Anxiety 101: A Short Course in College Admission Presented by Campus Planning Inc.

College Selection Is the school with the lower sticker price the least expensive to attend? You may be surprised! Three questions a family should resolve before choosing possible colleges and universities! Is the bigger school, the better school for my child to attend? Is older school, the better school for my child to attend? (i.e. the Ivies)

College Selection Is bigger better? n Large University – you will have many more course options n Small College – the majority offer free tutorial help – – will have more student diversity – – will attend a school that is better known … usually have Division I athletics – – will have very large classes, particularly in the freshman or sophomore year – will have a much better will have a much better will have a much better chance of being involved chance of being involved in campus activities in campus activities – will not need to be assertive to get assertive to get individual attention individual attention – will have much better odds of graduating in odds of graduating in four years four years – will have smaller classes – will, many times, be more generous with financial aid

College Selection Should the student commute or live on campus? n If you commute, you will: –need a car … unless you ride the bus n If you live on campus, you will; – – have your parents around to help you make decisions – – have your remaining friends around … those you will begin to have less in common with – – have a nicer room … perhaps one that is cleaner – – lower your family’s college expenses – be making your own be making your own be making your own decisions decisions – be making new friends –be able to be involved in more campus activities – be able to be involved in more campus activities – learn to wash your own clothes own clothes – – learn more

Types of Colleges and Universities n open door n exact criteria (head to head competition) n selective (student is judged against an “ideal set of academic/personal achievements”)

College Selection The greatest danger is not that our hopes are too high and we never reach them but, that our hopes are too low and we do!

College Selection In other words: If you haven’t been denied admission by at least one school, you haven’t been assertive enough with your selections!

Elite College Admission Criteria n geographical distribution n lineage (Did a parent attend this institution?) n special talent (music, athletic, etc.,) n minority The average SAT scores of denied students, applying to elite colleges or universities, are higher than the average SAT scores of the admitted students. The best applicants do not necessarily gain admission to such institutions. Campus Planning assists the student in increasing his or her odds of gaining admission to such schools.

Does an elite college education raise the quality of life of its graduates? n Lifetime success of elite university graduates is due as much to the characteristics that got the student into that school as to anything that happened to the student while the student was enrolled there.

The College Admission Essay Types of Questions n Tell us about yourself. n Write about some of your interests. n Why do you want to attend this college? n Use your creativity and/or imagination.

The College Admission Essay How Campus Planning can help! n We help your child begin the process by as assisting him or her in selecting a topic. n We critique and help refine the college admission essay in order to maximize the student’s chances of gaining admission. Elite colleges use the essay, many times, to to separate and select quality students for admission.

What a college visit may not tell you. Remember, colleges have been answering questions much longer than you, the parents, have been asking them.

1. The deception of statistics. n College statement: Our average class size is 25 or our student to faculty ratio is 12 to 1. n You should ask: What is the size of the three largest classes my child will be taking?

2. Glossing over your child’s opportunities for academic success. n College statement: We help our students succeed academically. n You should ask: Do you offer free tutorial help? If so, how easy is the help to get?

3. We make your education affordable. n You should ask: Do you attempt to meet 100% of our demonstrated financial need? Do you offer merit scholarships that are not based on financial need? n Campus Planning uses our Financial Aid Comparison Program to answer this question once you receive all your financial aid awards in March or April.

4. Our campus is safe. n Yes, college students are safer than the average person in our society. n Notice: Is the school located in a city or a rural area? n If concerned, request a copy of the school’s security report. (Federal Law)

5. What is your admission criteria? n Descending order of criteria importance: -Academic Record -Letter of Rec./Essay -SAT/ACT Scores -Extracurricular Activities n Do not apply to more than two elite schools … you will need some certain “admits.”

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