Going Away to College

Choosing The Right College Fit

Dr. Rebecca Joseph California State University, Los Angeles@getmetocollege getmetocollege@gmail.com

There are colleges for you…There are colleges for you…There are several thousand colleges in the

country. The large majority of them want California

students and come shopping here each spring and fall. They come in all shapes and sizes.

Going out of the area some times is the best way to get a merit scholarship or find the school with the right mix of academic, extracurricular, and social features.

Building A College ListBuilding A College List

• LocationLocation• SizeSize• Rah-rah/SpiritRah-rah/Spirit• AcademicsAcademics• Merit scholarshipsMerit scholarships• ConnectionsConnections• Alumni ConnectionsAlumni Connections• Financial AidFinancial Aid

How do I find schools?How do I find schools?

College Guides-BooksCollege Guides-Books

• 2015 Fiske Guide 2015 Fiske Guide • Great write-upsGreat write-ups• Overlap CollegesOverlap Colleges

• Steve Antonoff has two Steve Antonoff has two booksbooks

• College MatchCollege Match• Great series of questions to help prioritize type of Great series of questions to help prioritize type of

schoolsschools

• College FinderCollege Finder• Has different lists –best school for snowboarders. Best Has different lists –best school for snowboarders. Best

schools for progressive kids. Best undergraduate schools for progressive kids. Best undergraduate business programsbusiness programs

College Information-OnlineCollege Information-Online

• Each college has online materials.Each college has online materials.• Websites: Big Future. College GreenlightWebsites: Big Future. College Greenlight• Online College Tours: Youniversity TV has Online College Tours: Youniversity TV has

great videosgreat videos• Cappex has a great website with linksCappex has a great website with links• Great online college resources.Great online college resources.

• College Week LiveCollege Week Live• College GreenlightCollege Greenlight

In person…In person…• Campus toursCampus tours• College FairsCollege Fairs

• Greater Los Angeles National College Fair• Pasadena Convention Center• Thursday, April 30: 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.; 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

• Colleges That Change Lives • Los Angeles, CA; Sun., July 26, 2015; Universal City

• College or Groups of College Visits to LA. Fall and SpringCollege or Groups of College Visits to LA. Fall and Spring• Exploring College Options. Harvard, Duke, Georgetown, Penn, Exploring College Options. Harvard, Duke, Georgetown, Penn,

StanfordStanford• Los Angeles, CA - San Fernando Valley. Warner Center Marriott• Wednesday, May 13, 7:00 pm

• Visits to your schoolsVisits to your schools

How To Build A College List

How to Build A Great ListHow to Build A Great List• Every school on your list must be a Every school on your list must be a

school you are willing to attend.school you are willing to attend.• Every school on your list can be Every school on your list can be

separated into different categories. separated into different categories. • Reaching for the StarsReaching for the Stars• StretchStretch• 50-5050-50• LikelyLikely

• Have an equal number of colleges in Have an equal number of colleges in each category. If you knock one off, each category. If you knock one off, you need to add another one on.you need to add another one on.

Benefits of Different Benefits of Different CollegesColleges

• These schools offer amazing academic, These schools offer amazing academic, extracurricular, and social opportunities. extracurricular, and social opportunities.

• They offer internships and access to They offer internships and access to tremendous support programs.tremendous support programs.

• They have world class professors who want They have world class professors who want to work with our students. to work with our students.

• These schools offer access to fantastic These schools offer access to fantastic programming, individualized attention, and programming, individualized attention, and incredible students from around the world.incredible students from around the world.

• Many of the non-Ivy League colleges offer Many of the non-Ivy League colleges offer different kinds of merit scholarshipsdifferent kinds of merit scholarships

Public Colleges• There are state funded colleges and are traditionally much There are state funded colleges and are traditionally much

cheaper than private colleges. cheaper than private colleges. • Each state has its own system of public universities. Each state has its own system of public universities. • The University of CA has 9 campuses. The CSUs have 23.The University of CA has 9 campuses. The CSUs have 23.• Other states have public universities. Flagship campuses are their Other states have public universities. Flagship campuses are their

top campus—University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of top campus—University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Texas-Austin, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Texas-Austin, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

• They also have all kinds of other great public universities. In this They also have all kinds of other great public universities. In this economy they are looking for out of state tuition and diverse economy they are looking for out of state tuition and diverse students. students.

