how to find the right college

How to Find the Best How to Find the Best College for YouCollege for You

Presented by Todd JohnsonPresented by Todd Johnson

[email protected]@collegeadmissionspartners.com© 2011© 2011

How Hard to Get Into CollegeHow Hard to Get Into College

EasyEasy

There are over 2,000 four year colleges in the There are over 2,000 four year colleges in the USUS

The average acceptance rate among all The average acceptance rate among all colleges is about 67%.colleges is about 67%.

Most colleges in this country accept the vast Most colleges in this country accept the vast majority of students who apply and many majority of students who apply and many accept anyone who applies.accept anyone who applies.


Almost impossibleAlmost impossible

Harvard last year accepted 7% of the Harvard last year accepted 7% of the students who applied. students who applied.

When you exclude recruited athletes, minority When you exclude recruited athletes, minority students, legacy students that number is students, legacy students that number is probably closer to 2% of the typical students probably closer to 2% of the typical students who applywho apply

And application numbers are up again this And application numbers are up again this yearyear


Only about 100 to 150 colleges in the US Only about 100 to 150 colleges in the US are considered competitiveare considered competitive

Competitive ranges from single digits to Competitive ranges from single digits to about 60% acceptanceabout 60% acceptance

Problem is that these are the only colleges Problem is that these are the only colleges that the media talks about.that the media talks about.

25 Ways Not to Choose a College25 Ways Not to Choose a College

1.1. Go where your friends go.Go where your friends go.

2.2. Go where the boyfriend/girlfriend goesGo where the boyfriend/girlfriend goes

3.3. Consider only colleges where mom or Consider only colleges where mom or dad went.dad went.

4.4. Go where mom or dad don’t want you to Go where mom or dad don’t want you to gogo

5.5. Consider only the quality of the Consider only the quality of the athletic teamsathletic teams


6.6. Go where the best parties areGo where the best parties are7.7. Look only at colleges within 50 milesLook only at colleges within 50 miles8.8. Don’t consider who you are and what Don’t consider who you are and what

you want from collegeyou want from college9.9. Consider the cost of a college in deciding Consider the cost of a college in deciding

where to applywhere to apply10. Don’t visit a college before deciding 10. Don’t visit a college before deciding

where to attendwhere to attend


11.11. Don’t investigate college safetyDon’t investigate college safety12.12. Let the choice just happen instead of Let the choice just happen instead of

taking charge of your future taking charge of your future13.13. Apply to colleges to make your Apply to colleges to make your

parents proud or impress your friendsparents proud or impress your friends14.14. Choose a college based on Choose a college based on

attractiveness of student bodyattractiveness of student body15.15. Believe that the harder the college is Believe that the harder the college is

to get in, the better it must beto get in, the better it must be


16.16. Assume that all colleges are the Assume that all colleges are the samesame

17.17. Rely on rankings in news magazinesRely on rankings in news magazines

18.18. Apply only to prestigious collegesApply only to prestigious colleges

19. 19. Rely on someone else’s opinionRely on someone else’s opinion

20.20. Be too shy to ask questionsBe too shy to ask questions


21.21. Rely on a college’s advertisingRely on a college’s advertising

22.22. Misjudge your ability to get admittedMisjudge your ability to get admitted

23.23. Ignore available resources to help Ignore available resources to help you find the right collegeyou find the right college

24.24. Don’t adequately investigate your Don’t adequately investigate your optionsoptions

25.25. Decide there is only one “right” Decide there is only one “right” collegecollege

Now is the time to start Now is the time to start college searchcollege search

Students have time to consider their Students have time to consider their optionsoptions

Students have time to prepare for, Students have time to prepare for, and take, standardized testsand take, standardized tests

Students have time to work on Students have time to work on applications and essays during the applications and essays during the summersummer

Standardized TestsStandardized Tests

ACTACT

SATSAT

SAT Subject TestsSAT Subject Tests

Which Test to TakeWhich Test to Take

Take a practice test of SAT and ACTTake a practice test of SAT and ACT

Free copies available from each companyFree copies available from each company

Focus on test that you do better on.Focus on test that you do better on.

Buy Test Prep book from that companyBuy Test Prep book from that company

Mistake No. 1Mistake No. 1

Fitting the student to the collegeFitting the student to the college

With this approach the student tries to fit their With this approach the student tries to fit their wants and needs to whatever is available at the wants and needs to whatever is available at the college they happened to choose. college they happened to choose.

This approach often fails because the needs of This approach often fails because the needs of the student aren’t met by that college.the student aren’t met by that college.

