1. Navigating the College Selection Process Lakeville North High School October 5th, 2015

2. Post Secondary Education Types of degrees awarded Certificate Programs Associate’s Degree Bachelor’s Degree Master’s Degree Doctoral Degree

3. Kinds of Schools Technical Colleges Community Colleges Colleges Universities Military Academies Proprietary Schools

4. College Selectivity Open Admissions Colleges Selective Colleges Highly Selective Colleges

5. College Selectivity Open Admission Colleges Accept virtually all applicants who have a high school diploma or it’s equivalent. ACT scores generally range from 16-22.

6. College Selectivity Selective Colleges Offer admission to all or most applicants who meet minimum admission requirements. ACT scores generally range between 20 and 26.

7. College Selectivity Highly Selective Colleges On average these colleges admit less than 60% of their applicants. ACT scores are usually above 24.

8. Evaluate Yourself What do you really like to do? How do you learn best? What have you been involved in?

9. Evaluate Yourself What are your strongest and weakest subjects? What is your high school rank? Have you taken a college prep class schedule?

10. Evaluate Yourself What “kind” of college would you like to attend? How well did you do on College Admission Tests?

11. Evaluate Yourself The Ultimate Questions Do your expectations and preparation match? I don’t know what I want to do? Where can you be most successful?

12. How do colleges differ? “Kind” of school Majors and Programs Location Size Cost

13. How do colleges differ? Financial Assistance programs College Affiliation College Accreditation Reputation Placement statistics

14. Sources of Information Catalogs, viewbooks Admission representatives Currently enrolled students Alumni High School Counselors/Teachers

15. Sources of Information Radio/Television College Guides Search mailings Newspaper articles World Wide Web Blogs and Chats IM, Facebook, Twitter

16. How do I decide? Checklist/What’s important to you? Gather information Weigh the differences Contact Admission Offices Visit Campus

17. The Campus Visit Things to do Picture yourself as a student Eat the food Talk to current students Participate in campus events

18. The Campus Visit Things to do Take a campus tour (Million dollar tour) Talk to faculty members Visit the academic department Sit in on a class

19. The Campus Visit Things to do Determine the actual costs Visit with admission counselor Verify admission requirements Evaluate your chances of success

20. The Campus Visit What should I evaluate? Selectivity of the school Chances of admission Location information Rural, suburban, urban Opportunities

21. The Campus Visit What should I evaluate? Study abroad programs Internships Graduate school opportunities Placement information Weekends

22. The Campus Visit What should I evaluate? Student body makeup Sports/Intramural facilities Library Athletic programs Honors programs

23. The Campus Visit What should I evaluate? Faculty Computer facilities Special talents/programs

24. College Prep Curriculum Minimum List of High School Classes to take English4 years Mathematics3 years Science3 years Social Science3 years Foreign Language2 years

25. College Prep Curriculum Additional classes to take Any additional math, science, or social science classes you can get Fine Arts IB - AP - Honors classes Post-Secondary options classes Will these credits transfer?

26. Applying for Admission Check your high school courses College prep curriculum Additional courses beyond requirements Take Admission Tests Send “official” results ACT / PACT SAT / PSAT AP / CLEP

27. Applying for Admission Know about deadlines General deadline Specific program deadline Complete application form Double check for completeness Make sure you sign the application Send required materials Follow up

28. Admission Decisions How are they made? Academic performance in high school Grade point average Rank in class Course distribution / Rigor Test Scores ACT SAT PSAT/NMSQT

29. Admission Decisions How are they made? High school courses Interview Admission Officer Alumni Student References Who will write your recommendations?

