COLLEGE KNOWLEDGE: Colleges Qualities and College Visits Class #5 3/8/2013

 Prepare for and take the ACT (April 23, possibly April 13 and June 8.) Consider taking the SAT and SAT Subject Tests (May 4 and June 1).  Develop your list of schools and think about what's important to you.  Plan and make college visits.  Make sure you are meeting any special requirements (e.g. NCAA, etc.).

 Prepare a challenging schedule for senior year.  Learn the basics about financial aid and ways to pay for your education.  Stay involved with extracurricular activities.  Apply for a summer program, internship and/or job.  AHS College Boot Camp June 7.

Most students consider size, location, academic environment, academic programs/majors available, student life, extracurriculars, and cost and financial aid. Think about what you absolutely must have: (e.g.) a strong biology program, small classes, “big” sports, etc. Adapted from:

College Qualities to Consider and Research:  Size  Location  Academic Environment  Academic Programs/Majors available  Student Life Religion Ethnicity Student Body Characteristics Coeducation or Single Sex Extracurricular Activities (including athletics)  Admission Difficulty  Cost/Availability of Financial Aid Adapted from: Dr. Steven R. Antonoff, Qualities That Will Make A College Right For You

Characteristics of Small Colleges/Universities:  Classes tend to be smaller, provide more interaction with professors, discussion based  Teaching is usually the top priority of faculty, and most classes are taught by professors  Students often experience a great sense of community  Students often participate in a range of extracurricular activities (“don’t have to be a superstar to get involved”) Tendency: “Significant fish, small pond”

Characteristics of Large Colleges/Universities:  Great range and variety of courses and majors offered; may offer more pre-professional majors (e.g. engineering, business, physical therapy, architecture, etc.) ; more lecture based classes  Greater anonymity  Research is often the top priority of faculty, and classes may be taught by graduate students  Students may find more activities from which to choose  More likely to have nationally known and popular sports teams Tendency: “Smaller fish, bigger pond”

Be Cautious of Overgeneralizations and False Assumptions! Smaller colleges can be as diverse, fun, and interesting as larger universities Large universities may provide personal attention and strong academic advising

How important is location? Is it the most important factor? A relatively low priority? Something in between? Do you want to attend college close to home? Are you considering a specific geographic region or regions? Do you prefer certain types of climates? Would you like to attend college in or close to a city (for internship, cultural opportunities, perhaps) or would you prefer a suburban location, small town, or rural location? Other location preferences: close to outdoor activities (skiing, hiking, golfing, surfing, etc.)?

The academic environment of a college includes your priority on academics, the amount of academic pressure you desire, and the learning resources that you need/desire. How much academic challenge do you desire (rigorous academics or a comfortable balance of academic/social life)? How do you respond to academic pressure and a demanding workload? Do you prefer a collaborative or competitive academic environment? Do you have special academic needs or desires (tutors, academic resource centers, etc.)? Adapted from: Steven Antonoff, Qualities That Will Make A College Right For You

Most high school students do not know what their ultimate career(s) will be. Some, however, already have a career goal in mind. Liberal arts and sciences includes humanities (English, languages, philosophy, music, art, etc.), social sciences (psychology, history, political science, etc.), and the “hard” sciences (biology, chemistry, mathematics, geology, etc.). Career oriented colleges (often within the context of a larger university) offer classes that directly lead to careers in fields such as engineering, business, physical therapy, architecture, etc. upon completion of an undergraduate degree. Your list of prospective colleges should consider your goal for a more general education (liberal arts/sciences) or a career oriented undergraduate education. Adapted from: Steven Antonoff, Qualities That Will Make A College Right For You

Consider the importance of the following for you:  Most students live on campus  Lots of spectator sports / very spirited student body  Lots of students participate in intramural sports  Availability of fraternities and sororities  Lots of weekend activities  A safe campus  A beautiful campus  Good food  Availability of leadership opportunities  Nice residence halls / living spaces  Sense of community  Students “don’t feel like a number”  Community service opportunities  Specialized programs for women/gay/multicultural students Adapted from: Dr. Steven R. Antonoff, Qualities That Will Make A College Right For You

