This presentation is for Hamilton High School's April 22 College Night. It focuses on ways to build a strong college list. It assumes that finances play a role throughout the selection process.

1. Going Away to College
Choosing The Right
College Fit
Dr. Rebecca Joseph
California State University, Los Angeles
@getmetocollege getmetocollege@gmail.com

2. There are colleges for you…There are colleges for you…
There are several thousand colleges in the
country.
The large majority of them want California
students and come shopping here each spring
and fall. They come in all shapes and sizes.
Going out of the area some times is the best
way to get a merit scholarship or find the school
with the right mix of academic, extracurricular,
and social features.

3. Building A College ListBuilding A College List
• LocationLocation
• SizeSize
• Rah-rah/SpiritRah-rah/Spirit
• AcademicsAcademics
• Merit scholarshipsMerit scholarships
• ConnectionsConnections
• Alumni ConnectionsAlumni Connections
• Financial AidFinancial Aid

4. How do I find schools?How do I find schools?

5. College Guides-BooksCollege Guides-Books
• 2015 Fiske Guide2015 Fiske Guide
• Great write-upsGreat write-ups
• Overlap CollegesOverlap Colleges
• Steve Antonoff has twoSteve Antonoff has two
booksbooks
• College MatchCollege Match
• Great series of questions to help prioritize type ofGreat series of questions to help prioritize type of
schoolsschools
• College FinderCollege Finder
• Has different lists –best school for snowboarders. BestHas different lists –best school for snowboarders. Best
schools for progressive kids. Best undergraduateschools for progressive kids. Best undergraduate
business programsbusiness programs

6. College Information-OnlineCollege Information-Online
• Each college has online materials.Each college has online materials.
• Websites: Big Future. College GreenlightWebsites: Big Future. College Greenlight
• Online College Tours: Youniversity TV hasOnline College Tours: Youniversity TV has
great videosgreat videos
• Cappex has a great website with linksCappex has a great website with links
• Great online college resources.Great online college resources.
• College Week LiveCollege Week Live
• College GreenlightCollege Greenlight

8. In person…In person…
• Campus toursCampus tours
• College FairsCollege Fairs
• Greater Los Angeles National College Fair
• Pasadena Convention Center
• Thursday, April 30: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.; 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
• Colleges That Change Lives
• Los Angeles, CA; Sun., July 26, 2015; Universal City
• College or Groups of College Visits to LA. Fall and SpringCollege or Groups of College Visits to LA. Fall and Spring
• Exploring College Options. Harvard, Duke, Georgetown, Penn,Exploring College Options. Harvard, Duke, Georgetown, Penn,
StanfordStanford
• Los Angeles, CA - San Fernando Valley. Warner Center Marriott
• Wednesday, May 13, 7:00 pm
• Visits to your schoolsVisits to your schools

9. How To Build A College List

10. How to Build A Great ListHow to Build A Great List
• Every school on your list must be aEvery school on your list must be a
school you are willing to attend.school you are willing to attend.
• Every school on your list can beEvery school on your list can be
separated into different categories.separated into different categories.
• Reaching for the StarsReaching for the Stars
• StretchStretch
• 50-5050-50
• LikelyLikely
• Have an equal number of colleges inHave an equal number of colleges in
each category. If you knock one off,each category. If you knock one off,
you need to add another one on.you need to add another one on.

11. Benefits of DifferentBenefits of Different
CollegesColleges• These schools offer amazing academic,These schools offer amazing academic,
extracurricular, and social opportunities.extracurricular, and social opportunities.
• They offer internships and access toThey offer internships and access to
tremendous support programs.tremendous support programs.
• They have world class professors who wantThey have world class professors who want
to work with our students.to work with our students.
• These schools offer access to fantasticThese schools offer access to fantastic
programming, individualized attention, andprogramming, individualized attention, and
incredible students from around the world.incredible students from around the world.
• Many of the non-Ivy League colleges offerMany of the non-Ivy League colleges offer
different kinds of merit scholarshipsdifferent kinds of merit scholarships

12. Public Colleges
• There are state funded colleges and are traditionally muchThere are state funded colleges and are traditionally much
cheaper than private colleges.cheaper than private colleges.
• Each state has its own system of public universities.Each state has its own system of public universities.
• The University of CA has 9 campuses. The CSUs have 23.The University of CA has 9 campuses. The CSUs have 23.
• Other states have public universities. Flagship campuses are theirOther states have public universities. Flagship campuses are their
top campus—University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University oftop campus—University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of
Texas-Austin, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.Texas-Austin, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
• They also have all kinds of other great public universities. In thisThey also have all kinds of other great public universities. In this
economy they are looking for out of state tuition and diverseeconomy they are looking for out of state tuition and diverse
students.students.
• There are also exchanges. The Western Undergraduate ExchangeThere are also exchanges. The Western Undergraduate Exchange
that gives financial discounts at many out of state colleges forthat gives financial discounts at many out of state colleges for
California students.California students. http://wiche.edu/wuehttp://wiche.edu/wue..
• These colleges have their own applications with their ownThese colleges have their own applications with their own
requirements. Do research if you have an area of the country thatrequirements. Do research if you have an area of the country that
interests you.interests you.

