The 10 Or So Things I Wish I Knew About Researching, Thinking About, and Deciding on College!!

The 10 (or so) Things I Wish I Knew About Researching, Thinking About, & Deciding On College!!!

WHY ARE WE HERE TODAY?

Differences Between College and High School

Differences Between College and High School High School • Highly structured environment • Signiﬁcant learning and work inside of Class • Student is a “minor,” the parent is responsible • Grades might reﬂect effort • Curriculum is uniform • Teachers will work to ensure all students success • School must keep student even if failing

Differences Between College and High School

Differences Between College and High School College • Student is considered to be an adult • More flexible curriculum and class schedule • Significant learning and studying outside of class • Grades reflect performance • Student must seek resources and assistance • School will dismiss students for failing to meet minimum expectations

Choosing The Right College For You

Choosing The Right College For You The top 100 schools Public vs. Private Small Medium Large Huge < 5,000 5,000-15,000 15, 000 + 30,000 + Location, Location, Location commuter vs. residential college urban vs. suburban vs. Rural how far will you go?? 2-4 hrs 6-8 hrs 10 hrs + Speciﬁc Interest Schools: Single-sex, Military, Religious, Distance Learning, Liberal Arts By Discipline: Engineering/ Computer Science, Music, Education, Business, Fashion, Art, College vs. University

Choosing The Right College For You The Investigation and Interrogation Process

Choosing The Right College For You The Investigation and Interrogation Process Rankings are a good start but also… Go to the school’s website: including their college catalog, student handbook, student activities/organizations office, athletics, academic departments Visit Facebook groups & other related sites: not all of these sites are valid, but you can get some different perspectives. (i.e.- www.studentsreview.com, www.collegeboard.com, www.act.org) Visit the campus on a regular day: eat in the dining hall, sit in on a class, walk through the dorms, buildings, and campus Talk with faculty/students/staff: contact a student leader or dept. chair or dean or someone in “Student Affairs” Separate fact from ﬁction: campus AND local crime statistics, student newspaper, annual report

The ‘Personality’ of the School

The ‘Personality’ of the School Mission Vision Philosophy Tag Line/Motto Tradition Atmosphere College vs. University

Rugg’s Recommendations Campus Diversity 1. Pine Manor College (MA) 2. Whittier College (CA) 3. Marymount Manhattan Col (NY) 4. Occidental (CA) 5. Wellesley College (MA) 8

Rugg’s Recommendations Non-Ivy Medical School Placements Abilene Christian (TX) Allegheny (PA) American (DC) Bryn Mawr (PA) DePaul (IL) Gettysburg (PA) Holy Cross (MA) 9

Rugg’s Recommendations “Snob” Colleges Amherst Brown Colgate Duke Georgetown Johns Hopkins Notre Dame 10

Let’s Play Guess the School

Let’s Play Guess the School ‘invent the future’ (VT, UNLV, USC)

Let’s Play Guess the School ‘invent the future’ (VT, UNLV, USC) ‘----- an augustine university’ (Nova)

Let’s Play Guess the School ‘invent the future’ (VT, UNLV, USC) ‘----- an augustine university’ (Nova) ‘no where else but --------’ (notre dame)

Let’s Play Guess the School ‘invent the future’ (VT, UNLV, USC) ‘----- an augustine university’ (Nova) ‘knowledge without boundaries’ (UPenn) ‘no where else but --------’ (notre dame)

Let’s Play Guess the School ‘invent the future’ (VT, UNLV, USC) ‘----- an augustine university’ (Nova) ‘knowledge without boundaries’ (UPenn) ‘no where else but --------’ (notre dame) ‘seize the opportunity’ (Millersville)

Let’s Play Guess the School ‘invent the future’ (VT, UNLV, USC) ‘----- an augustine university’ (Nova) ‘knowledge without boundaries’ (UPenn) ‘expect excellence’ (west chester) ‘no where else but --------’ (notre dame) ‘seize the opportunity’ (Millersville)

Let’s Play Guess the School ‘invent the future’ (VT, UNLV, USC) ‘----- an augustine university’ (Nova) ‘a college-like university’ (Bucknell) ‘knowledge without boundaries’ (UPenn) ‘expect excellence’ (west chester) ‘no where else but --------’ (notre dame) ‘seize the opportunity’ (Millersville)

Let’s Play Guess the School ‘invent the future’ (VT, UNLV, USC) ‘----- an augustine university’ (Nova) ‘a college-like university’ (Bucknell) ‘honor.courage.commitment -----’ (usnavalacademy) ‘knowledge without boundaries’ (UPenn) ‘expect excellence’ (west chester) ‘no where else but --------’ (notre dame) ‘seize the opportunity’ (Millersville)

Let’s Play Guess the School

Let’s Play Guess the School ‘learning together, to change the world’ (hopkins)

Let’s Play Guess the School ‘learning together, to change the world’ (hopkins) ‘for god, for country, and for -----’ (Yale)

Let’s Play Guess the School ‘learning together, to change the world’ (hopkins) ‘for god, for country, and for -----’ (Yale) ‘ever to excel’ (boston college)

Let’s Play Guess the School ‘learning together, to change the world’ (hopkins) ‘leader in education-pioneer in research-partner in regional development’ (Pitt) ‘for god, for country, and for -----’ (Yale) ‘ever to excel’ (boston college)

Let’s Play Guess the School ‘learning together, to change the world’ (hopkins) ‘lead--leaders educated to make a difference‘ - (fsu) ‘leader in education-pioneer in research-partner in regional development’ (Pitt) ‘for god, for country, and for -----’ (Yale) ‘ever to excel’ (boston college)

Let’s Play Guess the School ‘learning together, to change the world’ (hopkins) ‘lead--leaders educated to make a difference‘ - (fsu) ‘leader in education-pioneer in research-partner in regional development’ (Pitt) ‘making life better’ (PSU) ‘for god, for country, and for -----’ (Yale) ‘ever to excel’ (boston college)

What About Athletics? What are my options? VARSITY LEVEL- (NCAA) The National Collegiate Athletic Association JV/CLUB LEVEL INTRAMURAL SPORTS

What About Clubs? What are my options? Student Union Student Run vs. Faculty Run Academic vs. Service vs. Social Ask, Ask, Ask

A word about getting accepted to top schools In any given year, an Ivy type school will reject 70% of students who apply with SAT's over 1400. Also, students who apply to the top schools usually have all A's. 60% don't get in. Therefore, when applying to very competitive colleges, ALWAYS have a plan B. 15

Top 5 Schools Wiss seniors go to: 1. Montgomery County Community College 2. Temple 3. Penn State (main campus and satellites) 4. Pitt 5. Drexel 16

Financial Aid/Scholarship Starting Points www.ﬁnaid.com www.fastweb.com 17

QUESTIONS?

1. This is a process... BE PROACTIVE! 2. This all takes time... GET STARTED EARLY! 3. The resources exist... USE THEM! 4. There are a lot of options.... CHOOSE A SCHOOL THAT FITS!

AND FINALLY... 1. This is a process... BE PROACTIVE! 2. This all takes time... GET STARTED EARLY! 3. The resources exist... USE THEM! 4. There are a lot of options.... CHOOSE A SCHOOL THAT FITS!

The 10 Or So Things I Wish I Knew About Researching, Thinking About, and Deciding on College!!

0 comments

Notes on slide 1

1 Favorite