Transcript College & Career

Pump Primer
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List at least five questions you would
ask on a college visit.
College & Career
Choosing A College
Instructor: Mrs. Ungeheier
Choosing A College
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Choosing a school will be only one of the
important decisions you will make as an
adult.
Remember, you’re not on your own - God
will give you wisdom when you ask for it:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask
of God, who gives to all liberally and
without reproach, and it will be given to
him.”
James 1:5
Choosing A College
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First, decide whether you’d like to go
away to college or stay in the area.
Next, whether you’d like to live on
campus or commute.
Finally, now you need to decide which
type of school you would like to attend.
(Hudson 10)
Choosing A College
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Ivy League College
Almost “Ives” College
Big Ten Conference College
State University or College
Private College
Single-Sex College
Liberal Arts College
Junior, Community, and/or Technical College
(Hudson 10-13)
Choosing A College
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How do you find out more information
regarding the different colleges?
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Websites (see handout)
College Reference Book (on the back
table)
College Fairs
“How much better to get wisdom than gold!
And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.”
Prov. 16:16
(Hudson 13)
What to Look for in a College
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The following are some ideas of what
you should look for when choosing a
college:
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Academic Programs
Distinguished Faculty
Campus Size and Enrollment
Financial Aid Package
(Hudson 14-16)
Academic Program
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“Choose a college that has a good
academic reputation.”
Regionally Accredited (Discussed later in
presentation)
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Good library and good resources
“Find out what majors have the
strongest programs.”
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Remember, you’re not tied down to a particular
major – it’s alright to change your mind!
(Hudson 14)
Distinguished Faculty
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“Good academics and good professors
go hand in hand.”
Being a good steward of your (or your
parents) money, means you will want
the best education for the money you
are spending.
(Hudson 15)
Campus Size and Enrollment
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“What part of the country would you
consider ideal for college?”
“Would you prefer to be close to home or a
million light-years away?”
“If you salivate (drool) at the sight of a
lovely, tree-lined college near the ocean or
one in the mountains a thousand miles from
your parents, just remember this: Looks
aren’t everything!”
(Hudson 15)
Campus Size and Enrollment
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Large: Over 7,000 students.
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“If you like a cozy atmosphere, a campus with
30,000 students may not be right for you.”
Consider the “faculty-to-student ratio.” (“Less
faculty and more students can mean you will get
to know your teaching assistant rather than your
professor.”)
Medium: 3,000 – 7,000 students.
Small: Under 3,000 students.
(Hudson 15-16)
Campus Size and Enrollment
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Campus location that best suits me:
_______________________________
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Campus size that best suits me: _____
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Pick at least five schools that fit the
above criteria.
(Hudson 16)
Financial Aid Package
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Unfortunately, college isn’t free.
“Consider a college that is affordable
or offers you a good financial aid
package or scholarship/work study
opportunities.”
“You don’t want to spend the rest of
your life trying to pay back
astronomical student loans.”
(Hudson 16)
Campus Visits
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Do your homework!
“Therefore be wise as serpents and
harmless as doves.”
Matt. 10:16
Campus visits are a good way to determine
if the campus is right for you.
Either a day or an overnight visit; an
interview, or a tour.
Call ahead and make sure that you will be
able to meet with a financial aid counselor
the day of your visit.
(Hudson 16)
Campus Visits
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Ask questions! (Remember, the only stupid
question is one that is not asked!)
Talk to the students on campus! Ask them
questions.
If it is a campus out of the area, make sure
you ask about the weather: Winter? Spring?
Fall? Summer?
Be sure to take notes!
(Hudson 16)
Campus Visits
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Avoid going to a campus during exciting events like
‘Homecoming’ – they do not provide an accurate
idea of the daily campus life.
You’ll most likely be shown a typical dorm room
(clean of course), the administration buildings, and
some of the academic halls.
Try to wonder around by yourself.
Try to…
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eat in the dining hall
sit in on a class
check-out the library
don’t forget to visit the financial aid office
Visit some off-campus spots in the area.
(Hudson 17)
Academic Questions
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Are courses readily available to the students?
When must I declare a major, or do I have to wait one or two years?
Am I guaranteed entrance to my major field?
Approx. how many students have this major on your campus?
How competitive is the department in which I am interested.
What is the average class size? What differences exist between
introductory and advanced classes in terms of size?
Are tutors available?
What departments are particularly distinguished?
