The document outlines a comprehensive approach to selecting the right college, highlighting the vast number of options available and the importance of considering location, size, academics, and financial aid when building a college list. It emphasizes the benefits of both public and private colleges, detailing scholarship opportunities and resources for research, including online materials and campus tours. Additionally, it stresses the significance of personal fit, application strategy, and maintaining connections with institutions to enhance the college application experience.

1. How To Pick The Right
College For You!
Dr. Rebecca Joseph
California State University, Los Angeles @getmetocollege
getmetocollege@gmail.com; getmetocollege.org

2. How do I find schools?How do I find schools?

3. 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.

4. Goldilocks and the Three
Bears

5. 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

6. College Guides-BooksCollege Guides-Books
• 2016 Fiske Guide2016 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

7. 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

9. In person…In person…
• Campus toursCampus tours
• College FairsCollege Fairs
• Greater Los Angeles National College Fair
• Pasadena Convention Center
• Thursday, April 28: 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 31, 2016; 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
• Downtown Los Angeles—Sunday, May 22, 7 p.m.
• San Fernando, CA—Wednesday, May 25, 7 p.m.
• Exploring Educational Excellence. Brown, University of Chicago,Exploring Educational Excellence. Brown, University of Chicago,
Columbia, Cornell, RiceColumbia, Cornell, Rice
• Greater LA (Downtown, Sunday, April 24. 2 p.m.
• Greater LA (Pasadena) - Sunday, April 24 7 p.m.
• Visits to your schoolsVisits to your schools

10. How To Build A College List

11. 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.

12. 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

13. 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.

14. •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.

15. 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.
• Many hire regional reps to work in LA. They are listed here.Many hire regional reps to work in LA. They are listed here.
http://www.regionaladmissions.com/http://www.regionaladmissions.com/

16. How Do We Afford These
Colleges?
•Needs Based Need
•Merit Need
•Internal
•External

17. Internal ScholarshipsInternal Scholarships
• 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.
• Most colleges have merit scholarships. You apply directly. You canMost colleges have merit scholarships. You apply directly. You can
find these scholarships on College Greenlight.find these scholarships on College Greenlight. They often haveThey often have
earlier deadlines.earlier deadlines.
• 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_0http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/11/1114_tuitionfree/index_0
1.htm1.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.

18. Emory

19. USC

20. Tulane

21. Claremont McKenna

22. College Greenlight

23. External Merit Scholarships

24. College Greenlight

25. External Merit Money
• These come in all shapes and sizes
• Never pay for a listing or resource
• Calculate investment time versus return
• There are some major ones and a variety of others

26. WHO GETS THESE SCHOLASHIPS
• Academic leaders
• Specialists in
activities
• Talented artists and
athletes

27. Final WordsFinal Words
• Seniors will find a great college to attend.Seniors 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 make a difference.Completing great applications make a difference.
• Plan to visit colleges to demonstrate your interest.Plan to visit colleges to demonstrate your interest.

28. Keep In Touch
Invite me to your school or community
organization.
Follow me on twitter @getmetocollege
Become my facebook friend:
 getmetocollege freeadvice
Email me at getmetocollege.org
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Application Essays. www.allcollegeessays.org