College & Career

RECOMMENDED WEBSITES FOR COLLEGE EXPLORATION

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

6 STEPS TO GAINING ADMISSION INTO COLLEGE

1. Work hard for good grades.
2. Enroll in challenging courses.
3. Spend time preparing for the college entrance exams (SAT or the ACT and SAT Subject Tests).
4. Polish your writing skills.
5. Establish relationships with teachers and advisors who can write strong letters of recommendation for you.
6. Get involved in activities, community service, or work experiences that will enable you to display your values, talents, and skills.

IDENTIFYING THE RIGHT COLLEGE FOR YOU

• Affiliation - Public or Private? Independent or Religion Affiliated?
• Size of the Student Body - Size will affect many of your opportunities and experiences, including: Range of academic majors offered, Extracurricular activities, Amount of personal attention you'll receive, When considering size, look beyond the raw number of students attending; a large school may offers some smaller departments or learning communities. Investigate not just the ratio of faculty to students, but how accessible faculty are.
• Location - Do you want to visit home frequently, or do you want to experience a new part of the country? Perhaps you want a city or urban location with access to museums, major league sports, or ethnic foods. Or maybe you prefer easy access to the outdoors or the culture of a small college town?
• Campus Life - Consider what life will be like beyond the classroom. Aim for a balance between academics, activities, and social life. Consider what extracurricular activities, athletics, and special interest groups are available? Does the community around the college offer interesting outlets for students and are students welcomed by the community? Think about the geographic, ethnic, racial and religious diversity of the students. How do fraternities and sororities influence campus life? How are dorms assigned? Is Housing guaranteed - and for how many years?

Research Colleges

• Academic Programs - If you know what you want to study, research reputations of academic departments by talking to people in the fields that interest you. If you are undecided, relax and pick an academically balanced institution that offers a range of majors and programs.
• Athletic Programs - If you are an Athlete, which sports are offered and what Division?
• Accreditation - Accreditation is a voluntary process of review and self-regulation by members of an accrediting agency. Accreditation ensures that the institution meets the basic standards of that particular Agency in their administrative procedures, physical facilities and the quality of their academic programs. There are many regional and national accrediting agencies with varying standards. Colleges accredited by an agency recognized by the US Department of Education meet the basic standards for college-level study, their students can apply for Federal Financial Aid and/or federal education tax breaks, and the degree you will earn at the end of your studies will be recognized by future employers.
• Admission Requirements - Required Course work, Tests, GPA?
• Selectivity - How many students apply each year and how many are accepted? What are the average GPA and Test Scores for those accepted?
• Retention and Graduation Rates - Learn the percent of students who return after the first year and the percent of entering students who remain to graduate. Comparatively good retention and graduation rates are indicators that responsible academic, social, and financial support systems exist for most students.
• If the Campus or Major is impacted due to overcrowding, what is the likelihood of getting the courses I need and what is the projected time required to complete the degree program?
• What is the school's policy regarding Advanced Placement high school courses?
• As a freshman, will I be taught by Professors or Teaching Assistants?
• Is the surrounding community safe?
• Can I Afford this College? Today's college price tags make cost an important consideration for most students. Most colleges work to ensure that academically qualified students from every economic circumstance can find financial aid.