The document provides guidance on building a powerful college application list, emphasizing the importance of considering factors such as location, school size, and academic offerings. It outlines various resources for finding suitable colleges, including online materials and campus tours, and categorizes schools into different groups based on the likelihood of admission. The document also discusses financial aid options, the emotional aspects of transitioning to college, and encourages families to support students in making thoughtful choices about their education.

1. Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a
Match: How to Put Together A
POWERFUL College Application List
Dr. Rebecca JosephDr. Rebecca Joseph
rjoseph@calstatela.edurjoseph@calstatela.edu
www.getmetocollege.org/hswww.getmetocollege.org/hs
FB: Getmetocollege FreeadviceFB: Getmetocollege Freeadvice
Twitter: @getmetocollegeTwitter: @getmetocollege

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

3. How do I build a college listHow do I build a college list
 LocationLocation
 SizeSize
 Rah-rahRah-rah
 AcademicsAcademics
 Merit scholarshipsMerit scholarships
 ConnectionsConnections
 Alumni ConnectionsAlumni Connections
 Financial AidFinancial Aid

4. How do I find schools?How do I find schools?
 BooksBooks
 OnlineOnline
 In PersonIn Person

5. College Guides-BooksCollege Guides-Books
 2014 Fiske Guide2014 Fiske Guide
 Great write-upsGreat write-ups
 Overlap CollegesOverlap Colleges
 Steve Antonoff has two booksSteve Antonoff has two books
 College MatchCollege Match
 Great series of questions to help prioritizeGreat series of questions to help prioritize
type of schoolstype of schools
 College FinderCollege Finder
 Has different lists –best school forHas different lists –best school for
snowboarders. Best schools for progressivesnowboarders. Best schools for progressive
kids. Best undergraduate business programskids. Best undergraduate business programs

6. College Information-OnlineCollege Information-Online
 Each college has online materials.Each college has online materials.
 Big Future. College BoardBig Future. College Board
 Youniversity TV has great videosYouniversity TV has great videos
 Cappex has a great website withCappex has a great website with
linkslinks

7. In person…In person…
 Campus toursCampus tours
 College FairsCollege Fairs
 Los Angeles Performing And Visual Arts FairLos Angeles Performing And Visual Arts Fair
 University of California, Los Angeles, Ackerman UnionUniversity of California, Los Angeles, Ackerman Union

Saturday, October 26: 1:00pm - 3:30pmSaturday, October 26: 1:00pm - 3:30pm
 College or Groups of College VisitsCollege or Groups of College Visits
to LA. Fall and Springto LA. Fall and Spring
 Visits to your schoolsVisits to your schools

8. 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.

9. Benefits of Different CollegesBenefits of Different Colleges
 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 whoThey have world class professors who
want to work with our students.want to work with our students.
 These schools offer access to fantasticThese schools offer access to fantastic
programming, individualized attention,programming, individualized attention,
and incredible students from around theand incredible students from around the
world.world.
 Many of the non-Ivy League collegesMany of the non-Ivy League colleges
offer different kinds of meritoffer different kinds of merit
scholarshipsscholarships

10. Public CollegesPublic Colleges
 There are state funded colleges and are traditionallyThere are state funded colleges and are traditionally
much cheaper than private colleges.much 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 haveThe University of CA has 9 campuses. The CSUs have
23.23.
 Other states have public universities. Flagship campusesOther states have public universities. Flagship campuses
are their top campus—University of Michigan-Ann Arbor,are their top campus—University of Michigan-Ann Arbor,
University of Texas-Austin, University of North Carolina-University of Texas-Austin, University of North Carolina-
Chapel Hill.Chapel Hill.
 They also have all kinds of other great public universities.They also have all kinds of other great public universities.
In this economy they are looking for out of state tuitionIn this economy they are looking for out of state tuition
and diverse students.and diverse students.
 There are also exchanges. The Western UndergraduateThere are also exchanges. The Western Undergraduate
Exchange that gives financial discounts at many out ofExchange that gives financial discounts at many out of
state colleges for California students.state colleges for 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 therequirements. Do research if you have an area of the
country that interests you.country that interests you.

