2. MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR- COST!
VERY,VERY IMPORTANT FACTOR... Does the school have your major???
How important a school's geographic location is to you:
♣close to home? in Cincinnati? As far away as possible?
Which geographic regions appeal to you when looking for a school?
What settings appeal to you when looking for colleges?
♣Big city or Small city
♣Big college town or Small college town
♣Urban setting or Rural setting
Which college size (# of undergrads) appeals to you? You may like more than one.
Thomas More: 1,700 / Mount St. Joseph: 2,100
Xavier: 4,300
Dayton: 7,700
Miami University: 14,900
NKU: 19.900
UC: 22,500
OSU: 42,000 (56,000 overall!)
Some Deciding Factors...
3. ✴ Single-sex or Coed?
✴ A religious affiliation or population that is important to you?
✴ An academically-demanding environment, or low-stress?
✴ Do your personal or career interests require specialized facilities?
✴ Is a strong creative arts program important to you?
✴ Are you interested in a particular athletic program?
✴ Are you interested in joining a sorority/Greek life?
✴ Are you interested in an off-campus internships or research?
✴ Do you want to study abroad? If so, where?
Some Deciding Factors...
4. What are your "must-haves" of a college?
Check that state school's four-year graduation rate before choosing
it over a private school for financial reasons.
Contact someone from your high school who's currently attending
the college
Check out freshman retention rate (it should be 93% or better)
You should find out all you can about the campus crime statistics.
How to NarrowYour List Colleges
5. CampusVisits✴ADMISSION OFFICERS... discuss school's requirements, deadlines, financial aid programs,
your qualifications
✴FACULTY in the appropriate department... ask them about the course requirements,
graduation rates of their students, and internship opportunities.
✴ COACHING STAFF if you're participating in sports or considering an athletic scholarship.
Find out about the practice schedule, the amount of travel required, the GPA requirements,
etc.
✴STUDENTS. If you're visiting during the summer, they may be hard to find.Try the library, the
student union, the gym, and other public spaces. Are they friendly? Interesting? Are they people
you’d feel comfortable around?
Other things to look for
✴The Dorms: Would I be comfortable living here?
✴Popular Classes: Are the classes too large (i.e., easy to get into) or too small?
✴Academic/Administrative Offices: Are they friendly? Eager to answer questions?
✴Student Union: Is it bustling with activity? Do students seem happy?
6. Costs to Consider...
• DIRECT COSTS
• tuition
• fees (labs, supplies, activities, etc )
• books and supplies
• INDIRECT COSTS
• dorm/rooming/apartment
• board / meal plan
• daily transportation
• travel expenses
• personal expenses (laundry, fun!)
• medical, dental, emergency monies
7. LET’S MAKE A LIST...
What are your “MUST-HAVES”???
one or two "dream" schools (colleges you would
love to attend, it might be tough to get into but you aspire
to go there)
three or four "match" colleges (schools which seem
to be a good fit for your academic profile, and are likely to
admit you)
one or two "safety" colleges, colleges you believe are
quite likely to get accepted somewhat easily.
9. What Factors Most?
Many SMALL, SELECTIVE SCHOOLS pay greater attention to
personal statements and essays, teacher and counselor recommendations,
leadership experiences, and the individual talents of applicants.They
typically offer the chance for a face-to-face interview.
LARGE, PUBLIC, STATE SCHOOLS systems often use a
mathematical formula based on a student's grade point average (GPA) and
scores on the SAT or ACT.They tend to favor in-state applicants.
Regardless of the college's evaluation system, you should present a
well-rounded picture of your skills, experience and personal traits.
Applications should highlight your ability to succeed at each
particular institution, and what you can contribute to student life on
campus.
10. 1.TRANSCRIPTS
(Classroom Grades)
(Classroom Grades)A student's grades in college-prep classes remain the most
significant factor in college admission decisions.
Highly selective colleges look for students who:
• Complete core academic requirements
• Challenging course load, even though they may have slightly lower grades
than they'd achieve in lower-level courses
• Enroll in several college-prep courses and perform well
• Take four years of a world language, showing evidence of academic
discipline and challenge
• Although still reviewed by many colleges, class rank has declined in
significance as many private and religious schools have eliminated ranking
11. 2.Test Scores
• Standardized test scores remain important at many
colleges. Examinations such as the
SAT Reasoning Test™ and SAT Subject Tests™, or
the ACT, allow colleges to compare students from
across the country.
• Scholarships may be awarded if a certain score is
achieved
12. 3. Personal Statement/
Essay
• Personal statements and essays are both a
measure of writing ability and a window
into each student's background.
Admissions officers want to hear an original
voice in the student's own words. For a
successful essay, get to the point quickly and
personalize your writing through specific
examples.
13. 4.Activity List / Resume
(Extra-Curriculars)
(Extra-Curriculars)Evidence of extracurricular activities is important to the
admissions process, and depth of involvement is more
impressive than breadth. Students can achieve this if they...
• Focus on a limited number of interests
• Document long-term involvement with organizations
• Highlight activities related to a major or career goal
• Show leadership skills and ability
14. 5. Recommendation Letters
At selective colleges, strong school support in the form of
recommendations from counselors and faculty members
have become more important than ever. These
recommendations should be highly specific, describing
not just each student's love of learning, but the ways in
which the students have demonstrated that they can
• Add to the classroom experience
• Challenge themselves
• Attempt original projects
15. Generic Dates to Keep in
Mind...
• November 1 or 15: early decision deadline
• December 1: application deadline for special programs
• January 1: FAFSA forms available
• January 1 ~ February 1: general application deadline
• May 1: admission decision made, confirmation given
16. WHAT’S DUE FOR CLASS?
• Throughout the quarter...ACTIVITY LIST
• Throughout the quarter... COLLEGE ESSAY
• DEADLINE: OCTOBER 23RD
AND 24TH...
ONE
FULLY-COMPLETED AND SUBMITTED
APPLICATION TO A COLLEGE APPROPRIATE
TOYOUR SKILLS
• In order to receive credit, I must see the
CONFIRMATION of your application
submissions (either email or webpage)
