NAVIGATING THE COLLEGE SEARCH AND APPLICATION PROCESS Alison Hildenbrand Director of Undergraduate Admission Fairfield University

WELCOME TO THE COLLEGE SEARCH

“COLLEGE IS A MATCH TO BE MADE NOT A PRIZE TO BE WON”  College is all about the “fit.” Where do you belong? Where will you be most happy? Happiest students are most successful.  How many schools in the United States? – 3,026  What percentage of Fortune 500 CEO’s graduated from Ivies?  Do NOT choose a school for the name, best friend, family connection, or basketball team.  Relax. Your counselors are professionals. Let them help you craft a list. You need to LOVE all of the schools on your list – from stretch to comfortable choice.

WHAT IS “THE FIT?”  Academic fit : Declared or Undecided?  Academic fit: Liberal Arts with core curriculum vs. open curriculum vs. focused education  Location: “Where do students buy their shoes?”  Size: What excites you? Do you want to be in the presence of researchers or be a researcher?  Religious Affiliation: Do you want to continue with Catholic education?

WHAT IS “THE FIT?”  Financial Fit  Merit Awards  Athletic Awards  Need Based Financial Aid  Private Scholarships  Understand the EFC and Net Price Calculators

VISIT US!  What do you want to learn from a visit?  Tours, Overnights, Classroom Visits, Interviews, Meetings with Professors/Coaches  Far away? Still “visit!”  Try the food!  Make an impression for all the right reasons  Ask questions, and let mom and dad ask questions, too!  What does your gut tell you?  Connect with your area counselor – you’ll see us again!

APPLY  Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Rolling vs. Regular Decision  Don’t succumb to peer pressure.  How many applications should you submit?  Non-traditional applications – FastApp, SnapApp, etc… Understand what they mean.  When you hear that a school is missing something…. DO NOT yell at your counselors!  No matter how you apply, complete the application over the summer.

IT’S IN OUR HANDS, NOW WHAT?  Everything is important! Fill the application out with care.  Academic record: GPA, curriculum, high school, time management skills, grade trends  Essay: Mundane = Good?  Co-curricular involvement  Recommendations  Writing Skills  Demonstrated Interest?  Interview?  Admission “hooks”

MAINTAIN YOUR SANITY  Family time to discuss applications – save your siblings!  The next 18 months are not just about the application process.  Be honest with schools, and ask us questions. There is a lot of misinformation out there!  Schools will tell you honest answers to the questions that you ask.  Advocate for yourself.  Do not tie your identity to one school. Do not compare yourself to others. It’s a human process.

QUESTIONS? Alison Hildenbrand x2957