Junior College Prep 1/11/18

College Meetings Talk to your parents about scheduling a meeting with me! We will discuss: Colleges that interest you College preferences (type distance, location, size, academics, activities, housing & cost) Grades PSAT results Plan for standardized testing (SAT, ACT, SAT subject tests) Graduation requirements What we have learned in college prep so far What we plan to cover in college prep

Searching For Colleges

Two Year vs Four Year

Two Year Save money Familiar with area Maintain support from family

Four Year Traditional freshman experience Establish independence

Public vs Private

Public Public colleges are funded by the state, which is why tuition costs are lower than private colleges. Public colleges have in-state and out-of-state tuition. In-state is lower than out of state. Public colleges tend to be larger.

Private Private colleges do not receive funds from the state, which is why tuition costs are higher than public colleges. Private colleges have the same cost for in-state and out-of-state students. Private colleges tend to be smaller.

Public vs Private: Cost In state, public schools are usually the most affordable, but that is not always the case. Financial aid can sometimes make private colleges as affordable as public colleges. Don’t rule out a school based on the sticker price. Use the net price calculator to estimate the cost.

Distance from Home

Close to Home Can go home easily Familiar with area/weather

Far from Home Cannot go home easily – May get homesick Opportunity to experience something totally different Traveling is expensive

College Is What You Make Of It No matter how close you are to home, your college experience will be what you make of it. You could be 10 minutes away and choose to never go home on the weekends, or be three hours away and go home every weekend. It all depends on how much time you want to invest in your college experience!

Region

Region: Things to Consider What climate do you want to live in? What are the people like? What is there to do?

Environment: Rural, Suburban, Urban

Rural Most rural campuses are self-contained, with a majority of the students living on campus. This can increase a college’s sense of community. Many rural colleges bring entertainment to their students and provide free events. Comedians, bands, movies, bus trips, etc. Depending on the geographic location, rural areas can offer more abundant outdoor activities.

Suburban Suburban campuses usually offer access to nearby cities and to outdoor activities. Suburban colleges are frequently self-contained, which can create a strong sense of community. Suburban colleges often have connections to the towns where they are located. This can provide opportunities such as jobs and entertainment. Public transportation may be available in addition to a college’s transportation options.

Urban More social and cultural opportunities: museums, theaters, music venues, comedy clubs, parks, bars and restaurants, street festivals, etc. Multiple public transportation options (trains, buses, taxis, airport) Surrounded by a large number of varied businesses. Internship opportunities are more plentiful. There are also more job opportunities. Urban campuses tend to be more diverse.

Size Small – Less than 2,000 Medium – 2,000 to 15,000 Large – Larger than 15,000

Small Small class sizes Courses will be taught by professors Easy access to professors Smaller range of majors, but often have a particular academic focus Strong advising system Strong sense of community and connection Smaller physical campus

Medium Medium class sizes Most classes will be taught by professors Easy access to professors Medium range of majors Strong advising program Strong sense of community Medium sized physical campus

Large Large class sizes, at least in introductory courses Lecture style courses, sometimes with 200 students in a class Some courses will be taught by teaching assistants You will have less access to professors Wider choice of majors ranging from traditional liberal arts to highly specialized technical fields Wide range of student activities, for example, big sporting events Large physical campus

Academics Don’t limit your selection to academic program alone. Studies show that many college students change their college major at least once. It is important to pick a school that will offer you many appealing possibilities. Look for well respected academic departments. Talk with professors and students in these departments. If you are undecided, relax and pick an academically balanced institution that offers a range of majors.

Activities Clubs Sports Greek life Community service Academic, Social, Religious, Ethnic Sports Intramurals, Club Sports, Division I, II, III Greek life Community service

Residence Life What percentage of students live on campus? What are the dorms like? What amenities are offered? Are there living learning communities? What is the food like?

Cost What is the total cost for the year? Am I eligible for scholarships? Am I eligible for financial aid? Use net price calculators to estimate your cost Talk to your parents and establish a price range

Building Your College List You need to be aware of the admissions criteria (average GPA, SAT/ACT scores) at each school. The quickest way to find this information is to google: “Name of school” freshman profile. Always refer to the school’s website. Your list should have a mixture of safety, match, and dream schools. Safety means you are above the admissions criteria. Match means you are within the admissions criteria. Dream means you are below the admissions criteria.

How to Search for Colleges Go to www.bigfuture.collegeboard.org Under “Find Colleges” click “Search” Click on each section Select your preferences Click “Close and see results” Move the cursor to “Don’t Care,” “Want,” or “Must Have.” Playing with the cursor will give you more or less options. Try to keep your search as open as you can.

Exploring Colleges Click on colleges to learn more about them. The Big Future College Search is a great tool when starting your search and it has a lot of valuable information. However, when you find a school that you are interested in, I would recommend looking at the college website to get the most accurate information.