Your decision about which college to attend is one of the most important choices in life you will ever make. Planning for your college education and college degree needs to begin early. The college you choose to attend can in some cases affect many other opportunities in life such as: where you will live, how much you will make, what you will do for a career and in some cases even who you will marry, as many couples meet in college. It is the place that you go to learn about the adult world and how to handle all that comes with that such as cooking, laundry, paying bills and taking care of yourself. You will form lasting relationships as well as professional contacts for the future. This decision needs to be an informed and educated one. There are a great many resources available to you to help you make this decision; your parents, teachers, guidance counselor, family and friends. This guide will bring to you my experience in academics and admission counseling in a nationally ranked private Catholic University as well as my personal knowledge, not only for me but helping my children choose a college.
Start Early - College Preparation begins in High School
There are a great deal of requirements in order to be accepted into college as well as receiving scholarships and financial aid.
In order for your application to place highly in the application process it is important to pursue a well rounded academic program in high school. This program should include four years in English (which may include classes in: Literature and Composition), three to four years in Mathematics (Algebra, Calculus, Trigonometry); two to three years History and Geography (Civics, Geography, U.S. History,) and two -four years Science (Biology, Chemistry, Earth Sciences for example) and two to four years of Foreign Language. In order to be considered a well rounded education, it should include Visual and Performing Arts, and Challenging or Accelerated Placement Electives.
Set your strategy-- Important Questions to Consider Before You Begin Your College Search
- Why do I want to go to college?
- What do I hope to achieve in college?
- Do I have some idea of what I want to study or for which job I want to prepare?
- Do I want to live at home or go away for school?
- Do I prefer an urban, suburban, or rural environment?
- Would I be happier in a small college or at a large university?
Types of Colleges and Universities to Choose From - What kind of college degree do you want and need?
Community College: 2 year public colleges
Technical Colleges: Special emphasis on education and training in technical fields
Junior Colleges: Private 2 year colleges
Four-Year Colleges: Provide four-year educational programs in the arts and sciences and confer bachelor's degrees
Universities: Postsecondary schools that include a college of arts and/or sciences, one or more programs of graduate studies, and one or more professional schools. Confer bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. degrees. Many also confer professional degrees such as in law or medicine.
College Degrees and Your Choice of Career
Choosing the type of college to attend will be greatly influenced by the job you ultimately want to have. Below are samples careers and the required education.
TWO -YEAR COLLEGE (Associate's Degree) Administrative Assistant, Automotive Mechanic, Cardiovascular Technician, Commercial Artist, Computer Technician, Dental Hygienist, Drafter, Engineering Technician, Funeral Director, Graphic Designer, Hotel & Restaurant Manager, Medical Laboratory, Technician, Insurance Agent, Registered Nurse, Surgical Technologist, Visual Artist, Water and Wastewater, Treatment Plant Operator
FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE (Bachelor's Degree) Accountant,Computer Systems Analyst, Dietitian, Editor, Engineer, FBI Agent, Investment Banker, Journalist, Medical Illustrator, Pharmacist, Public Relations Specialist, Recreational Therapist, Research Assistant, Social Worker, Teacher, Writer
MORE THAN FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE ((Various Graduate Degrees Required)Architect, Biologist, Chiropractor, Dentist, Diplomat, Doctor, Economist, Geologist, Lawyer, Librarian, Management Consultant, Paleontologist, Priest, Psychologist, Rabbi, Scientist, University Professor, Veterinarian
Start Your College Search Research and Create a List of Potential Schools for Application
Once you have decided on what type of education you will need to establish yourself in your chosen career field and carefully considered the important questions of what you want to achieve by attending college it is time to start your college search. But how do you find out about colleges and universities and what they have to offer? What are good sources of information about college ranking, sports, college life, college population and diversity, housing and other important topics to students performing a college search? There are several valuable online tools available to you including:
Princeton Review: An excellent online resource that allows you to establish an account so you can save your search results and information as well as find out information about colleges and universities so you can make comparisons. You have tools available to you such as a career quiz guide, browsing by career, field or major, as well as rankings and listing of colleges. The ranking section includes best value college information; best colleges by region and quality of life at college.
US News and World Report: This website provides students searching for schools a tool box to save their searches in, and ranking across the United States according to a variety of different specifications including location, majors, financial aid and campus life. If you are already interested in a specific college or university it can provide you with that schools ranking, population, and other important details you should know prior to applying.
Newsweek and Kaplan: This partnership recently released their edition of the twenty five hottest colleges and universities according to program type, campus life, sports and more. Want to know what's hot and what's not; visit "25 Hottest Schools".
Now that you have a list of schools, evaluate them using these criteria.
There are several factors to consider as you evaluate as your options for attending a college or university.
College Location: Look at the schools close to home first. There are several reasons for doing so. First, if you attend a school in your home state there is the difference between in state and out of state tuition cost to consider. For example, in my home state of Texas, in state tuition at The University of Texas Austin for a Business major at 12+ hours is $4,454.00. For out of state students the cost of the exact same program is $12,861.00. Also, by living close to home you can still get a little help from mom and dad from time to time. However, if finances are not a primary concern or if you are offered scholarships from schools out of your state then be sure to compare the other factors to determine which one is the right school for you to attend.
