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

3. WHY ARE WE
HERE
TODAY?

4. Differences Between
College and High School

5. 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

6. Differences Between
College and High School

7. 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

8. Choosing The Right College For You

9. 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

10. Choosing The Right College For You
The Investigation and Interrogation Process

11. 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

12. The ‘Personality’ of the School

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

14. 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

15. 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

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

17. Let’s Play Guess the School

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

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

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

21. 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)

22. 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)

23. 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)

24. 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)

25. 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)

26. Let’s Play Guess the School

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

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

29. 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)

30. 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)

31. 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)

32. 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)

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

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

35. 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

36. 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

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

39. QUESTIONS?

40. QUESTIONS?

41. 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!

42. 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!

43. 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!