13. •Private CollegesPrivate Colleges
• TThey come in all shapes and sizes. Some are very selective. The Ivy Leaguehey come in all shapes and sizes. Some are very selective. The Ivy League
is the top tier with many of their colleges only accepting 6 to 10% of studentsis the top tier with many of their colleges only accepting 6 to 10% of students
who apply. There are middle level and small colleges all over. The largewho apply. There are middle level and small colleges all over. The large
majority are desperately seeking diverse students, and they canmajority are desperately seeking diverse students, and they can’’t find them.t find them.
Their costs range from $10,000 to $57,000 per year include tuition, room,Their costs range from $10,000 to $57,000 per year include tuition, room,
board, and other costs.board, and other costs.
• Some private colleges are religious and are looking for students who matchSome private colleges are religious and are looking for students who match
their religious beliefs. Others are Jesuit and accept all students. Jesuit collegestheir religious beliefs. Others are Jesuit and accept all students. Jesuit colleges
are very open to undocumented students.are very open to undocumented students.
• Other private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great education within non-Other private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great education within non-
technical fields. They offer great access to professors, amazing activities, andtechnical fields. They offer great access to professors, amazing activities, and
resources.resources.
• Still others are technical or arts-related. There are schools like BostonStill others are technical or arts-related. There are schools like Boston
Conservatory or The Maryland Institute of the Arts that only have programs forConservatory or The Maryland Institute of the Arts that only have programs for
music or acting or art. Others are technical like MIT and only have programsmusic or acting or art. Others are technical like MIT and only have programs
related to math and science and engineering and technology.related to math and science and engineering and technology.

14. More Privates…More Privates…
• Other private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great educationOther private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great education
within non-technical fields. They offer great access to professors,within non-technical fields. They offer great access to professors,
amazing activities, and resources.amazing activities, and resources.
• Still others are technical or arts-related. There are schools like BostonStill others are technical or arts-related. There are schools like Boston
Conservatory or The Maryland Institute of the Arts that only haveConservatory or The Maryland Institute of the Arts that only have
programs for music or acting or art. Others are technical like MIT andprograms for music or acting or art. Others are technical like MIT and
only have programs related to math and science and engineering andonly have programs related to math and science and engineering and
technology.technology.

15. How Do I Afford TheseHow Do I Afford These
CollegesColleges
• Colleges themselves have diversity and presidential scholarships.Colleges themselves have diversity and presidential scholarships.
Students can research on college websites to find theseStudents can research on college websites to find these
scholarships. USC and the Ucs have merit scholarships. Privatescholarships. USC and the Ucs have merit scholarships. Private
colleges have academic and merit and service scholarshipscolleges have academic and merit and service scholarships
• There are special major scholarships—Morehead-Cain (UNC).There are special major scholarships—Morehead-Cain (UNC).
Robertson (Duke-UNC). Jeffersonian (UVA). Find theseRobertson (Duke-UNC). Jeffersonian (UVA). Find these
scholarships and apply.scholarships and apply.
• Again the Western Undergraduate Exchange.Again the Western Undergraduate Exchange.
• The Ivy League and many other colleges are need-blind.The Ivy League and many other colleges are need-blind.
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/11/1114_tuitionfree/index_01.htmhttp://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/11/1114_tuitionfree/index_01.htm
This means they accept you and then offer you the money toThis means they accept you and then offer you the money to
come.come.
• Colleges will often match other college offers.Colleges will often match other college offers.

16. Final WordsFinal Words
• You will find a great college to attend.You will find a great college to attend.
• Kids rarely remember where they didn’t get in. TheyKids rarely remember where they didn’t get in. They
focus on where they are.focus on where they are.
• Want what you can have. Don’t focus on out ofWant what you can have. Don’t focus on out of
reach colleges.reach colleges.
• Completing great applications now makes aCompleting great applications now makes a
difference.difference.
• Plan to visit colleges to demonstrate your interestPlan to visit colleges to demonstrate your interest

17. Keep In Touch
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Email me at getmetocollege.org
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Application Essays. www.allcollegeessays.org