GETTING STARTED IN THE COLLEGE SELECTION PROCESS

Ben Shoemaker

Interim Director of Admission

Otterbein University

&

Keith Gehres

Assistant Director

Ohio State University

6 TOPICS1. Selecting a college, where to start

2. Researching colleges

3. Visiting campus effectively

4. What colleges look for

5. What factors influence admission

6. Misconceptions about preparing for and attending college

SELECTING A COLLEGE: WHERE TO START?

Develop criteria Your ideal school? Size, location, majors,

types of students… Gather information

guidebooks web/internet searches Counselors, teachers, professionals,

friends, family

PRIVATE COLLEGES 50+ in Ohio, over 130,000 students Diversity of schools: liberal arts, nursing,

professional schools (CCAD) Small classes taught by professors Opportunities for research, leadership,

internships Strong graduation rates Tuition ranges $8,400 - $40,240 Financial aid/scholarships

PUBLIC COLLEGES

13 in Ohio with 27 regional campuses Range in size from 2,000 to 42,000 Wide variety of academic major options Opportunities for research, leadership,

internships Tuition ranges $2,600 - $11,400 Merit and Need-based Financial Aid

RESEARCHING COLLEGES

Over 3200 colleges nationwide, how to find a good match

College handbooks and guides Websites College catalogs and viewbooks Colleges visiting your high school High school counselor On campus visits Suburban multicultural college fair in April Suburban college fair in September

RESEARCHING COLLEGES

Important considerations Admission policy Majors and course offerings Support and success services Campus life and housing Location and size Private or public Religious affiliation Physical facilities Cost

RESEARCHING COLLEGES

Favorite college search sites www.collegeboard.com

Select “find a college” www.princetonreview.com

Select “counselor-o-matic”

Plan ahead for a visit (spring of junior year!) Ask the college what they recommend Be certain that classes are in session Information session or formal interview Is the tour a walking tour

Ask a lot of questions Prepare a list ahead of time Know the institution Be ready to talk (students, this means you)

VISITING CAMPUSES EFFECTIVELY

Find the experts Students: social life, residence halls, classes,

professors Faculty: department strengths, success of

graduates, opportunities like internships or research Coaches, band directors, organization advisors:

schedule of activities, what kind of competition can you expect, how to prepare for audition or try-outs

Admission/Financial Aid Counselors: costs, scholarship opportunities, college stats like retention rates, chances of being admitted, special support services, safety issues –those things that are a concern to you

VISITING CAMPUSES EFFECTIVELY

If you are looking at a residential campus, the student is going to live there, not just go to school

Eat the food See a room: classroom/residence hall room Arrange an overnight visit if possible Attend a campus event

VISITING CAMPUSES EFFECTIVELY

VISITING CAMPUSES EFFECTIVELY

Ask interactive questions Describe interactions with your professors? What do you and your friends do for fun? What did you do last weekend? What extra expenses surprised you? How do you get around campus/town? How many times did you go home last

term/year?

Apply with care! Gather application materials

(paper, web, common app) Know the deadlines Note requirements

High school transcript Standardized test scores

(ACT, SAT I, SAT II) Essay Recommendations Interviews

WHAT COLLEGES LOOK FOR

High School Performance Four year college prep curriculum Performance based on GPA/class rank Grade trends Rigor of curriculum Competitiveness of high school

WHAT COLLEGES LOOK FOR

Standardized test scores May help to pinpoint strengths and

weaknesses May be used for placement May be used for scholarship cut-offs May not be weighed as heavily if high school

record is strong May need to include writing section for ACT May not be required at all

WHAT COLLEGES LOOK FOR

WHAT COLLEGES LOOK FOR

Extracurricular activities Never replaces academic preparation and performance Consistent involvement and leadership important

Service Consistent involvement Impact on student and/or community May lead to special scholarships

Other factors Legacy Diversity Religious affiliation Special talents Interviews

WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE ADMISSION?

NACAC 2011 admission trend survey High school graduates

Number of high school grads peaked in 2008-2009 Population expected to decline through 2014-2015

and remain below 2009 levels through at least 2020-2021

Wide variations by state and region Racial/ethnic composition changing

Total college enrollment 2009: approximately 20.4 million students enrolled 2020: enrollment will grow to an estimated 23

million students

WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE ADMISSION?

Local admission trends Students apply earlier

Early decision (binding) Early action (non-binding) Single choice early action (hybrid)

Students apply more often Impact on decision

Surprise by increasing selectivity Different for current students than siblings and

parents Increasing use of technology

Makes exploration easier but can be overwhelming

Fiction: Getting into college is the hardest partFact: For most students, completing college is the

hardest part

Fiction: My senior year does not matterFact: Senior classes determine which classes you may

take and how well prepared you are for those classes

STUDENT MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PREPARING FOR AND ATTENDING

COLLEGE

Fiction: It’s better to take easier classes in high school and get better gradesFact: One of the best predictors of college success is

taking rigorous courses

Fiction: I can take whatever classes I want when I get to collegeFact: Most colleges require entering students to take

placement exams in core subject areas

STUDENT MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT PREPARING FOR AND ATTENDING

COLLEGE