11. •Private CollegesPrivate Colleges
 TThey come in all shapes and sizes. Some are very selective. The Ivyhey 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%League is 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.of students who apply. There are middle level and small colleges all over.
The large majority are desperately seeking diverse students, and theyThe large majority are desperately seeking diverse students, and they
cancan’t find them. Their costs range from $10,000 to $57,000 per year’t find them. Their costs range from $10,000 to $57,000 per year
include tuition, room, board, and other costs.include tuition, room, board, and other costs.
 Some private colleges are religious and are looking for students whoSome private colleges are religious and are looking for students who
match their religious beliefs. Others are Jesuit and accept all students.match their religious beliefs. Others are Jesuit and accept all students.
Jesuit colleges are very open to undocumented students.Jesuit colleges are very open to undocumented students.
 Other private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great education withinOther private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great education within
non-technical fields. They offer great access to professors, amazingnon-technical fields. They offer great access to professors, amazing
activities, and resources.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 and onlyprograms for music or acting or art. Others are technical like MIT and only
have programs related to math and science and engineering andhave programs related to math and science and engineering and
technology.technology.

12. More Privates…More Privates…
 Other private colleges are liberal arts. They often a greatOther private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great
education within non-technical fields. They offer greateducation within non-technical fields. They offer great
access to professors, amazing activities, and resources.access to professors, amazing activities, and resources.
 Still others are technical or arts-related. There are schoolsStill others are technical or arts-related. There are schools
like Boston Conservatory or The Maryland Institute of thelike Boston Conservatory or The Maryland Institute of the
Arts that only have programs for music or acting or art.Arts that only have programs for music or acting or art.
Others are technical like MIT and only have programsOthers are technical like MIT and only have programs
related to math and science and engineering andrelated to math and science and engineering and
technology.technology.

13. How Do I Afford TheseHow Do I Afford These
CollegesColleges
 Colleges themselves have diversity and presidentialColleges themselves have diversity and presidential
scholarships. Students can research on collegescholarships. Students can research on college
websites to find these scholarships. USC and the Ucswebsites to find these scholarships. USC and the Ucs
have merit scholarships. Private colleges havehave merit scholarships. Private colleges have
academic and merit and service scholarshipsacademic and merit and service scholarships
 There are special major scholarships—Morehead-There are special major scholarships—Morehead-
Cain (UNC). Robertson (Duke-UNC). JeffersonianCain (UNC). Robertson (Duke-UNC). Jeffersonian
(UVA). Find these scholarships and apply.(UVA). Find these scholarships and apply.
 Again the Western Undergraduate Exchange.Again the Western Undergraduate Exchange.
 The Ivy League and many other colleges are need-The Ivy League and many other colleges are need-
blind.blind.
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/11/1114_tuitiohttp://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/11/1114_tuitio
nfree/index_01.htmnfree/index_01.htm This means they accept you andThis means they accept you and
then offer you the money to come.then offer you the money to come.

14. Will my child be lonely?Will my child be lonely?
 All students get homesick freshman year. But they get over itAll students get homesick freshman year. But they get over it
quickly, especially if their family supports them.quickly, especially if their family supports them.
 It would be great if you could find a way to drop your child offIt would be great if you could find a way to drop your child off
freshman year and visit during parentsfreshman year and visit during parents’ weekend.’ weekend.
 Your child will come home easily for Christmas and springYour child will come home easily for Christmas and spring
break. Thanksgiving is sometimes hard and they go homebreak. Thanksgiving is sometimes hard and they go home
with friends and relativeswith friends and relatives
 You can speak with them on the phone, Skype, andYou can speak with them on the phone, Skype, and
Facebook.Facebook.
 You can send food and messages.You can send food and messages.
 But please donBut please don’t ask them to leave or come home.’t ask them to leave or come home.
 You need to encourage your child to go for free tutoring, joinYou need to encourage your child to go for free tutoring, join
support groups, and make friends.support groups, and make friends.

15. Will I miss my child?Will I miss my child?
Of course, you will. ItOf course, you will. It’s’s
expected. My mother missedexpected. My mother missed
me. All three of us went out ofme. All three of us went out of
state.state.
You have worked so hard andYou have worked so hard and
supported your child to let himsupported your child to let him
or her have the best collegeor her have the best college
education possible.education possible.

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 getKids rarely remember where they didn’t get
in. They focus on where they are.in. They focus on where they are.
 Want what you can have. Don’t focus onWant what you can have. Don’t focus on
out of reach colleges.out of reach colleges.
 Completing great applications now makesCompleting great applications now makes
a difference.a difference.
 Plan to visit accepted colleges in AprilPlan to visit accepted colleges in April

17. For more informationFor more information
 Dr. Rebecca JosephDr. Rebecca Joseph
 rjoseph@calstatela.edurjoseph@calstatela.edu
 323-646-5759323-646-5759