FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE FIT

YOU HAVE OVER 4,000 COLLEGE OPTIONS IN THE U. S YOU HAVE OVER 4,000 COLLEGE OPTIONS IN THE U.S. ALONE – 13,000+ WITH INTERNATIONAL

Choosing the Right College for You There’s no magic formula for choosing a college, but there are factors to consider on your journey to finding the right college fit for YOU.

Some Questions to Consider Major? Level of degree? Costs? Distance from home? Location? Size of school? Extracurriculars and other activities? Public or private?

MAJORS Decided or undecided Career opportunities for intended degree program If undecided, questions to ask yourself: What are my favorite school subjects? What do I like doing when I’m not in class? Do I want to take classes in many different subjects or focus mainly on one subject? What do I want to do after college and which majors can help me get there? College is a time to explore. Except in a few specific cases, you can choose a major in your sophomore year and still complete your degree in four years. Don’t feel like you must know what you will be majoring in before you start college. You need to have an idea of a direction, or even a few directions, you may take, but don’t feel like you need to commit to a specific major. If you know, great! If not, use that freshmen year as a time of exploration and discovery. If you are undecided, it’s probably best that you select a college that offers a wide range of majors.

COST Published price versus actual cost Scholarship eligibility Net Cost Calculator will provide a ball-park estimate prior to final offers Scholarship eligibility Financial aid availability Never rule out a school that you are interested in based on its published price. Many times, with financial aid and scholarships, your actual out-of-pocket cost will be much less than the price listed on the school’s website or in their guide. You may not know what the actual cost will be until the spring of your senior year, but you can use the Net Cost Calculator, which is available on each school’s website, to get a good initial estimate based on your family’s financial situation and your GPA and test scores.

LOCATION Familiar setting or new experience In-state or out-of-state Big city amenities or more rural

CAMPUS SETTING Large student body or smaller community Residential versus commuter campus More diverse student population or more homogeneous Known for sports/activism/academic focus

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT Small group discussions or lecture setting Level of interaction with professors Balance between academics and social life Flexibility with class schedules or more structured curriculum

BUILDING YOUR LIST Go to college fairs Attend college visits at your high school Talk to family Get advice from high school counselors/post-grad coordinators Explore online Naviance Family Connection College Confidential College websites College Board Visit campuses Keep an open mind when building your list!

Applying to College: FAQs When should I start applying? How many colleges should I apply to? What is the Common App? The Coalition App? Should I apply to colleges if my grades and test scores are below a school’s preferred ranges? Should I apply to colleges that may appear out of my family’s price range? BULLETPOINT #1: There are not only application deadlines, but deadlines for scholarships, housing, financial aid, Honors programs, etc. you need to be aware of. The sooner you apply in your senior year the better to accommodate all deadlines. Familiarize yourself with the terms Early Action, Early Decision, Rolling Admissions, and Regular Admissions. BULLETPOINT #2: How many colleges should you apply to? It depends. Three to five is the general rule of thumb but it will depend on the selectivity of the colleges you’re considering and your qualifications relative to the schools’ admission requirements. BULLETPOINT #3: What is the Common App? The Common App is now used by more than 600 colleges and universities, including some international schools. There is no need to repeat your applicant details for every college on your list. Enter your information one time and share it across all of your schools. > 8 schools in Colorado including CU, CSU, University of Denver and Colorado College use the Common App. BULLETPOINT #4: Should you apply to colleges if your grades and test scores are below a school’s preferred ranges? Yes. Typically, the scores and grades colleges show on their websites are averages or ranges – not absolute cutoffs. BULLETPOINT #5: Going back to the cost discussion, should you apply to colleges that at first glance appear to be out of your price range? Yes. You won’t know if you can afford a particular college until after you apply and find out how much aid a college will offer you.

Anatomy of a College Application Application Forms Application Fees High School Transcript ACT or SAT Test Scores Letters of Recommendation Essays Auditions and Portfolios Interviews The pieces of a college application add up to give admissions officers an idea of who you are. Not every college requires every one of these elements, but there will be some combination required. Application fees generally range from $35-$75 depending on the college. Fees are non-refundable and fee waivers may be available if you qualify. ACT or SAT Scores: Most schools will require one of these tests, although some schools are now test-optional. Codes are assigned to each college by the testing organization. Make sure you use the correct code. And many schools will require the writing section. Letters of Recommendation: Solicit these from the people who are going to write the best recommendations for you. Make sure you provide them adequate time to write and mail them in, provide them a resume of your involvement, activities and awards, and be sure to follow-up with thank you notes. Essays: Many schools will require you submit an essay and the Common App includes an essay prompt. You may be given a specific topic or list of topics or it may be more open-ended. This is how a school gets to know you beyond your grades and test scores. It’s best to avoid the 3-Ds (death, divorce or disease) but if one of these have been a defining experience that can set you apart from other applicants, you can still write about it. PROOFREAD!!! Auditions and Portfolios Interviews

Estimating Your College Costs Five main categories of expenses Tuition and Fees Room and Board Books and Supplies Personal Expenses Transportation Net Price Calculator Provides early estimate on cost of attendance

Sources of Scholarships Think outside the box!

Scholarship Resources University guides or websites Scholarship search sites Scholarships.com, Collegeboard.com, Unigo.com, Raise.me, Finaid.org, Scholarships for Students with Health Conditions, DoSomething.org plus many more! Scholarship databases Naviance, High school counselors and Post-grad coordinators Community Organizations/Employers/Churches

What Should I Be Doing Now? Take the ACT and/or SAT Discuss senior year class schedule with counselor Attend college fairs and HS visits Visit your top college picks Keep updating your resume Consider who will write your letters of recommendation Take advantage of summer academic programs Get organized Senior year attendance, grades and leadership still count! Research scholarships

AND FINALLY…. You are NOT in this alone! College admission representatives, high school counselors, administration and teachers are available to help. Just ask….we’re here to help you navigate the college selection and application process and provide you with the information you need to make the right decision for your future.

Q&A Session