relying
too heavily on one persons advice Giving too much weight to factors
that are ultimately unimportant Not giving yourself enough time for
the process Doing what everyone else is doing Not taking your
safeties seriously Not understanding that college admissions is an
art, not a science Slide 35 Following the Crowds Slide 36 Tips for
a Successful College Process Identify what is most important to you
and dont compromise Keep the process student-centered Stay
organized and stay on track Dont forget that the most important
thing about the college process is that it is a process Slide 37
You Have Landed!!!