College Academics: Most universities offer a standard range and selection of academic programs such as business, education, or political science. However, it is when you are choosing your specific program major that your consideration of the academic programs becomes very important. For example, a college may offer a program in Communications, but not in Journalism, which is your program of choice. Or the programs that they offer in your career choice may not have as many future opportunities as those offered at other universities. For example, you may choose Sports Journalism as your major. Sports Journalism at one school may not offer you the opportunities that it does at another. At the University of Houston, Sports Journalism majors may have opportunities to intern with professional sports teams, which will give these graduates a distinct advantage when they are job searching.
College Life: One of the first questions many prospective students ask a college tour guide is, "What's there to do around here?" Many prospective students mean, "How much "party-ing" can I accomplish while attending this college or university? However, prospective students also need information on extracurricular activities, fraternities, and sports as well as local and community events. Part of attending college is to experience as much of life as possible and it important to choose a college or university that includes your choice of free time activities. It helps if many of them are free to students!
Financial aid/scholarships: Many students decide to attend a school based on the scholarship and financial aid offerings that they receive. However, the fact that you received financial aid from a college or university should not be the sole determining factor for your choice of school. Make sure to compare the financial aid package. In some instances the school offering the financial aid package leaves the student with an outstanding balance and student loans that at the end of their education are actually higher than if they had attended another school without financial incentives. For example, Jeff was offered a financial aid package at X University, however, after comparing what he would owe after using the package and what he would owe at another lower priced college he realized that even with the incentive he would own more money by using the incentives that the school that did not offer them.
Program Diversity: Approximately 33% of students change majors after the first year. Make sure that your college of choice also has programs in the other areas of interests you have.
Limit Your Selections and Plan Your College Visits
Now that you have some schools in mind, you should choose at least 3 that are convenient for you to visit. Make sure that these are schools that you meet the minimum requirements to be accepted at and that you are genuinely interested in. Now is not the time for road trips, but to access as much information in person that you can by visiting the colleges or universities. Many schools have scheduled dates and times or may even offer Saturday open houses. Take advantage of every opportunity offered to you during your visit including attending a class, meeting with a counselor, discussing financial aid, taking a tour, and touring the residence halls (dorms). If you have a chance eat on campus or spend the night, you should. Remember after all this may be where you are sleeping and eating for the next four years. Keep in mind your answers to the questions regarding college and what you hope to accomplish and compare what you see and experience on your tour with your answers to these questions.
Get your Applications Ready! What is typically required for a college application?
Be certain to read the specific requirements by school. However, here is a list of basic requirements that you can come to expect.
- Application fee: Ranges in amount; check your school's website for information.
- Application: Some schools require a paper application others provide an application online. Applications are typically very detailed and include several college essays.
- High school transcript: You will first submit your current transcript and then upon graduation your final transcript is required. Many high schools require a payment for this service. A required cumulative grade point average (GPA) is normal for college and university entrance and may vary according to school. Your student ranking in high school may also be considered.
- ACT or SAT tests scores: Standardized tests performed by the Educational Testing Service. Many schools require a minimum test score which varies according to school. Some schools may accept either test. Test preparation programs vary from free local assistance at public libraries to tutoring and test preparation centers. Some of the most common test preparation programs are: Sylvan Learning Centers , Princeton Review, ACT Student.org, College Board.com, Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions
- Letter(s) of recommendation: These may be required and are most commonly provided by employers, teachers or guidance counselors or other school administrators and coaches.
- Extracurricular or community service activities information: May be included in a "personal essay" or on attached to your application.
Some programs have additional requirements, like an Education program may also require PPST test, be sure to check the requirements of the colleges or universities you have chosen.
Application deadlines: Be sure to note your college or university of choice deadlines for applications, application for student housing, financial aid and scholarships. Each school is different.
Each college and university is different; some may require all the items stated, others may only require a few. It is important to be organized when applying for school. The most important aspects of the application process are to be organized and to meet the stated deadlines.
Prepare for the Expense of College: College Loans, College Scholarships and Financial Aid
Financial Aid is one of the most important aspects of your college education. Some common terms you need to be aware of are:
FAFSA - the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. This form is required by all colleges and universities. Upon completion of this form a determination is made based on several factors of the amount of financial support that is needed, expected family contributions and which programs you may be eligible for. The form is available online at FAFSA.org. You may complete your FAFSA form as early as November the year before you plan on attending and many schools request that it is submitted by February 15th of the year you attend.
Student Loans: These are loans issued to a student that may or may not be interest bearing. The money is loaned to you as a student in order to attend college, however, after graduation you are required to repay the loan.
Parent Loans (PLUS): Parent sponsored student loans which may be used to pay for college tuition and expenses. They are interest bearing loans and in many cases require repayment during the year you are using them, almost like a "cash advance."
Individual state grants: Many states offer a variety of programs based on need or qualifications. Be sure to explore your states offers with your financial aid counselor.
Scholarships: Usually awarded based on qualifications or special circumstances. Many scholarships are awarded based on grades and sports. Other scholarships may be awarded based on ethnicity, programs, outstanding qualities or activities participated in during high school or you may be eligible for alumni scholarships if your parents have attended your college of choice. Start with your financial aid counselor and your guidance counselor in high school as your initial sources of scholarship information and follow up with program administrators at your university of choice.
The keys to attending the college of your choice include: gathering information, examining the information, exploring your options, staying organized and meeting deadlines. You can attend the school of your dreams, if you follow these simple rules and decide for yourself what the school of your choice is.
Additional Resources:
http://www.campusdirt.com/; http://www.campustours.com/, and http://www.vocational-schools-guide.com/; College Books & magazines, Next Step Magazine.com and College Bound.com
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