1. College Selection (c) The College Authority, LLC. 2012, all rights reserved

2. College is Expensive The average public university costs: $25,213 per year The average private university costs: $35,636 per year The average elite private university costs: $50,000+ per year And, college prices are trending up…up…and away… (c) The College Authority, LLC. 2012, all rights reserved

4. 2012-13 Local College Costs St. Edwards University of Texas Howard Payne Texas A&M Texas Tech University of Houston Texas Christian Rice Baylor Southwestern $42,200 $25,572 $31,072 $20,821 $23,326 $24,382 $46,260 $51,261 $51,234 $45,880 (c) The College Authority, LLC. 2012, all rights reserved ¼ of all public college students graduate in 4 yrs

5. Selecting the right university Academic Programs- Will the course of study provide the required academic experience? ◦ Capstone, learning communities, study abroad, service learning, research/creative projects, internships? Major – self explanatory Location – is the location of this college satisfactory to your student’s needs? Size is the size of this college satisfactory? ◦ (Small – less than 3,000 students, Medium – between 3,000 and 10,000, Medium large – between 10,000 and 20,000, Large - greater than 20,000 students) Athletic Program – does this college have a sports program that meets the student’s needs (as an athlete or a spectator)? Talent Program – does this college have a talent program that meets the student’s needs (theater, newspaper, debate team)? Special Programs – does this college have special programs or facilities that the student needs or must have (learning disabilities, special medical facilities, etc.)? Co-op Programs – does this college have an academic co-op (study/work) program in the student’s major that can reduce your college costs and help the student achieve employment after graduation? Job Placement – does this college have a Placement Office that places a high number of students in jobs prior to graduation? Religion – does this college have a religious program that fits your needs? Attrition – does this college have a high number of freshmen that graduate within five years? Student/Faculty Ratio – does this college have a low student to faculty ratio to guarantee a more interactive classroom participation and personal faculty attention for the student? Faculty with PhDs – does this college have a high number of faculty with PhDs? Tutoring – does the college have a system to help a struggling students? Campus Setting – is this college located in a desirable area or neighborhood? Have the right “feel”? Safety – does this college’s campus have adequate security and a good safety reputation? Alcohol/Drug Policy – self expanitory. Student Body Reputation – does this college’s student body reputation fit the student’s personality? Diversity – does the student mix at this college fit the student’s personality, or desire for cultural growth? Greek System – does the role that fraternities and sororities play at this college fit the student’s needs? Housing – is this college’s housing (and housing policy) satisfactory? Is internet and other connectivity readily available? Food – is the on-campus food at this college satisfactory to your needs? Weather – is this college located in a climate that is satisfactory to your needs? Cost—What is the cost of attendance? Financial Aid – awards, need and merit moneys, etc. Prestige- will the university fit the student’s or parent’s expectations? Help in the job search? Accreditation – Does the university or college have the proper certification? Can I transfer community college credits to this university, if needed? Retention and Persistence –Do students “vote with their feet” after freshman year? How quickly is the education finished? Pre-requisites for freshman enrollment – Will my student need to have additional academic preparation prior to enrollment? (c) The College Authority, LLC. 2012, all rights reserved

6. How Students and Parents Pick Boyfriend Girlfriend ALL of my friends Education is COOL It’s a party school, but don’t tell my dad Good sports teams 24 hour Taco Bell Money Quality of Education I WENT THERE Any school within 2 hours drive of home Window Sticker Students : Parents : (c) The College Authority, LLC. 2012, all rights reserved

7. Our “Canned” Answer I‘d love to attend ___ university. It’s a great opportunity for me to study ___. In fact, this university is well known for its outstanding faculty and is credited for being one of the best universities at which to study ___. And, by the way, they offer the best financial aid package in comparison to their short list of competitors. (c) The College Authority, LLC. 2012, all rights reserved

8. What the Universities Want: High school grades and GPA Some even look further (ie. AP) Trends Class rank SAT/ACT Scores Co-Curricular Activities Essays “fit” A display of student interest Special skills and abilities: Athletic/Talent/Other Strength of Recommendations Diversity Full-Pay Candidates (c) The College Authority, LLC. 2012, all rights reserved

9. 5 Important questions to ask your prospective universities: What are the most important admissions criteria? How are these ranked? How many of your students graduate “on time”? How many come back after freshman year? What is your enrollment yield? And many others… (c) The College Authority, LLC. 2012, all rights reserved

10. Rules of Thumb Be an educated consumer Top Down Approach Goal: Apply to 6-10 colleges There is no substitute for a visit Ensure that the college will “want” your student before applications are started (c) The College Authority, LLC. 2012, all rights reserved

11. Points to Consider Strongly Assume your are going to change your mind: Penn State study: 70% of college students change their academic major after the freshman year (20% change it more than once) Internships: If wishing to work for a specific company/organization, contact that group and speak to the HR department to see which colleges they recruit from and if they offer internships College representatives Visit with any local college representatives with offices in DFW area Come prepared to a college night (i.e., dress for success, resume, note pad, clean up your social media sites, etc.) THANK YOU NOTES ARE NOT OVERATED Getting in CASH SAT/ACT scores must be better than just to get in to get aid Admit/Deny Enrollment Yield Safety schools (c) The College Authority, LLC. 2012, all rights reserved

12. Parting Shots Which colleges might be the best picks for my student? Can someone help us choose the right colleges? Does anyone want to know what their EFC is going to be $19,098 or $8,295? Can this number be lower? Get a FREE FAFSA REVIEW Required: Both husband and wife The data form filled out completely Must be done in the next 2 weeks Lori Greenhaw, Consultant, The College Authority E: Lori@collegeauthority.com P: 817.756.7485Lori@collegeauthority.com (c) The College Authority, LLC. 2012, all rights reserved