G ETTING S TARTED IN THE C OLLEGE S ELECTION P ROCESS Ben Shoemaker Interim Director of Admission Otterbein University & Keith Gehres Assistant Director Ohio State University

6 T OPICS 1. Selecting a college, where to start 2. Researching colleges 3. Visiting campus effectively 4. What colleges look for 5. What factors influence admission 6. Misconceptions about preparing for and attending college

S ELECTING A COLLEGE : WHERE TO START ? Develop criteria Your ideal school? Size, location, majors, types of students… Gather information guidebooks web/internet searches Counselors, teachers, professionals, friends, family

P RIVATE C OLLEGES 50+ in Ohio, over 130,000 students Diversity of schools: liberal arts, nursing, professional schools (CCAD) Small classes taught by professors Opportunities for research, leadership, internships Strong graduation rates Tuition ranges $8,400 - $40,240 Financial aid/scholarships

P UBLIC C OLLEGES 13 in Ohio with 27 regional campuses Range in size from 2,000 to 42,000 Wide variety of academic major options Opportunities for research, leadership, internships Tuition ranges $2,600 - $11,400 Merit and Need-based Financial Aid

R ESEARCHING COLLEGES Over 3200 colleges nationwide, how to find a good match College handbooks and guides Websites College catalogs and viewbooks Colleges visiting your high school High school counselor On campus visits Suburban multicultural college fair in April Suburban college fair in September

R ESEARCHING COLLEGES Important considerations Admission policy Majors and course offerings Support and success services Campus life and housing Location and size Private or public Religious affiliation Physical facilities Cost

R ESEARCHING COLLEGES Favorite college search sites Select “find a college” Select “counselor-o-matic”

Plan ahead for a visit (spring of junior year!) Ask the college what they recommend Be certain that classes are in session Information session or formal interview Is the tour a walking tour Ask a lot of questions Prepare a list ahead of time Know the institution Be ready to talk (students, this means you) V ISITING C AMPUSES E FFECTIVELY

Find the experts Students: social life, residence halls, classes, professors Faculty: department strengths, success of graduates, opportunities like internships or research Coaches, band directors, organization advisors: schedule of activities, what kind of competition can you expect, how to prepare for audition or try-outs Admission/Financial Aid Counselors: costs, scholarship opportunities, college stats like retention rates, chances of being admitted, special support services, safety issues –those things that are a concern to you V ISITING C AMPUSES E FFECTIVELY

If you are looking at a residential campus, the student is going to live there, not just go to school Eat the food See a room: classroom/residence hall room Arrange an overnight visit if possible Attend a campus event V ISITING C AMPUSES E FFECTIVELY

Ask interactive questions Describe interactions with your professors? What do you and your friends do for fun? What did you do last weekend? What extra expenses surprised you? How do you get around campus/town? How many times did you go home last term/year?

Apply with care! Gather application materials (paper, web, common app) Know the deadlines Note requirements High school transcript Standardized test scores (ACT, SAT I, SAT II) Essay Recommendations Interviews W HAT COLLEGES LOOK FOR

High School Performance Four year college prep curriculum Performance based on GPA/class rank Grade trends Rigor of curriculum Competitiveness of high school W HAT COLLEGES LOOK FOR

Standardized test scores May help to pinpoint strengths and weaknesses May be used for placement May be used for scholarship cut-offs May not be weighed as heavily if high school record is strong May need to include writing section for ACT May not be required at all W HAT COLLEGES LOOK FOR

Extracurricular activities Never replaces academic preparation and performance Consistent involvement and leadership important Service Consistent involvement Impact on student and/or community May lead to special scholarships Other factors Legacy Diversity Religious affiliation Special talents Interviews

W HAT FACTORS INFLUENCE ADMISSION ? NACAC 2011 admission trend survey High school graduates Number of high school grads peaked in Population expected to decline through and remain below 2009 levels through at least Wide variations by state and region Racial/ethnic composition changing Total college enrollment 2009: approximately 20.4 million students enrolled 2020: enrollment will grow to an estimated 23 million students

W HAT FACTORS INFLUENCE ADMISSION ? Local admission trends Students apply earlier Early decision (binding) Early action (non-binding) Single choice early action (hybrid) Students apply more often Impact on decision Surprise by increasing selectivity Different for current students than siblings and parents Increasing use of technology Makes exploration easier but can be overwhelming

Fiction: Getting into college is the hardest part Fact: For most students, completing college is the hardest part Fiction: My senior year does not matter Fact: Senior classes determine which classes you may take and how well prepared you are for those classes S TUDENT M ISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT P REPARING FOR AND A TTENDING C OLLEGE

Fiction: It’s better to take easier classes in high school and get better grades Fact: One of the best predictors of college success is taking rigorous courses Fiction: I can take whatever classes I want when I get to college Fact: Most colleges require entering students to take placement exams in core subject areas S TUDENT M ISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT P REPARING FOR AND A TTENDING C OLLEGE