2. What college is for me? Questions you should ask…  Size of the Student Body  Academic attention – do I need more one-on-one time and smaller class sizes?  Location  Close to home? Specific City? College town or large metro area?  Academic Programs  Special programs; balanced  Campus Life  What extracurricular activities, athletics, and special interest groups are available?  Are students welcomed by the community?  Cost  Tuition Rates? In-state vs. out of state?  Scholarships available?  Diversity  geographic, ethnic, racial, and religious diversity  Retention and Graduation Rates  How many students enroll every year and how many actually end up staying and graduating?

3. Cristo Rey Network Partners  The Cristo Rey Network partners with colleges and universities across the country. These partners have shown their dedication to graduates of 28 Cristo Rey Network schools nationwide by offering various levels of support, ranging from admission consideration to scholarship aid to special oversight once students have matriculated.  Some colleges offer mentor programs and some host summer programs specifically for Cristo Rey students so that students can experience campus life as they are considering the best fit college or university.  Schools appreciate the values and skills built through a Cristo Rey education and find Cristo Rey graduates to be especially determined and resilient.

4. Cristo Rey Network Partners 24 National University Partners: Benedictine College (2012) The Catholic University of America (2011) College of the Holy Cross (2009) College of Saint Benedict (2009) DePaul University (2009) Franklin & Marshall College (2011) Georgetown University (2009) John Carroll University (2011) Loyola Marymount University (2010) Loyola University Chicago (2009) Loyola University Maryland (2011) Marquette University (2011) Mount Saint Joseph University (2013) Saint John’s University (2009) Saint Joseph’s University (2011) Saint Mary's College (2009) Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota (2011) Southern Illinois University – Carbondale (2011) St. Thomas University (2009) University of Dayton (2011) University of Notre Dame (2012) University of Missouri – School of Medicine (2011) Villanova University (2010) Xavier University (2010)

5. Cristo Rey Network Partners 22 Supporting University Partners: Boston College (2012) Creighton University (2009) Connecticut College (2011) Dominican University (2009) Fairfield University (2009) Fordham University (2009) Loras College (2012) Providence College (2011) Regis University (2011) Rockhurst University (2010) Saint Louis University (2011) Saint Peter's College (2009) Santa Clara University (2009) Seattle University (2011) Stevenson University (2011) Stonehill College (2011) Trinity Washington University (2012) University of Saint Mary (2009) University of San Francisco (2009) University of Scranton (2011) University of St. Francis (2011) Wesleyan University (2009)

6. Types of Colleges Liberal Arts Colleges  Offers a wide range of courses and majors. Classes tend to be small and personal attention is available. Offers a bachelor’s degree. Universities  Bigger than a college and offers more majors and research facilities. Offers a bachelor’s degree. Community or Junior Colleges  Offer a degree after the completion of two years of full-time study. Prepare you for immediate entry into the job market. Agricultural, Technical, and Specialized Colleges  Preparation for specific careers. Examples include Art/Music, Bible, Business, Health Science, Seminary/Rabbinical, and Teaching. Some of the time, these are for-profit colleges.

7. Types of Colleges In-State vs. Out-of-State  In-State colleges are ones located in the state you live.  In-State public colleges offer less expensive tuition rates for residents of that state.  Colleges require you to prove residency – showing that you have lived in that state for a certain amount of time before you can receive the in-state discount on tuition.  Out-of-State tuition can be extremely expensive without the help of scholarships and financial aid.  Sometimes the tuition of a smaller, well-established private college can actually end up costing less than the tuition at a larger public university of it is out-of-state.

8. Types of Colleges Public vs. Private  Public colleges are usually less expensive, particularly for in-state residents. They get most of their money from the state or local government.  Public colleges are typically larger in size and often include larger universities.  Private colleges rely on tuition, fees, endowments, and other private sources of funding  Private colleges are usually smaller and can offer more personalized attention (and some believe, more prestige).  Private colleges often include more liberal arts colleges and fine art/design/film/etc. schools.

9. Types of Colleges  Some private schools are For Profit, meaning they receive no government funding, and the profits from student tuition does not go back to help serve the students.  The for-profit university system is criticized for misleading students  These colleges are often not accredited and credits can sometimes not be transferred if you decide the school is not for you  Examples: Full Sail University, The Art Institutes International, University of Phoenix, DeVry

10. Types of Colleges  Special Interests – Some colleges align themselves with certain affiliations such as:  Single-Sex (Barnard College, Stephens College)  Religiously Affiliated Colleges (University of St. Mary, Rockhurst)  Historically Black Colleges (Xavier, Lincoln University)  Hispanic-Serving Institutes (Donnelly College, University of California Santa Cruz)  A college can have more than one affiliation – For example, Spelman College in Atlanta is a Historically Black Women’s institution.

11. What college is for me? The Big School: Pros & Cons ProsCons Wide variety of majors and courses Well-stocked libraries and online resources Variety of housing opportunities Well-funded sports programs Wide range of academic and social opportunities Distinguished or famous faculty Large class sizes Many courses taught by teaching assistants, not professors Professors focused on their own research and graduate thesis projects—little student-teacher interaction Pressure on students to take initiative; to be go-getters More rules and procedures related to enrolling in and designing course study Potential of getting “lost in the crowd”

12. What college is for me? The Small College: Pros & Cons ProsCons Small class sizes Hands-on learning opportunities Individually-designed majors (more freedom to choose the classes you are interested in) Strong advising system; advisors know students very well Strong sense of community Professors, not graduate students, teach most courses Opportunity to get to know professors well Limited housing options Fewer majors to choose from Fewer physical resources Smaller libraries/online resources Fewer entertainment and social opportunities Less emphasis on sports programs

13. How Do I Get to College?  Wanting to go to college is different than being PREPARED to go!  Why? You get accepted into college primarily based on what you do in the first three years of high school.  You apply to colleges your first semester of Senior year, meaning the transcript and GPA they see when you apply only shows Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior year grades.  You want to make a strong first impression, meaning you should be doing your best now – there are no second chances when it comes to keeping a high GPA.

14. How Do I Get to College? Getting Into College Is More Competitive Than Ever! In order to go to a quality college, there are four areas in which a student should excel: 1. Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) 2. ACT/SAT Score (Taken during the spring of junior year) 3. Extracurricular activities (after school jobs, community service, leadership, involvement in school clubs) 4. Coursework: 4 years of math, science, English, and history; 3 years of a foreign language; AP, honors, and/or Dual Credit classes whenever possible (junior and senior year)

15. How Do I Get to College? The Bottom Line: There is NO time to waste! Waiting until junior or senior year to get serious about school is a MISTAKE!