1. FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE FIT

2. 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

3. 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.

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

5. 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.

6. 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.

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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!

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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

14. Sources of Scholarships
Think outside the box!

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

18. Q&A Session