Finding a College thats Right for You

1
Finding a College thats Right for You

• Seniors the time is NOW to get your college
  list complete
• Freshman, Sophomores, Juniors its not too early
  to start exploring your options.

2
Tonights agenda

• Criteria for selecting colleges
• Valuable resources
• Websites
• Career Center
• Important Dates and deadlines

3
Objective Criteria

• Academics (Majors,study abroad)
• Size
• Location
• Cost
• Student Life
• Dorms, Greek, off campus
• Residential vs. commuter
• Athletics, Activities, Music, Theater
• Admissions requirements
• Freshman profiles

4
How do I Feel ?

• College Visits
• Fall Previews
• Junior weekends
• School Culture
• Diversity
• Tours
• Housing

5
Introspection helps to find the fit

• Who you are and what characteristics are you
  looking for.
• Do you like being an observer or a participant?
• Are you religious?
• Do you want to stay close to home or go somewhere
  new?
• Do you see yourself at a liberal arts college, or
  do you prefer the comparative anonymity of a
  major research university?

6
Introspection means finding the fit

• Do student-teacher ratios matter?
• Do you plan to join a fraternity or sorority?
• Apply to all schools regardless of budget (then
  determine if it fits the budget)

7
College Selectivity

• Based on admissions rates, resources, enrollment,
  pedigree (in demand)
• Most Difficult
• I.e. Ivy league - Harvard, Yale
• Stanford, Columbia, Duke, Pomona
• Very Difficult
• UPS, Whitman, Whitworth
• Moderately Difficult
• UW, SU, PLU, Gonzaga
• Minimally Difficult
• Non Competitive

8
Public versus Private

• Differences
• Cost - (Private schools may offer more financial
  aid)
• Class size
• Application procedures
• Instructors versus Teachers Asst.?

9
The Final List(open to modification!)

• College List
• 5 colleges that have everything you need and can
  live with.
• 1 dream school
• 2-3 mid-range schools
• 1 safety school

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Where are Shorecrest students going?

• 4 - Year College 54
• 2 - Year College 31
• Vocational College 1
• Vocational Training 4
• Full-Time Employment 4
• Military 1
• Other/Undecided/Travel 5

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Valuable Resources

• www.collegeboard.com
• www.act.org
• www.wiche.edu
• www.fafsa.ed.gov
• www.ncaa.org
• www.checkoutacollege.com
• www.commonapp.org
• College websites

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Collegeboard.com

• Register for SAT
• Register early!!!!
• College Search-Matchmaker
• Major and Career Profiles
• Scholarship Search
• Fin. Aid Calculator
• Student and Parent Tips
• Information on Score Choice

13
WUE-Western Undergraduate Exchange

• Schools in the West for Less
• List of Schools and programs on line
• Requirements vary by school
• Idaho, Oregon, Arizona and more
• Out of state students pay 150 of instate tuition
• www.wue.wiche.edu

14
Career Center

• Website Shorecrest-Depts-Career
  Center-documents
• Events
• College visits
• Scholarships
• Announcements

15
Career Center

• Resource Books
• College search
• SAT/ACT study guides
• College catalogs and brochures
• Career information

16
College Application Deadlines

• Check College websites for specifics
• Most if not all applications found on line
• Washington State Colleges Posted in the Career
  Center
• The Common Application
• www.commonapp.org

17
Important Events

• College Admissions Essay Event 10/7
• College visits to Shorecrest
• National College Fair - Convention Center
• Sunday,10/18 12pm - 4pm
• Monday, 10/19 9am - 12pm
• Admissions Essay Editing 10/20 and 12/16
• Application workshops 11/4/09 and 11/12/09
• Financial Aid Night 12/1/2009
• College Goal Sunday - 1/31/10 2pm-4pm

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On my website

• Tonights Powerpoint
• Good Websites to use
• Deadlines
• Upcoming Events
• Scholarships
• Community College Website www.checkoutacolleg
  e.com
• www.shorelineschools.org/shorecrest