Religion: Is religious life an important factor? Do you want to attend a college in which many students share your religion? Ethnicity: Do you want to attend a college where many students share your racial/ethnic heritage? Student Body Characteristics: Are there any particular characteristics (e.g. diverse, liberal, conservative, traditional, alternative, scholarly, spirited, etc.) that you would like to find in your future classmates? Coeducation or Single Sex: Coed / Women / Men Extracurricular Activities (including athletics): Are there any specific “must have” activities that you are looking for in your college experience? Adapted from: Steven Antonoff, Qualities That Will Make A College Right For You

It’s never too early to begin thinking about how you (and, possibly, your family) will pay for college. “Many students, however, make too many assumptions about cost too early in the process of choosing a college.”* We will discuss financial aid and paying for college in greater depth later in the Discovery: College course; however, at this point, you should know (or find out) whether cost will be a major factor in choosing a college. *Steven Antonoff, Qualities That Will Make A College Right For You

Think about the level of admissions difficulty you desire and the category of admissions difficulty that “fits” you. Many colleges and universities admit the majority of students who apply for admission. The most selective colleges admit less than 10% of students who apply. The most important factors in admission, according to colleges, include: GPA, strength of curriculum and ACT/SAT scores.* Of course, your extracurricular activities, letters of rec., essays, etc. will also be considered. From NACAC, 2011 State of College Admission

Which college qualities are most important to you? Why? How does your self-knowledge help you to identify college qualities that are important to you? Are there other college qualities that are important to you that we haven’t mentioned? What are they? Why are they important to you?

 Complete College Qualities That Are Important to Me (the Antonoff survey)  Research colleges that you may wish to explore (Naviance)  Construct a list of 10 colleges that interest you.

Review general questions that you might ask an admissions officer: College Checklist 5 fabulous Questions to Ask a College Develop specific questions that are related to the things that you most want and/or need to know about your prospective college experience. Develop questions that are related to a particular college of interest.

 Consider taking a college trip during  Spring Break  Ex. Ed. Week  Family trips  Sports or other extracurricular activities  Summer Break (late August is best)

“Every college visit should have at least two dimensions, formal and informal.” To cover both dimensions and to make sure you’re able to see everything you’d like to, don't forget to call or go online to the college ahead of time and schedule your visit! Janet Schneider, director of college counseling at the University School of Nashville (TN).

 Visit colleges that most interest you and those where you are likely to be admitted. Create a College Visit List that includes a balance of “very likely,” “probable,” and “reach” schools.  Try to visit when schools are in session.  Check the website of each college you plan to visit for tours, information sessions, interview availability, etc. Register for information sessions and tours, if required.  If you plan to play a varsity sport, try to arrange a visit with the coach.  Don’t schedule more than two college visits on any one day.  Get directions for each destination, and plan to arrive on campus early. Download campus maps from the colleges’ websites.

FORMAL DIMENSIONS  Take a campus tour  Participate in a group information session  Sit in on a class (or two!)  Talk to a professor (or two) in your chosen major(s)  Talk to a coach in your chosen sport (if you hope to play)  Talk to a student or counselor in the career center  Spend the night in the dorm with a current student

 Wander around the campus by yourself.  Read the student newspaper.  Find other student publications—department newsletters, alternative newspapers, literary reviews.  Eat in the student dining hall.  Ask students what they like and dislike about the college.  Read the bulletin boards in the student union and in the academic department you're interested in.  Browse in the campus bookstore.

EXPLORE COLLEGES ON THE WEB Naviance Big Future: is an excellent resource for finding colleges, exploring careers, and learning the details about many colleges and universities. Colleges' Websites: Each college's website provides current information regarding student life, admission policies, testing requirements, scholarship and financial aid, etc. The easiest way to find a college's website is to Google the college name and/or link through Naviance or Big Future. Inside College : This website provides college lists of all kinds. Search on anything from prospective majors to most beautiful campuses to college fight songs. College Prowler : This link provides subjective reviews of colleges from the perspective of the students who attend: Unigo: This website provides information that helps students find, get in, and pay for college.

Send a Thank You to those with whom you spoke Record your impressions of the colleges that you explored (Use NACAC College Fair Checklist form in Discovery: College – Class 5 folder) Record admissions officers’ answers to your questions

What is your College Knowledge “take away” today?