Problem with that approachProblem with that approach

In Minnesota 20% of 1In Minnesota 20% of 1stst year students year students transfer to a different college for 2transfer to a different college for 2ndnd year year Credits don’t always transferCredits don’t always transfer Classes don’t always transferClasses don’t always transfer Can be difficult to meet friends after everyone Can be difficult to meet friends after everyone

gets to know each other the first yeargets to know each other the first year

Problem with that approachProblem with that approach

54% of students entering a 4 year college have 54% of students entering a 4 year college have actually graduatedactually graduated 6 6 years lateryears later

Not graduating from college reduces the average Not graduating from college reduces the average earnings for a student.earnings for a student.

Not graduating in 4 years means the student has Not graduating in 4 years means the student has additional years of being in college and paying for additional years of being in college and paying for college. college.

Every year past 4 years is a year that the student isn’t Every year past 4 years is a year that the student isn’t able to be a part of the work force making money. able to be a part of the work force making money.

Best way to find the right collegeBest way to find the right college

Before talking about any particular college, Before talking about any particular college, the student should ask, “What do the student should ask, “What do II want want from a college?”from a college?”

The student needs to think about who they The student needs to think about who they are and not who everyone else wants them to are and not who everyone else wants them to be. be.

There are no right or wrong answers hereThere are no right or wrong answers here

Things to considerThings to consider

Size of collegeSize of college Location of collegeLocation of college Academic offerings availableAcademic offerings available Academic strength of collegeAcademic strength of college Non academic offerings availableNon academic offerings available

Sports teamsSports teams Extracurricular activitiesExtracurricular activities

Feel of a collegeFeel of a college

Can’t decide?Can’t decide?

Often, the student doesn’t know what they Often, the student doesn’t know what they want because they don’t know what the want because they don’t know what the options are like. options are like.

Size as an example. If the student doesn’t Size as an example. If the student doesn’t know what size college they want then-know what size college they want then- Visit different size colleges.Visit different size colleges.

Large UniversityLarge University Mid Sized UniversityMid Sized University Small CollegeSmall College

Visit CollegesVisit Colleges

The more colleges a student visits before The more colleges a student visits before making a decision, the better the decision making a decision, the better the decision usually is.usually is.

Colleges that appear the same on paper Colleges that appear the same on paper may have a very different feel.may have a very different feel.

Visit colleges during spring break or Visit colleges during spring break or vacations.vacations.

Summer not the best time to visit.Summer not the best time to visit.

Finding a collegeFinding a college

Once the student has determined what Once the student has determined what they want from a college, then it is time to they want from a college, then it is time to find a college that meets the criteria set by find a college that meets the criteria set by the student. the student.

Research colleges on the internetResearch colleges on the internet College Navigator from US Dept of EducationCollege Navigator from US Dept of Education College Matchmaker from College BoardCollege Matchmaker from College Board

When to ApplyWhen to Apply

By starting process early, Juniors can By starting process early, Juniors can know by summer what colleges they will know by summer what colleges they will apply toapply to

With early knowledge, students can With early knowledge, students can consider early decision and early actionconsider early decision and early action

These provide advantages in the These provide advantages in the admissions processadmissions process


Not knowing the questions to ask of the colleges you are investigating

Questions for the collegesQuestions for the colleges

Retention RateRetention Rate

How many Freshmen How many Freshmen return for Sophomore return for Sophomore Year? Higher Rate Year? Higher Rate Indicates Satisfaction!Indicates Satisfaction!

Graduation RateGraduation Rate

How many graduate How many graduate within 4 years? Higher within 4 years? Higher rate generally indicates rate generally indicates school cares about its school cares about its students! Also cheaper students! Also cheaper if you can graduate in 4 if you can graduate in 4 years rather than 5 or 6 years rather than 5 or 6 years or not at all.years or not at all.

Retention and Graduation rates Retention and Graduation rates in Minnesota 4 year collegesin Minnesota 4 year colleges

Retention rates vary from 98% to 69%Retention rates vary from 98% to 69%

4 year graduation rates vary from 91% to 4 year graduation rates vary from 91% to 3%3%


Not understanding how financial aid Not understanding how financial aid works at collegesworks at colleges

Cost of CollegeCost of College

Need to understand Need to understand college financial aid college financial aid BEFORE choosing a BEFORE choosing a college.college.

Failure to understand how Failure to understand how financial aid works costs financial aid works costs many families thousands many families thousands of dollars each year. of dollars each year.

