The document provides guidance on navigating the college search and admissions process, emphasizing considerations such as school size, social atmosphere, and admission standards. It outlines the differences between various types of institutions, including open admission colleges, research universities, regional universities, and liberal arts colleges. Key components for application preparation include understanding personal statements and resumes, highlighting unique contributions beyond grades and test scores.

1. College Bound
Navigating the College Search & Admissions Process
August 2017 at the Johnson County Library
Johnson County, Kansas, USA
Image via Wikikmedia Commons used under a
Creative Commons Attribution / Share Alike License
Benjamin Howard-Williams, MAEd

2. Who is this guy?
Asst. Director of Financial Aid​ & Scholarships
University of Kansas​
Student Success & Enrollment Services
Metropolitan Community College
Johnson County Community College
Benjamin Howard-Williams, MAEd
Transfer & Articulation Officer
University of Missouri-Kansas City

3. Agenda
DISCLAIMER: This information is presented by a private citizen on a
matter of public concern as a free community resource. The information
presented is intended as a general overview and should not be interpreted
as an official document or publication of any institution of higher
education or the US Department of Education. Any errors or omissions are
unintentional. No guarantee of admission is intended or implied.
• The College Search: Figuring out where you Fit
• College Application Standards: What’s required?
• Preparing for Admission: What are they looking for?
• The Personal Statement: How to talk about yourself
• Q&A

4. The College Search
Where do you fit?

6. Open Admission
•Open to all students.
•Strongest focus on
teaching.
•Public & Private.
•4 year & 2 year.

7. Research Universities
• Focused on the creation and
curation of knowledge.
• Biggest name recognition.
• Most well-known faculty.
• Largest number of major
options.
• Well connected alumni.
• Largest class sizes.
• Greatest likelihood of being
taught by a graduate assistant.

8. Regional Universities
• Compromise between Research
& Open Admission.
• Balance of research
opportunities and strong
teaching emphasis.
• Smaller class sizes.
• Fewer major options.
• Less name recognition.

9. Liberal Arts Colleges
• Most focused on the
“student experience”.
• Small class sizes.
• Strong faculty connections.
• Strong campus
communities.
• Highest cost (usually).
• Least name recognition.

10. Things to Consider
• Size of the school?
• Size of the city?
• Live on campus or off?
• Distance from home?
• Social atmosphere?
• Surrounding community?
• School reputation?
Research Tools

11. Admissions
Standards
What are they
looking for?

12. Basic Standards
Graduate from an Accredited
High School with 2.0+ GPA
Minimum Score of
21 on ACT OR 980 on the SAT
Place in the top 1/3 of your high
school graduating class.
Based on the Kansas Board of
Regents “Qualified Admissions”

13. Selective Admissions
Higher Standards for Admission
• Major Research Universities
• Private Institutions
• Highly Specialized Institutions
University of Kansas Admission Requirements:
ACT 21+ / SAT 1060+ AND GPA of 3.25+ OR
ACT 24+ / SAT 1160+ AND GPA of 3.00+
ASK for the admissions
standards at your
school of interest.

14. Competitive / Scholarship
Common Elements
• Resume
• Personal Statement
• Interview

15. Talking about
yourself.
Resumes and
Personal Statements

16. What are they asking?
Are you likely to retain and
graduate?
• What do you have to offer
beyond your grades and test
scores?
• Do you have something unique
to contribute to this community
/ organization?
• Will you be a good fit for our
institution?

17. The Skills-Based Resume
Talk about what you can DO, not
where you’ve worked.
• Skills, talents, and interests
supported by specific examples
• Volunteer Work
• Travel Experiences
• Social Groups
• Religious Functions
• Athletics
• Performance / Fine Arts

18. The Personal Statement
Talking about you…
• What excites you?
• What interests you?
• What confuses you?
Talking about them…
• How can you do more exciting /
interesting / confusing things at
XYZ institution?
Use “I Statements” to
illustrate your sense of
self.
Link your “I statements” to
something specific at the
institution you are hoping
to attend.

19. Questions?
Thank you!