Transcript Finding the College that is Right for Me

The question is not
“which is the best
college?” but, rather
“which is the best college
for me?”
STEP
1
Seek out personal
recommendations.
 Speak to those around you; counselors,
teachers, family friends, and yes, even parents.
 Make note of their recommendations but, don’t
assume they will give you the answers.
 Research for yourself to discover what is
important to you.
STEP
2
Focus on your
academic goals.
 What do you really want in an education?
 Pre-Professional Education– prepares for specific job,
ie: engineering, pre-med. = DEPTH.
 Liberal Arts Education – equips you with general
knowledge and reasoning skills suitable
for many jobs = BREADTH.
 How does the college rank in the major you want to
study?
 Majoring in a narrow field? Consider a larger
university.
STEP
3





Don’t forget to
ask about the
social life.
The Greek system?
What do students do on the weekends?
Extra-curricular activities?
Close to a major city, skiing, beach?
Campus life associations, service clubs and ROTC?
If you don’t like the social scene,
you won’t be
happy at the school.
STEP
4
Investigate the
type of digs
you’ll be living
in.
 Think of yourself as a total person, not just a
student.
 Find a place to live that suits you.
 Do most students live on campus?
 Can you live with strangers?
 How modern or ancient are the dorms?
 Does each room have its own bathroom, or do you
share?
 With overcrowding, ask what your chances are of
getting on-campus housing.
STEP
5
Snuggle up
with a college
directory.
 Look in a book or on a website that profiles
colleges.
 Student population, activities, costs and financial
aid
 How many freshmen are admitted each year
 Directories won’t tell you about the personality of
the college.
 Talk to people who go to that college: alumni,
recruiters, current students.
Great Website
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/index.html?student
STEP
6
Attend a
college fair or
talk to the
college rep.
 Western Slope College Fair – Aspen High School
Sunday, Oct. 3 11am to 2pm. Bus available from
FMHS-sign up in counseling office
 To make a life changing choice talk to real people
first.
 Take a list of questions with you – Don’t be shy,
that is why they are there.
 Make business cards to introduce yourself to
college Reps.
STEP
7
Beware of the
college
brochure
 Brochures are biased and will tout only the
positives.
 Always view the college’s brochure with a healthy
dose of caution.
 Compare brochures from various colleges.
 Brochures can help you develop questions to ask
reps.
NEVER ATTEND A COLLEGE YOU HAVEN’T VISITED
FIRST!!!
STEP
8
Don’t rely on
news
magazine
rankings.
 Use the rankings as a guide, but definitely do your own
research .
 Include news magazine rankings in your beginning
research.
 Rankings might help you pose questions to college
reps.
 Start an organization system for your brochures, etc…
STEP
9
Don’t worry
about money
(yet).
 In the beginning, don’t let costs dictate your goals.
 Even if $ is tight, don’t make it your primary concern
just yet.
 Having trouble paying the application fee? See your
counselor for a fee waiver.
 Last year over $97 billion in financial aid was given to
students.
Wait until you are accepted by the college and have the
financial aid award before deciding.
$$$ Private Education at a Discount Price $$$
 Many schools have replaced need-based loans with grants.
 Harvard University made tuition free for families making less than
$60,000 a year.
 At least 17 other private institutions including Stanford and
Columbia work with families making $40K to $100K per year.
http://www.walletpop.com/loans/kiplingers/best-private-collegevalues/
 Some private schools have initiatives which match public school
tuition www.naicu.edu/special_initiatives/afordability/about
 Colleges that Change Lives - Small private liberal arts colleges that
offer a 1st rate education at reasonable prices . www.ctcl.org
Final Thoughts…
Exploration leads to discoveries about
yourself.
Ultimately pick schools that meet your needs.
???