Book: U.S. News & World Report America’s Best Colleges (2010 Edition)

• A+ Schools for B Students (page 12-13) – http://www.usnews,com/aplus
• A Strong Commitment to Teaching (page 15) – 80 colleges and universities focus on undergrads – http://www.usnews.com/college
• Chapter 2: Narrow the Search (page 16-43)
  • 5 Keys to Finding the Right Fit
    • Start with you, not the colleges.
    • Visit campuses. http://www.usnews.com/roadtrips
    • Humor the tour guide. But ask questions!
    • Drawn to specific type of schools?
    • Be realistic.

Only 2.9% of students applied to 12 or more schools.

• College Fairs
  • http://www.nacacnet.org
  • http://www.ctcl.org
• Feedback fro students at http://www.studentsreview.com can alert  you to things you won’t get from a school’s own site.

For fall 2010, Department of Education projects the ratio of collegegoers to be 57% girls to 43% boys.

• Programs to Look For (page 34-35):
  • Internships
  • Senior Capstone (ask students nearing the end of their college years to create a project of some sort that integrates and synthesizes what they’ve learned)
  • First-Year Experience (first-year seminars or other academic programs that bring small groups of students together with faculty or staff on a regular basis)
  • Undergraduate Research Creative Projects
  • Learning Communities
  • Study Abroad
  • Service Learning
  • Writing in the Disciplines
• Turning Two Years Into Four (Community Colleges) (page 42-43) – http://www.usnews.com/commcollege
  • More than 100 2-year colleges have more than 3,000 students and offer campus housing.
• Chapter 3: How to Get In (page 44-59)
  • 5 Keys to an Awesome Application
    • Grades do matter. Don’t succumb to senioritis.
    • Don’t do well on certain tests? Consider the ACT instead of SAT.
    • Polish your essay until sings. Make sure your authentic voice comes through.
    • Pick your teacher recommendations carefully.
    • Rejected by the schools you applied to? May is not too late to start over.
  • Stop Selling Yourself Short (page 46-48)
    • Making the grade.
      • academic risk takers
      • challenged themselves
      • rigorous curriculum
      • has it prepared them?
      • What we want for students is the feeling that they’re looking for the next great thing they need to know. We like to see a sense of joy and curiosity.
    • Express yourself.
      • doesn’t  have to be a week in Africa. It can you were a clerk at Safeway for the summer and that changed the way you view race relations or the environment.
      • one in which “a student travels in a few swift paragraphs from one perspective to another and has seen the deeper meaning, learned the lesson, or found the humor.”
      • We are looking for a thoughtful, earnest presentation that shows complicated interests and thinking.
      • Always, always, always be honest.
    • Show a little love.
      • demonstrated interest – showing genuine enthusiasm for each school on your list is a must.
      • No college wants to play second or fifth or 15th fiddle.
      • We want kids who want us.
      • Tailor each application individually, with concrete examples of why you can see yourself there.
    • Find your fans.
      • The best choice isn’t always the teacher whose class you aced.
      • Better to pick the one who can describe what you’re like as a person.
      • Ask if they can write you a strong recommendation and if the teacher hesitates, back off.
    • Depth beats breadth.
      • It’s important to be well lopsided rather than well rounded.
      • Focus on what you’re good at.
      • Doing less but doing it well.
      • Avoid being one dimensional.
      • Anything you’re passionate about has merit, including an after-school job.
    • The interview.
      • Some are informational and some are evaluative.
      • One-on-ones are a way to underscore your desire to attend.
      • Rehearse your questions and talking points with an adult.
      • Communication not just your strengths but also your enthusiasm.
      • Say clearly and politely, “This is what I’ve achieved, and I am proud of it.”
    • Full Disclosure.
      • from whatever tipped you up, accepted the consequences, and done what you could do to make amends.
      • You’ve got to show that you learned something.
      • Don’t whine.
    • Acing the Essay.
      • Brainstorm – Ask family and friends what to write about. Focus on what matters to you and why. How you spend your free time is a good place to start.
      • Show; don’t tell – use examples and anecdotes.
      • Be polite but not too humble.
      • Seek feedback – ask someone to read your essay and ask, “Does this sound like me?”
      • Take your time and don’t do it at the last minute.
    • Killer Extracurrics.
      • Choose wisely.
      • Lessons – what drew you in, and what did you learn?
      • Details, details – president of the poetry society? Say how many members the club has and what you do.
      • Commitment – show how much work you put into the water polo team.
  • Taking Charge of Your Test Scores (page 49)
    • SAT Score-Use Practices guide – http://www.collegeboard.com which breaks down many schools’ specific policies.
    • Make a chart that refers to each college’s rules so you completely understand each school’s requirements.
    • College Board’s SAT-Skills Insight which identifies skills that are needed for the test and poses sample questions.
    • Science section of ACT tests your scientific reasoning skills (40 questions).
    • 1.4 million fro ACT versus 1.5 million for SAT
    • http://www.usnews.com/sat
  • Rocketing Past the Blunders (page 50-51)
    • Sanitize your e-mail address.
    • keep nicknames private.
    • Follow directions.
    • Recruit enthusiastic recommenders.
    • Extracurrics: Don’t overdo it.
    • Shun jargon.
    • Explain changes.
    • Know thy college. – say something specific about the school.
    • Keep schools straight.
    • Think twice before tugging at heartstrings. – unless you can use a sorrowful story to reveal something about yourself, it is a tale best not told.
    • Keep it clean.
    • Don’t use those “texting” words.
    • Explain easy courses. – Took honors English through 11th grade then slid down to a standard class. “Burned out” is not a good answer. “Decided to focus on my real love – science” is much better.
    • Own up to bad behavior. – Don’t lie. Take on the experience, show contrition or lessons learned.
    • Optional essays aren’t optional.
    • Be electronically savvy.
    • Handwriting counts.
    • Don’t assume your counselor will handle it.
    • Don’t be cocky.

