1. Less Selective Universities
Don’t have a 4.0 GPA? Discover amazing colleges that won’t have an incredibly selective acceptance rate.

2. What matters in a college?
Academic Fit
Supportive yet challenging, student-faculty ratio, access to resources, tutoring centers, etc.
Social Fit
Clubs, student organizations, Fiske Guide, social media
Financial Fit
Receive financial aid (scholarships/grants, NOT just loans) Hint: Often you can receive more merit aid if you’re the top of the class and not necessarily competing with everyone else!
= A Good FIT for YOU

3. Admissibility How to determine if it is a likely chance of admission?
Admission is oftentimes “holistic” which means the following:
Consider essays, test scores, GPA, class rigor, letters of recommendation, extra-curricular activities, if you’re a good fit for the college and any additional information
You’re looking to find a balanced list of colleges that include colleges you’re “likely” to get into
Check Naviance and the college’s website for recent GPA, ACT/SAT scores and selectivity

4. Let’s Explore!!
University of Alabama: 51% acceptance, campus spirit, large campus, research university, strong programs in business, communication, health professions, engineering, education, art and early childhood education. Honors college.
University of Kansas: Big 12 Athletic conference participant, campus spirit, sense of community, Hollywood Hawks is a group of alumni from Los Angeles to New York in a variety of entertainment fields. Students can connect with film producers, composers and alumni in the visual and performing arts while they are in their undergrad. Architecture students work on actual buildings/projects in the downtown area and on campus, booming downtown area with access to internships. Listed under colleges with fine business programs at a large university, Nationally ranked for grants towards Pharmacy research. Rolling admissions,
University of Nevada Reno: Accepts 80% of students. Sports, large campus, community feel, 45 minutes from Lake Tahoe. Tesla opening new gigafactory plant just outside of Reno, providing internships to local students. Outstanding nursing program. Ranked programs in clinical psychology, environmental engineering, civil engineering, speech pathology, environmental sciences, physics and biology. On campus housing, sports.

5. University of Alabama
University of Kansas
University of Nevada, Reno

6. Linfield College: 1700 students, 12-1 student faculty ratio, residential campus devoted to undergraduate students, easy to participate in research as a freshman, Sustainability act (commitment as a university to implement practices to promote sustainability), 55% study abroad (AND Linfield will cover free round-trip air fare for your study abroad experience!), D3 sports, winning football team! 7 majors, including top programs in Nursing, Business and Sciences
Illinois Institute of Technology: Illinois Institute of Technology is a private, technology-focused research university offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in engineering, science, architecture, business, design, human sciences, applied technology, and law. The cell phone, magnetic recording, tall building architecture, and barcode technology are just a few of the innovations associated with Illinois Tech faculty and alumni.  
Drexel University: Co-Op program

7. Linfield College
Drexel University

8. Rutgers: New Jersey, train ride away from the city
Rutgers: New Jersey, train ride away from the city. BFA in acting and technical theater where students have the opportunity to study abroad in London at the Globe. Want a campus feel with school spirit and still have access to New York? Check out Rutgers!
Butler University: Accepts 69%, ACT. 5,000 students, near Indianapolis, strong liberal arts emphasis with practical learning. Strong in international business and dance. Small classes with no TAs. Strong basketball spirit. Nearly half student body participates in intramurals. Strong early education program. Honors program, more than half live in university-sponsored housing. Strong pharmacy and biology programs.
Colorado State University: 80% acceptance rate, average ACT , turns out more STEM grads than any other Colorado Campus. Traditional college feel with strong community ties and a strong student center. At the foot of the Rocky Mountains, friendly students strong programs in life sciences, graphic design, engineering, veterinary medicine, health/exercise science, human development and business

9. Rutgers University
Colorado State University

10. George Mason University: 15 minutes outside of D. C
George Mason University: 15 minutes outside of D.C., ranked cyber security degree.
Portland State University: Urban campus in the heart of Portland
University of Redlands: 74% acceptance rate, Redlands, California. Living/learning college and strong pre professional emphasis, students can receive personal attention and a great financial aid package. Opportunity to create your own course of study. Friendly, welcoming and open students.
University of Massachusetts Amherst: 22,000 students, accepts 61%, SAT Reading , Math , strong study abroad programs, strong sciences and engineering, diverse campus with plenty of majors to explore.

11. Portland State University
George Mason University
University of Redlands

12. Santa Clara University: in the heart of the Silicon Valley
Santa Clara University: in the heart of the Silicon Valley! Smaller – medium size school = strong access to faculty, ranked business and engineering program
Arizona State University: Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, small polytechnic campus (hands-on robotics, engineering, computer science, aeronautical studies) honors college, degree-search (flexibility to explore/change majors)
Gonzaga University: 6,500 students, Spokane, Washington, 67% acceptance, no TAs or Graduate assistants teach classes, take core curriculum in addition to your major, residential campus, school of business, education, engineering and applied science, nursing and human physiology. School spirit on a smaller campus.

13. Arizona State University
Gonzaga
Santa Clara University

14. Northern Arizona University
Cal Poly Pomona

15. Remember
These are a FEW examples of the many colleges around the country and the world. Keep an open mind and take the time to explore!
Add your colleges to the “colleges I’m thinking about” list in Naviance
Come to college rep visits in the Fall and our College Connections Fair on October 3, 2017