Are large classes broken down into discussion sections? Who leads
these discussion sections?
Do professors or graduate students teach courses?
Is the college on semesters, trimesters, quarters?
(See handout for more examples of questions to ask.)
Non-Academic Questions
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What percentage of students lives on campus?
Are there enforced quiet hours? What are the other rules?
What is the availability of dorms for freshman? Where do the
majority of freshmen tend to live?
Are most room’s singles, doubles, triples, or suites?
What laundry facilities are available?
What kinds of extracurricular activities does the college offer?
What do the majority of students do on weekends? Is there a central
gathering place for students?
How is the food? Is there a variety of food of plans available? Are
freshmen required to purchase a specific type of meal plan? If not,
which meal plan is most often used by freshman?
What campus job opportunities are there for students?
(See handout for more examples of questions to ask.)
Financial Questions
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What is the yearly cost of attendance, including books, tuition, fees,
housing, and meal plans? In other words, what is the all-inclusive
cost?
Which financial aid forms are required?
What percent of entering freshmen receive aid? What is the average
freshman aid package? Is there a way aid is packaged, loans first for
example?
What types of payment plans exist for paying the Estimated Family
Contribution?
(See handout for more examples of questions to ask.)
Accreditation of Colleges
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“In order to ensure a basic level of quality, the practice of
accreditation arose in the United States as a means of conducting
non-governmental, peer evaluation of educational institutions and
programs. Private educational associations of regional or national
scope have adopted criteria reflecting the qualities of a sound
educational program and have developed procedures for evaluating
institutions or programs to determine whether or not they are
operating at basic levels of quality.”
“Some Functions of Accreditation:
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Verifying that an institution or program meets established standards;
Assisting prospective students in identifying acceptable institutions;
Assisting institutions in determining the acceptability of transfer credits;
Helping to identify institutions and programs for the investment of public
and private funds;
Protecting an institution against harmful internal and external pressure;
Creating goals for self-improvement of weaker programs and stimulating
a general raising of standards among educational institutions;
Involving the faculty and staff comprehensively in institutional evaluation
and planning;
Establishing criteria for professional certification and licensure and for
upgrading courses offering such preparation; and
Providing one of several considerations used as a basis for determining
eligibility for Federal assistance.”
(“Accreditation”)
Accreditation of Colleges
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“The U.S. Secretary of Education is required by
statute to publish a list of nationally recognized
accrediting agencies that the Secretary determines
to be reliable authorities as to the quality of
education or training provided by the institutions of
higher education and the higher education
programs they accredit. The Secretary only
evaluates accrediting agencies that apply for
recognition, and certain criteria for recognition that
are unrelated to the quality of accrediting activities
limit the scope of the Secretary's recognition
activities.”
(“Accreditation”)
Accrediting Procedures
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“Standards: The accrediting agency, in collaboration with educational
institutions, establishes standards.
Self-study: The institution or program seeking accreditation prepares an indepth self-evaluation study that measures its performance against the
standards established by the accrediting agency.
On-site Evaluation: A team selected by the accrediting agency visits the
institution or program to determine first-hand if the applicant meets the
established standards.
Publication: Upon being satisfied that the applicant meets its standards, the
accrediting agency grants accreditation or preaccreditation status and lists the
institution or program in an official publication with other similarly accredited or
preaccredited institutions or programs.
Monitoring: The accrediting agency monitors each accredited institution or
program throughout the period of accreditation granted to verify that it
continues to meet the agency's standards.
Reevaluation: The accrediting agency periodically reevaluates each
institution or program that it lists to ascertain whether continuation of its
accredited or preaccredited status is warranted.”
(“Accreditation”)
Accreditation of Colleges
The Accrediting Agency Evaluation Unit
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“The Accrediting Agency Evaluation Unit has been established within the
Department of Education to deal with accreditation matters. Located in the
Office of Postsecondary Education, the Unit carries out the following major
functions with respect to accreditation:
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Conduct a continuous review of standards, policies, procedures, and issues in the
area of the Department of Education's interests and responsibilities relative to
accreditation;
Administer the process whereby accrediting agencies and State approval agencies
secure initial and renewed recognition by the Secretary of Education;
Serve as the Department's liaison with accrediting agencies and State approval
agencies;
Provide consultative services to institutions, associations, State agencies, other
Federal agencies, and Congress regarding accreditation;
Interpret and disseminate policy relative to accreditation issues in the case of all
appropriate programs administered by the Department of Education;
Conduct and stimulate appropriate research; and
Provide support for the Secretary's National Advisory Committee on Institutional
Quality and Integrity.“
(“Accreditation”)
Accreditation of Colleges
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“There are two basic types of educational
accreditation, one identified as ‘institutional’
and one referred to as ‘specialized’ or
‘programmatic’."