If you do opt to stay on a wait list, write or call with any new info you think will help: a stellar final transcript, a special award or achievement. And let your college know you’re not just toying with it.

• In early May, NACAC’s survey of space availability lists schools that report spots remaining for qualified applications. It stays online until mid-August.
• Chapter 4: How to Pay for College (page 60-71)
  • 5 Keys to Finding the Money
    • Look at education as an investment.
    • Spread your net wider. Seek out new sources of cash. Apply to good, cheap colleges.
    • More students are getting federal grants. and federal student loans are now bargains.
    • Parents should shop around, especially for bank loans.
    • Best value schools (page 67) – % receiving grants based on need; average cost after receiving grants based on need; average discount from total cost.
  • Target colleges’ admission statistics – http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/
  • Web sites: BabyMint, LittleGrad, Futuretrust, Upromise, SAGE Scholars

Students who request extra help (and can document their need for it) are far more likely to get aid these days.

• Compare loans:
  • http://www.studentlendinganalytics.com
  • http://www.SimpleTuition.com
• It’s What You Didn’t Think Of (page 66)
  • Storage containers.
  • Gym membership.
  • Parking and car registration fees.
  • The latest iPod incarnation.
  • School pride gear.
  • Formal wear.
  • Flu-fighting vitamins.
  • Paper costs.
  • Food storage – rent a small fridge each semester.
• Out of State at In-State Rates (page 71)
  • Know no boundaries.
    • 4 geographically based programs: The Midwest program; Academic Common Market (South); Western Undergraduate Exchange (West); New England Board of Higher Education Regional Student Program
  • Escapes – vacations.

Other Links

• http://www.whatwilltheylearn.com/
• http://www.CollegeClickTV.com
• Education Trust (graduation rates) – http://www.collegeresults.org
• http://www.usnews.com/college
  • Racial Diversity (page 40) – diversity index (0.0 to 1.0)
  • Economic Diversity (page 41) – pell grants ratio
  • International Students (page 41) – percentage
• http://www.TheU.com
• http://www.CollegeConfidential.com
• http://www.cnews.com/worldcolleges
• http://www.cnews.com//morsecode – blog
• http://www.cnews.com/opinion
• http://www.cnews.com/studentcenter
• http://www.cnews.com/worldcolleges
• http://www.cnews.com/bestcareers
• http://www.USNewsUniversityDirectory.com

Books – Prepare for College

What Colleges Don’t Tell You (And Other Parents Don’t Want You to Know): 272 Secrets for Getting Your Kid into the Top Schools

What High Schools Don’t Tell You: 300+ Secrets to Make Your Kid Irresistible to Colleges by Senior Year

