The overflowing mailbox. There are 3600 colleges and universities in the US. You’re probably getting contacted by all of them. HOW DO YOU CHOOSE?

Your College Search Timeline Junior Year and before: Research Junior/Senior Year: Visit Fall of Senior Year: Apply Senior Year: Get Admitted By May 1 of Senior Year: Choose

What do you want to do when you grow up? The Question! What do you want to do when you grow up?

It’s all about FIT Find the place that will help you grow into the BEST version of yourself

Visiting Campus Get to know us—on our turf

Campus Visits 101 When? Summer? School year? Pre-register! Two types: Individual Open House Ask for local recommendations

Your typical campus visit: Information Session Campus Tour Meal in the cafeteria Coupon for the bookstore Extras: Meet with professor Sit in on class View campus event

Here are a few good questions Are classes taught by professors? What do students do on the weekends? What is the placement rate? How do I find an internship? Can students have cars on campus? Do students graduate in four years? What is the profile of admitted students?

Your College Search Team Admission Counselor YOU High school Counselor Your Family

Building your school set Reach or Stretch Schools Target Schools Foundational Schools

The money question Net Price Calculators FAFSA 4caster Scholarship Searches www.fastweb.com www.scholarships.com www.meritaid.com www.dosomething.org Talk to your school counselor/admission counselor

The Application Process Most schools will need 5 things from you: Your Application (Common Application or School specific application) Official High School Transcript Official SAT/ACT Scores A Counselor/Teacher Letter of Recommendation Your Essay

Your Essay Write about somebout that makes YOU, YOU! Be unapologetically passionate about your interests. How will this school get you to where you want to go? Tell me your story!

Scholarships Every school will have different deadlines Be on the lookout for Competitive Scholarship Deadlines! Competitive Scholarships tend to require an additional application Make a list of the Schools Competitive Deadlines so you can keep track of each schools deadline

FAFSA Register for a FSA ID: www.fsaid.ed.gov For dependent students at least one parent must file for an FSA ID File the FAFSA as soon as possible after October 1st prior to the year of enrollment at www.fafsa.ed.gov A Student Aid Report (SAR) will be emailed to the filer to be reviewed for accuracy and if needed, correct on-line File any other financial aid documents requested by your colleges (i.e. verification documents, EC, MPN)

The First Year Experience It is okay to change your major  Join 3 Clubs/Organizations your first year Get to know your professors-they want to see you succeed inside and outside of the classroom Always remember, you have support and love that will travel with you wherever your life takes you

Today you are you. That is truer than true Today you are you. That is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You! --Dr. Seuss

Questions? Comments? Kaitlin McGeeney mcgeeneyk@xavier.edu Admission Counselor Xavier University mcgeeneyk@xavier.edu 513-745-2948