Picking the right college for you

Picking the right college for you

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  Zach Elder Newport NewsLibrary System
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  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
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  Know Yourself Before lookingat 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?
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  Things not todo  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
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  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
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  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
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  Academic Fit  AmI 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?
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  Social Fit  Domost 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?
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  Financial Fit  Whatare 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?
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  How do youresearch “fit”?  Resources  Webpage, brochures  Secondary sources; e.g. US News, College Board  College Fairs
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  What to lookfor  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
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  What to lookfor 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
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  What to lookfor 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
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  Admissions Profile  Numberof 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
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  Final lists  Pick1-2 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
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  Final Thoughts  Havea question you can’t answer: Ask an alum  Always have a backup plan  Don’t be afraid to ask for help
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  Keep coming backfor 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) [email protected] Twitter: @LibrarianZach