From Here to Freshman Year: Tips, Timetables, and To Dos that Get You into College

The Ultimate College Acceptance System: Everything You Need to Know to Get into the Right College for You

Last Updated: September 19, 2008

Checklist for Seniors – Preparing for College

• Work with your school counselor to reviewyour senior transcripts to make sure that you are on track and/or has a plan for high school graduation.
• Check the college catalogues and /or the computers in the Career Center for information about the colleges that interest you. Ask to do a college search if you are undecided. Decide on 5-7 colleges as your goals. One should be a “sure shot,” one a “maybe” and one a “long shot”.
• Mark your calendar to attend any college night in your area.
• Invest in a calendar and mark the deadlines for college applications, tests, financial aid, housing, and recommendations.
• Complete a UC or CSU eligibility worksheet to see what you must do to be eligible for admission if you wish to attend a campus in either system.
• By December, preferably October, finish taking the necessary entrance exams for colleges. Register for SAT I and SAT II (subject tests) at www.collegeboard.com and for ACT at www.act.org.
• Seniors who plan to play Division I or Division II athletics must register with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at www.ncaa.org
• Begin planning for college expenses involving tuition, room, board, books, and travel.
• Begin looking into financial aid and scholarship opportunities by checking with the Career Center.
• For Seniors applying to private colleges and universities: Completely fill out the ‘Parent Brag Sheet’ and ‘Senior Resume.’ (Copies are available in the Career Center.) Secure your letters of recommendation. Ask individuals who know you well and give them at least 3 weeks notice to complete this for you.
• Begin your college application essay(s). College application tips are available at www.collegeboard.com/student/apply/essay-skills and tips for writing the UC Personal Statement can be found at www.universityofcalifornia.edu/admissions. There are also several books available on this subject in the career center at SRV and your counselor is a great resource in this area too.
• Explore the COIN career guidance system and/or take the Major Interest Inventory Test for help in choosing a college major in the Career Center.
• Think seriously about college criteria (for example, do you want to attend a large or small school? Do you want a sports program or other special interest activities on the campus? How far away from home do you wish to be?)
• Attend college representative meetings in the Career Center to hear more about colleges you are considering.

Last Updated: September 10, 2008

Is test score important?

No test score? No problem!

Currently, about 750 colleges and universities across the country are test optional, but Wake Forest is the most well known of the group.

Last Updated: June 3, 2008

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Why go to college?

May be a better question is, “What do you want to do for the rest of your life?“

In 1997, President Clinton referred to education as “the fault line between those who will prosper in the new economy and those who will not“.

A college education will offer you:

• Gain information and skills that you’ll use for the rest of your life
  • Expand your knowledge and skills.
  • Express your thoughts clearly in speech and in writing
  • Grasp abstract concepts and theories
  • Increase your understanding of the world and your community
• More Money/Future earnings
  Though money isn’t the only reason to consider a particular career, remember that a job that pays well offers more personal choices.
  • Statistics from U.S. Department of Education (2004):
    • A high school dropout earned $22,100/year.
    • A high school graduate earned $30,056.
    • A college graduate earned $54,704.
  • In 1998, male college graduate, aged 25 to 34, earned 63% more than his counterpart who did not attend college.
  • According to the 2001 U.S. Census:
    • college graduates earned $1 million more during their lifetimes than high school graduates
  • U.S. Census Bureau, 2004:
    • lifetime earnings for a person with a college degree is about 3 times that of a person without this education
    • $1.5 million versus $500,000
• More Job Opportunities or career choices
  
• More Freedom
  • living on a college campus with other students,
  • meeting people from all over the country and world,
  • studying abroad (see, it pays to learn a foreign language), and
  • choosing your own cool courses

Keep Your Options Open!

Thinking ahead doesn’t mean you have to know right now what you want to do “when you grow up.” It’s okay not to know yet.

*Note: The income is based on year round full-time workers. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2006 Annual Social and Economic Supplement

Source:

• WHAT CAN A COLLEGE EDUCATION DO FOR ME?
• Why Get a College Degree?
• Why go to College?
• Why go to College?
• 10 Reasons to Go to College
• Sure You Should Go to College?
• College Planning for Gifted Students: Choosing And Getting into the Right College

Last Updated: June 3, 2008

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