Unlocking the College Selection Process Jennifer Williamson Associate Director of Admission Albright College

Does thinking about the College Selection Process make you feel like this?

What’s the Goal? 4, Best Fit

 Visiting Campus  Using Resources  Online  Guidance Counselor  College Fairs Getting Started  Talk as a family  Expectations  Compromises  Self Evaluation 

Searching for the Right Fit!  Academically  Major  Profile  Location  Size  Extracurricular  Feel  Try it on!

Educate Yourself  Terms  Procedures  Understand differences ► SAT/ACT ► FAFSA ► Liberal Arts ► Rolling Admission ► Early Decision ► Early Action ► Common Application ► Need Blind ► Need Aware ► Merit

Summer/Fall Planning for Student  August/September  Narrowing list  Complete Essay/Personal Statement  Begin Applications  Work with Guidance Counselor  Process and strategy  Ask teachers for recommendations  October/November  Complete application (make copies!)  Note school deadlines  Confirm receipt of applications  Request updated grades be sent

Fall Planning for Family  Begin financial aid process  Send in early estimates  Revisit top choices  Search for outside scholarships  Online resources  Fastweb.com  PHEAA  Guidance Office  Affiliations

How To Pay for This Venture?

FAFSA: FREE Application for Federal Student Aid  Subsidized Stafford  Unsubsidized Stafford  Pell Grant  Federal Work Study option  Other federal grant programs

Words of Wisdom  Enjoy the process.  Go with your gut.  You are looking at the wrong school if they are not looking at you.  Don’t rule out a school based on sticker price.  Student centered search  Include the family – talk, compromise, understand

Recommendations and Resources Make copies of everything Be aware of deadlines ASK QUESTIONS - IF YOU DON’T KNOW THE ANSWER, THE QUESTION IS NOT STUPID!!!!

Estimated Cumulative Net Earnings by Education Level (with Loan Repayment for Tuition and Fees deducted) Note: Based on median 2005 earnings for each education level at each age and discounted using a 3 percent annual rate. Earnings for bachelor’s degree recipients include only those with no advanced degree. Assumes tuition and fees are financed with borrowing, and loan payments are made for 10 years after graduation. Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006, PINC-03, PINC-04; The College Board, 2005; calculations by the authors. Source: Baum and Ma, Education Pays 2007, The College Board