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JANUARY 25TH - Finding Your College Fit PDF

The document provides guidance on finding the right college fit. It discusses building a balanced list of likely, target, and reach schools based on GPA and test scores. A good fit is when academics, finances, and culture align. The panelist shares how knowing heart factors like location, diversity and activities helped her choose UC Irvine, where she thrived. Getting an early start and connecting with current students are advised to find the perfect college match.

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Rishav dey
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87 views20 pages

JANUARY 25TH - Finding Your College Fit PDF

The document provides guidance on finding the right college fit. It discusses building a balanced list of likely, target, and reach schools based on GPA and test scores. A good fit is when academics, finances, and culture align. The panelist shares how knowing heart factors like location, diversity and activities helped her choose UC Irvine, where she thrived. Getting an early start and connecting with current students are advised to find the perfect college match.

Uploaded by

Rishav dey
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 20

Finding Your College Fit

January 25th, 2022

1
Meet Our Panelist:

Alana Herbert
Urban Studies/Business Management

University of California Irvine, Class of 2015

2
Poll
What grade are you in?

3
What’s the process to finding your
college fit?

Four principles to finding your college fit:


1. Know Your Numbers
2. Build a SMART College List
3. Get an early start
4. Prepare for the cost of college

4
Why is college fit important?

When you attend a college that is a good fit for you


academically, financially, and culturally, you are more
likely to thrive in that environment resulting in better
performance, less stress, and an overall better experience.

5
Head Factors- Know Your Numbers

● You will be able to evaluate the implications of your GPA


and SAT/ACT scores.
● Understand how and when it is possible to improve your
numbers
● Financial ($$$):True cost of attendance & Affordability

6
Heart Factors

What makes you fall in love with a college:


Examples
Academics: major, class size, academic resources,etc
Social: student activities, diversity, weekend activities, etc
Other Preference: Location, religious affiliation, career
explorations, and overall feeling/vibe

7
What makes for a good college fit?

When science + art comes together :

Head Factors + Heart Factors = College Graduation

8
How do you build a smart college
list?

● A SMART College list is grounded in your own interested and


reflective of your GPA and SAT/ACT.
○ Step 1: is to know your number, long-term career
interests & goals, and the type of college you're
interested in.
○ Step 2: you should research through web searches,
videos, campus visits and summer programming
○ Step 3: Inspired by your research, you refine your list with
a goal to build a “balanced list of likely, target, and
reach schools.

9
What are likely , target, and reach
schools?

● Likely - Most of the time (75% or more), students


like you are admitted into the school. Ex: Dunk

● Target- 50/50 (50% of the students like you are


admitted into the school. Ex: Free Throw

● Reach- You have a ⅓ chance (less of 30%), at


best, of being admitted to this school. Ex:
3-pointer

10
How many reach, target, and likely
schools should I apply to?

● Balance is key!
● Minimum number of college to apply to 9-12.
● 3 likely, 3 targets, and 3 reach colleges

11
How does a student know if a school
is a reach, target, or likely school?

Every college shares average GPA & average test scores on


their website

● If your test scores and GPA is above the averages ~ likely


school
● If your test scores and GPA is within the average~ target
school
● If your test scores and GPA is below average ~ reach school
● collegescorecard.ed.gov/ - a great resource to search and
compare colleges by their field of study, costs, admission,
results, etc.

12
Why is it important to connect
with current students at your
desired colleges?

● Make connections to the college


● Learn from the source
● Helps identify if the school aligns to your heart factors

13
What was your experience of
selecting UC Irvine as your perfect
fit school?

● I didn’t have a balance wishlist applying to college


● UC Irvine was the perfect fit because it had the heart
factors that were important to me:
○ Location
○ Financial Aid & Scholarships
○ Student Organization - Sorority/Greek Life
○ Diversity
○ Arrange of academic interest-I applied
undeclared/undecided

14
What last advice would you give to
students looking for their perfect
college fit?

● Get an early start!


● Identify what is important to you!!!
● Your list can evolve; that’s okay :)

15
Questions
And
Answers
16
17
Questions
And
Answers
18
Thank you to our panelist!

Alana Herbert
Urban Studies/Business Management

University of California Irvine, Class of 2015

19
20

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