30. Admission Decisions How are they made? Personal Qualifications Skills Motivation Leadership Essays and Applicant Statements Proofread, Proofread, Proofread

31. Navigating the College Selection Process Let’s take a short break

32. College Costs 2015 costs for one year (MN Resident)

33. College Costs Additional costs to consider Books and supplies Spending Money Additional fees Athletic events Computers Internet/Cable/Laundry Transportation

34. Financial Assistance Types of assistance available Pell Grants College Work Study Institutional Aid Loans - Public vs. Private

35. Financial Assistance Application procedures Fill out the FAFSA form Release data to the schools you are considering Apply early (Before mid March) Tax returns may be required

36. Financial Assistance Application procedures Release the data to colleges Check on your status Provide documents Accept or refuse offer

37. College Planning Timeline Sophomore Year Enroll in college preparatory classes Evaluate yourself

38. College Planning Timeline Fall of Junior Year Consider reasons for attending college What type of education would you like Attend College Fair Begin campus visits PSAT test

39. College Planning Timeline Winter of Junior Year Collect information Review your high school courses Continue visits to campuses

40. College Planning Timeline Spring of Junior Year Take ACT Test February April June Begin comparison process Continue Visits

41. College Planning Timeline Fall of Senior Year Apply to 2 or 3 colleges Ultimate Choice Make housing plans Schedule “intensive” visit to the schools you have applied to

42. College Planning Timeline Winter of Senior Year Apply for Financial Assistance Confirm housing plans Check on placement testing requirements Scholarship applications

43. College Planning Timeline Spring of Senior Year Reciprocity forms Registration procedures

44. Navigating the College Selection Process You be the Admissions Officer!!!

45. You Decide!! Case #1 White male from IL public school 2.68 GPA 208/358 58% Test scores: ACT = 26 SAT = 1160 Interview comments: “He’s a bright kid. He probably could be successful here, but he’s screwed around a lot in school.

46. You Decide!! Case #2 White female from CO public school 2.5 GPA overall but 3.6 in SR year Test scores ACT = 19 SAT = 710 Comments: Submitted a short story and good essay on her Outward Bound experiences.

47. You Decide!! Case #3 Hispanic female from ME public school GPA: B average Rank: 27/69 39% Test Scores: SAT 710 Comments: Spanish spoken at home: she’s concerned about financial aid: Interested in this college because it has students from 47 states and 40 countries

48. You Decide!! Case #4 White female from AL boarding school GPA: 2.0 A’s in French and Music but D’s in math Test Scores: ACT 28 SAT 1220 Comments: “She can probably make it, but she really hasn’t gotten it together until this year.

49. How to Choose a College Tough Questions

50. What should I Do? Case #1 John is a HS junior interested in computer science. He has one year of foreign language and is trying to decide whether to take another year of language or take a computer programming class. He has room for only one more class.

51. What should I do? Case #2 Julie is a JR selecting her SR classes. She currently has 2 yrs of mathematics. She is interested in architecture. Should she take drafting or mathematics? If she takes mathematics, should it be regular track or honors?

52. What should I do? Case #3 Jimmy wants to attend an east/west coast “prestigious” school Mike wants to attend a school in the Midwest. Which college admission test should they take? ACT or SAT

53. What should I do? Case #4 Krista does well in school. She ranks high in her class and has very high test scores. She spends a great deal of time studying and has little time for extra-curricular activities. Should she take a community service class? Should she volunteer as a tutor or worry about keeping her grades up?

54. What should I do? Case #5 Scott is worried about finances for college. He currently has a job after school and has the option to increase his hours and thus make more money. Should he take a seven hour class schedule in school and keep his work hours the same so that he has time to do his homework? Should he take a six hour schedule with a study hall and increase his work hours to save more money for college?

55. What should I do? Case #6 Amy is a SR who has been admitted to “Ideal College” She is having a personality conflict with her English teacher during the last nine weeks of school. Since she is already admitted to “Ideal College” she decides not to turn the final term paper in. Ideal College will never know anyway. Was this a good decision? Why?

56. What should I do? Case #7 Gary has several friends attending “State School”. These friends tell Gary that it’s a good school and he would fit in really well. Gary has spent several weekends on campus with his friends and has a good time whenever he has visited. The school has a “party” reputation which Gary likes. Gary’s parents are concerned about the “quality” of this school.

57. What should I do? Case #7 Gary’s parents feel he should at least visit the campus during the week and talk to some professors, and admissions officer and other staff members on campus. Gary thinks his parents are pressuring him and feels he should be able to make his own decisions. Should the family visit campus?

58. Thank you for attending! Navigating the College Selection Process pedro.renta@uwrf.edu 715-425-3500