There are three Accrediting Agency
Evaluation Unit:
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National
Regional
Specialized
(“Accreditation”)
Specialized Accrediting Agencies
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Arts and Humanities
Education Training
Legal
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American Bar Association, Council of the
Section of Legal Education and Admissions to
the Bar
Community and Social Sciences
Personal Care and Services
Healthcare
(“Accreditation”)
National Accreditation
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Accrediting Commission of Career Schools
and Colleges of Technology (ACCSCT)
Accrediting Council for Continuing
Education and Training (ACCET)
Accrediting Council for Independent
Colleges and Schools (ACICS)
Distance Education and Training Council,
Accrediting Commission (DETC)
New York State Board of Regents, and the
Commissioner of Education (NYSED)
(“Accreditation”)
Regional Accreditation
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Council on Occupational Education (COE) (http://www.council.org/)
“The accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidacy Status") throughout the United
States of postsecondary occupational education institutions offering non-degree and
applied associate degree programs in specific career and technical education fields,
including institutions that offer programs via distance education.”
Middle States Assoc. (http://www.msche.org/)
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“The accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidacy status") of institutions of higher
education in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, including distance education
programs offered at those institutions.”
Middle States Commission (http://www.css-msa.org/)
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“the accreditation of institutions with postsecondary, non-degree granting career and
technology programs in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands
including those that offer all or part of their educational programs via distance education
modalities.“
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New England (http://www.neasc.org/)
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“The accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidacy status") of institutions of higher
education in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and
Vermont that award bachelor's, master's, and/or doctoral degrees and associate
degree-granting institutions in those states that include degrees in liberal arts or general
studies among their offerings, including the accreditation of programs offered via
distance education within these institutions. “
(“Accreditation”)
Regional Accreditation
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North Central (http://www.ncacasi.org/)
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North Central ((www.ncahigherlearningcommission.org )
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“The accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidacy status") of schools
offering non-degree, postsecondary education in Arizona, Arkansas,
Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota,
West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and in the Navajo Nation.”
“The accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidate for Accreditation") of
degree-granting institutions of higher education in Arizona, Arkansas,
Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota,
West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, including schools of the Navajo
Nation and the accreditation of programs offered via distance education
within these institutions.”
Northwest (http://www.nwccu.org/)
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“The accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidacy status") of
postsecondary educational institutions in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada,
Oregon, Utah, and Washington and the accreditation of such programs
offered via distance education within these institutions.”
(“Accreditation”)
Regional Accreditation
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Sothern (http://www.sacs.org/)
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“The accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidate for Accreditation") of degreegranting institutions of higher education in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and
Virginia, including distance education programs offered at those institutions.”
Western
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(http://www.wascweb.org/)
“The accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidate for Accreditation") of community
and junior colleges located in California, Hawaii, the United States territories of Guam
and American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, and the accreditation of such programs offered via distance education at
these colleges.”
“The accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidate for Accreditation") of adult and
postsecondary schools that offer programs below the degree level in California,
Hawaii, the United States territories of Guam and American Samoa, the Republic of
Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.”
“The accreditation and preaccreditation ("Candidate for Accreditation") of senior
colleges and universities in California, Hawaii, the United States territories of Guam
and American Samoa, the Republic of Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia, the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, including distance education programs offered at those institutions.”
(“Accreditation”)
Homework
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Answer the questions we discussed in the lecture:
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Stay in area or out of state
Size and location
Make a list of at least five potential
colleges/universities that interest you.
List where they are accredited and which agency of
accreditation.
Also, start working on the questions you would like
to ask on your college visits. (Questions Due in 1
week)
Works Cited
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“Accreditation”. U.S. Department of
Education. 12 June 2008. 20 June
2008.<http://www.ed.gov/admins/finaid/a
ccred/index.html>
Hudson, Christopher D. et.al., “What’s an
Alpha-Beta-Soupa?” Barbour Publishing:
Uhrichville, Ohio. 2005
New King James, The. Thomas
Nelson: Nashville. Version. 1996, c1982
.