Financial AidFinancial Aid Many colleges have lots of money Many colleges have lots of money

available for financial aidavailable for financial aid Private colleges in particularPrivate colleges in particular Often same price to go to private Often same price to go to private

college compared to public college college compared to public college because financial aid better at because financial aid better at private collegeprivate college

Don’t initially eliminate a school Don’t initially eliminate a school from consideration because of cost.from consideration because of cost.

Financial AidFinancial Aid

Two types of aid availableTwo types of aid available All schools give financial aid based on All schools give financial aid based on

“need”“need” Some schools give financial aid based Some schools give financial aid based

on merit i.e. high grades, test scores or on merit i.e. high grades, test scores or particular talent in art or sports.particular talent in art or sports.

Need Based Financial AidNeed Based Financial Aid

Two forms used to determine need. Two forms used to determine need. FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student FAFSA-Free Application for Federal Student

AidAid Required by all schools for federal aid including Required by all schools for federal aid including

certain types of loans. certain types of loans. CSS Profile form CSS Profile form

Used by many selective schools to determine who Used by many selective schools to determine who gets aid from the college directly. gets aid from the college directly.

These forms calculate an EFC, expected These forms calculate an EFC, expected family contribution. family contribution.

Definition of Need Definition of Need

Cost of attendance (COA)Cost of attendance (COA)

– – Expected family contribution Expected family contribution (EFC)(EFC)

= = Financial needFinancial need

Need Varies Based on CostNeed Varies Based on Cost

X

Y

Z

Cost of Expected Family NeedAttendance Contribution (Variable) (Variable) (Constant)

1

2

3

EFC EFC


Need to know if college provides 100% of Need to know if college provides 100% of needneed School costs $40,000. School costs $40,000. EFC calculated at $8,000. EFC calculated at $8,000. Need is $32,000Need is $32,000

If college covers 100% of need they will give If college covers 100% of need they will give $32,000 in grants, loans and work study. $32,000 in grants, loans and work study.

Cost to family is $8,000Cost to family is $8,000


If college provides 80% of needIf college provides 80% of need College costs College costs $24,000. $24,000. EFC calculated at $8,000. EFC calculated at $8,000. Need is $16,000Need is $16,000

If college covers 80% of need they will give 80% If college covers 80% of need they will give 80% of $16,000 or $12,800 in grants, loans and work of $16,000 or $12,800 in grants, loans and work study. study.

Cost to family is $8,000 EFC plusCost to family is $8,000 EFC plus $3,200 $3,200 in unmet need for total costin unmet need for total cost of of $11,200. $11,200.

Question for CollegesQuestion for Colleges

What percent of my need does What percent of my need does your college meet? your college meet?

The higher the percentage the less money The higher the percentage the less money you will generally have to pay.you will generally have to pay.

Merit Based Financial AidMerit Based Financial Aid

Some colleges offer merit aid, also known Some colleges offer merit aid, also known as scholarships, to encourage students to as scholarships, to encourage students to come that might otherwise choose another come that might otherwise choose another school. school.

The stronger the student compared to The stronger the student compared to average student at that college, the better average student at that college, the better the chance of getting merit aid.the chance of getting merit aid.

Questions for CollegesQuestions for Colleges

Do you have merit based aid?Do you have merit based aid?

How much merit aid is available? How much merit aid is available?

What is the criteria to get, and What is the criteria to get, and keep,that aid? keep,that aid?

Financial AidFinancial Aid

Important to start looking now Important to start looking now at how each college handles at how each college handles financial aid.financial aid.

How each college answers How each college answers these questions should be a these questions should be a factor in deciding where your factor in deciding where your student might want to attend.student might want to attend.

Outside ScholarshipsOutside Scholarships

What is an outside scholarshipWhat is an outside scholarship

Who benefits from an outside scholarshipWho benefits from an outside scholarship

How do you find an outside scholarshipHow do you find an outside scholarship Your high schoolYour high school On the webOn the web

Final ThoughtsFinal Thoughts

Look for the right, unique fit for your Look for the right, unique fit for your studentstudent

Remember to fit colleges to the Remember to fit colleges to the student and not the student to the student and not the student to the collegecollege

Contacting Todd JohnsonContacting Todd Johnson

Email Email [email protected]@collegeadmissionspartners.com

WebWeb www.collegeadmissionspartners.comwww.collegeadmissionspartners.com

TelephoneTelephone 952-449-5245952-449-5245

Free ½ hour consultation to discuss specific Free ½ hour consultation to discuss specific needs or questionsneeds or questions

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