Help choose the right higher education program for you

1. Zach Elder
Newport News Library System

3. Types of Schools
 Community Colleges
 Thomas Nelson
 Career/Vocational Schools
 Tidewater Technical
 Public 4-year
 Old Dominion University
 Private 4-year
 Hampton University
 Military Academies
 US Naval Academy
 In-State vs. Out-of-State
 Online/Nontraditional

4. Know Yourself
Before looking at schools, look at yourself
 Study habits, how organized? Disciplined?
 Spending/saving habits
 Family and relationships
 How will you change over time?
 Familiar vs. New Adventures
 What do you want to study?

5. Things not to do
 Don’t pick a college for the following reason alone:
 Rankings
 It’s great for your current major (50% of students change
majors)
 My friend/sibling thinks it’s great!
 My boyfriend/girlfriend goes there
 Seems like a party
 Seems cheap
…In fact, don’t choose a college for any one reason. Have a
list of priorities and pros/cons for each choice

6. Things to do
 Learn what factors are most
important to you
 Create a list of interesting schools
and then study/compare them
 Apply to more than one school,
but be wary of application fees
 Some colleges have fee waivers,
others don’t charge fees at all
 Common App

7. Things to do
 Visit the school(s) if possible
 Don’t procrastinate
 Know deadlines; get organized;
know application
requirements
 Don’t put all your “eggs in one
basket”
 Find your “Fit”
 Academic
 Social
 Financial

8. Academic Fit
 Am I clear about what I want to study? Does this
school have a program in that subject area?
 Am I undecided about what I want to study and need
a broad range of options?
 What is my ideal learning environment (small and
intimate or in large lecture halls)?
 Am I prepared for the academic challenge at this
college?
 If I decide to change my major, are there other
academic programs that interest me?

9. Social Fit
 Do most students live on campus or commute to
school?
 What is the campus culture?
 What activities are most popular on campus
(athletics, Greek life, community service)?
 What is the town/city like around the campus?
 How do key campus demographics fit into my
priorities?

10. Financial Fit
 What are the criteria for merit-based scholarships?
 What is the total cost of attendance?
 What percentage of students receive need-based
financial aid?
 Can I afford to attend this college with manageable
loan debt?

11. How do you research “fit”?
 Resources
 Webpage, brochures
 Secondary sources; e.g. US News,
College Board
 College Fairs

12. What to look for
 Academics
 Courses and programs offered
 Key faculty
 Class size
 Academic support (e.g., writing center,
tutoring)
 Retention and graduation rates
 Career services and job placements

13. What to look for
Social
 Location
 Diversity of student body
 Clubs, organizations, events and activities
 Gender, Socioeconomic breakdown
 Housing options
 College culture
 Personal support services (multicultural center,
counseling, healthcare, etc.)
 Particular religious affiliation

14. What to look for
Financial
 Tuition and room/board costs
 Institutional scholarships
 Additional costs and fees (transportation, books, lab
fees)
 Job placement rate upon graduation
 Percentage of students receiving need-based aid
 Work-study options
 Average loan debt upon graduation

15. Admissions Profile
 Number of applicants
 Number of admitted students
 Average GPA and SAT score of accepted students
 Diversity breakdown of the incoming freshman class
(gender, geography, first-generation-to-college
students)
 Average financial aid package

16. Final lists
 Pick 1-2 reaches, 2 strong matches, and 1 likely
admit
 A balanced list of schools will increase your chances
for admission, opportunities for financial aid and
success in college

17. Final Thoughts
 Have a question you can’t answer: Ask an alum
 Always have a backup plan
 Don’t be afraid to ask for help

18. Keep coming back for other
sessions
 Session 2: Paying for College (Oct. 5th)
 Session 3: Writing the Personal Statement
(Nov. 2nd)
 Session 4: The study habits you need in college
(Dec. 7th)
zelder@nnva.gov
Twitter: @LibrarianZach