• There are also exchanges. The Western Undergraduate Exchange There are also exchanges. The Western Undergraduate Exchange that gives financial discounts at many out of state colleges for that gives financial discounts at many out of state colleges for California students. California students. http://wiche.edu/wuehttp://wiche.edu/wue..

• These colleges have their own applications with their own These colleges have their own applications with their own requirements. Do research if you have an area of the country that requirements. Do research if you have an area of the country that interests you.interests you.

•Private CollegesPrivate Colleges• TThey come in all shapes and sizes. Some are very selective. The Ivy League hey come in all shapes and sizes. Some are very selective. The Ivy League

is the top tier with many of their colleges only accepting 6 to 10% of students is the top tier with many of their colleges only accepting 6 to 10% of students who apply. There are middle level and small colleges all over. The large who apply. There are middle level and small colleges all over. The large majority are desperately seeking diverse students, and they canmajority are desperately seeking diverse students, and they can’’t find them. t find them. Their costs range from $10,000 to $57,000 per year include tuition, room, Their costs range from $10,000 to $57,000 per year include tuition, room, board, and other costs.board, and other costs.

• Some private colleges are religious and are looking for students who match Some private colleges are religious and are looking for students who match their religious beliefs. Others are Jesuit and accept all students. Jesuit colleges their religious beliefs. Others are Jesuit and accept all students. Jesuit colleges are very open to undocumented students. are very open to undocumented students.

• Other private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great education within non-Other private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great education within non-technical fields. They offer great access to professors, amazing activities, and technical fields. They offer great access to professors, amazing activities, and resources. resources.

• Still others are technical or arts-related. There are schools like Boston Still others are technical or arts-related. There are schools like Boston Conservatory or The Maryland Institute of the Arts that only have programs for Conservatory or The Maryland Institute of the Arts that only have programs for music or acting or art. Others are technical like MIT and only have programs music or acting or art. Others are technical like MIT and only have programs related to math and science and engineering and technology.related to math and science and engineering and technology.

More Privates…More Privates…• Other private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great education Other private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great education

within non-technical fields. They offer great access to professors, within non-technical fields. They offer great access to professors, amazing activities, and resources. amazing activities, and resources.

• Still others are technical or arts-related. There are schools like Boston Still others are technical or arts-related. There are schools like Boston Conservatory or The Maryland Institute of the Arts that only have Conservatory or The Maryland Institute of the Arts that only have programs for music or acting or art. Others are technical like MIT and programs for music or acting or art. Others are technical like MIT and only have programs related to math and science and engineering and only have programs related to math and science and engineering and technology.technology.

How Do I Afford These How Do I Afford These CollegesColleges

• Colleges themselves have diversity and presidential scholarships. Colleges themselves have diversity and presidential scholarships. Students can research on college websites to find these Students can research on college websites to find these scholarships. USC and the Ucs have merit scholarships. Private scholarships. USC and the Ucs have merit scholarships. Private colleges have academic and merit and service scholarshipscolleges have academic and merit and service scholarships

• There are special major scholarships—Morehead-Cain (UNC). There are special major scholarships—Morehead-Cain (UNC). Robertson (Duke-UNC). Jeffersonian (UVA). Find these Robertson (Duke-UNC). Jeffersonian (UVA). Find these scholarships and apply.scholarships and apply.

• Again the Western Undergraduate Exchange. Again the Western Undergraduate Exchange. • The Ivy League and many other colleges are need-blind. The Ivy League and many other colleges are need-blind.

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/11/1114_tuitionfree/index_01.htmhttp://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/11/1114_tuitionfree/index_01.htm This means they accept you and then offer you the money to This means they accept you and then offer you the money to come. come.

• Colleges will often match other college offers.Colleges will often match other college offers.

Final WordsFinal Words

• You will find a great college to attend.You will find a great college to attend.• Kids rarely remember where they didn’t get in. They Kids rarely remember where they didn’t get in. They

focus on where they are.focus on where they are.• Want what you can have. Don’t focus on out of Want what you can have. Don’t focus on out of

reach colleges. reach colleges. • Completing great applications now makes a Completing great applications now makes a

difference.difference.• Plan to visit colleges to demonstrate your interestPlan to visit colleges to demonstrate your interest

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