College research 101

1. College research 101 Presenter: Quaynteece Mosby, Counselor Huntsville High School Huntsville City Schools

2. Before beginning your research, first search yourself… • What are your values? • What are your goals? • What is your learning style? • Which classes do you enjoy most? • What people, places, things, actions, and ideas make you happy?

3. “The 3 Fits” • Academic • Can I get in? • Can I compete? • Financial • Can we afford this school? • Social • Will I want to spend the next 4 years of my life here? • Will I like the people around me? • What can I give? What will I get?

4. College or University What type of institution are you researching? • What’s the difference between a college and a university? • Colleges offer only undergraduate programs and have smaller enrollments (below three thousand); Universities offer graduate programs up to the master’s and/or doctoral level and have larger enrollments (double digit thousands). • What’s the difference between private and public? • Private means that the colleges and universities are primarily funded by tuition, investments, and donors; Public means that the colleges and universities are primarily funded by state taxpayer funds and federal subsidies. • What’s a research university? • The mission of a research university is to generate cutting edge research and train graduate students with a strong focus on math and science. • What’s a liberal arts college/university? • The mission of these institutions is the training of undergraduate students in literature, languages, theoretical and applied mathematics, physical and applied sciences, and social sciences. • What is “selectivity”? • The selectivity of a college or university relates to the percentage of students who are admitted and the academic prowess of admitted students.

5. Name of College or University • Where should the search begin? • Talk with parents, relatives, teachers, and/or counselor • Consult college guidebooks e.g. Colleges That Change Lives, Fiske Guide to Colleges, The Best 378 Colleges by Princeton Review, U.S. News and World Report, America’s Best Colleges for B Students, etc. • Online match services • www.cappex.com • www.bigfuture.com • www.collegeprowler.com • www.planstudent.org • www.princetonreview.com

6. Campus Location & Size • Where is the school located? • Consider the distance from home • Note the climate • Urban, Suburban, Rural • Major metropolitan city • Small, “college town” • How large or small is the campus? • Consider how long it will take to cross campus? • Can I walk about campus? Will I a need bike? Campus shuttle? • How many students are enrolled? • Note the faculty/student ratio • Where can I find this information: Admissions webpage

7. Campus Website & Local Recruiter/Counselor/Advisor • Make a note and bookmark the web address/site of the college or university • Consider marking the “Prospective/Future Student” , Admissions, and Financial Aid webpages • Make a note of the area recruiter/ counselor/advisor and add his/her contact info (email and/or phone number) to your contacts • Demonstrated interest makes a difference (make contact with recruiter; follow on Facebook and/or Twitter; visit campus; request information) • Where can I find this information: The homepage; “Find Your Counselor” link on Admissions page

8. Admissions Application Process • College specific application required? • Online or Mail • Common Application member? • College supplement • Teacher and/or counselor recommendation required? • How many? • Application deadlines • Regular, early decision, early action, rolling • Application fee; waiver available? • Admissions interview required? Optional? • Admissions essay required? • Where can I find this information: The Admissions page; “Apply” link

9. Freshman Class ProfileDo your credentials compare with the most recently enrolled freshman class? • Grade Point Average • Mark the average GPA range of admitted freshmen • Note how your GPA compares • ACT & SAT Test Scores • Mark the “mid 50%” of the ACT composite score • Mark the “mid 50%” of the SAT Critical Reading, Math, and Writing tests • Are SAT subject tests required • Note whether or not the college or university practices “Super Scoring” • Note how your test scores compare • What percentage of students were admitted Early Decision (Dec 1/15), Early Action (Dec 1/15), and/or Regular Decision (April/May) • Where can I find this information: Admissions page or Big Future https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/find-colleges

10. College or University Profile • Make a note of your prospective major of study (if decided) and/or majors of interest and whether or not this major is offered at this institution • See www.collegemajors101.com; www.mymajors.com and www.bigfuture.com to explore majors • Make a note of special programs • Honors College • 3-2 or 4-1 programs (typically for liberal arts colleges & engineering) • Study abroad opportunities • Research opportunities • Where can I find this information: Academics page; Departments page

11. College Catalog • Find the most recent Course Catalog and download and/or save to computer • Get insight into academic rigor, elective offerings, philosophy of education, etc. • Make a note of curriculum requirements • General education requirements • Find degree plans and graduation requirements • Find unique programs and requirements • Senior thesis • Capstone projects • Freshmen Orientation; Freshmen Seminars; First Year Experience • Where can I find this information: Search from the homepage

12. Campus Life • Campus Housing • On campus: requirement or optional • Freshman Housing options • Application deadline • Housing deposit amount & deadline • Characteristics of Student Body • Single sex or Co-ed • Diversity: geographic, ethnic, socioeconomic, political, religious, etc. • Social Life and Activities • Percentage of students in sororities/fraternities, intramural sports, recreational facilities, special interest clubs, etc. • Where can I find this information: Admissions page “Student Life” or “Campus Life” page

13. Student Services • Academic Advisement • Academic Support/Tutoring • Disability services • Career Services • Internship, Co-Op opportunities (school year and/or summer) • Job shadowing, placement upon graduation • Relationships with local/national companies • Strength of Alumni Network • Facilities • Computer labs • Library • Recreational • Dining • Heath Services/Clinic • Campus security • Policies and procedures for maintaining student safety during school hours and after hours • Where can I find this information: “Campus Life” link or page

14. Special Interests • Social Clubs and/or Organizations of Interest • Pre-professional organizations, Honor societies, etc. • Intramural sports of interest • Intercollegiate Sports • Note the NCAA division of the college or university • Note the coach’s name and contact info for your sport • Arts, Music, or Special Academic Focus • Note the point of contact for your area of interest • Where can I find this information: Admissions page “Student Life” link, Academics or Catalog

15. Financial Aid Policies • Need based aid offered? • Note the percentage of demonstrated need met per student https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search • Scholarship/Merit aid offered? • Note the different options by name and amount (e.g. “Presidential Scholarship”, “Susan B. Dodds Memorial Scholarship”, etc.) • Policy on outside scholarships and aid offerings • Application deadlines • Scholarship/Merit Aid • FAFSA • Free Application for Federal Student Aid; determines amount the family is expected to pay for college (EFC) http://studentaid.ed.gov/fafsa/estimate • CSS Profile • Additional aid form offered by College Board; used by certain colleges; fee required http://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile

16. Cost of Attendance • Sticker price • Tuition & Fees • Housing • Meal plans • Books & Supplies • Transportation • Your net price of attendance • Get your Expected Family Income (EFC) at https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/expected-family-contribution-calculator • Use the Net Price Calculator on the college or university’s website • Where can I find this information: Financial Aid page, “Tuition and Fees” link

17. Is this college or university a “Good Fit” • Academically • My credentials • My major • Academic rigor • Socially • Clubs of interest • Recreational activities (on/off campus) • Student body characteristics • Financially • Merit aid/scholarships available • Significant amount of need met (>80%) • Financial aid awards • Loans vs Grants, work study, campus employment, etc.

18. College Search To-Do List • Create a profile with a college and scholarship match/search service • Create an organization system for college guide books, promotional materials, scholarship information, research notes, etc. • Keep a calendar dedicated to college events, open houses, fairs, admissions and test dates and deadlines

19. Online Resources • Comprehensive Sites • http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ • http://www.collegeboard.org/ • http://www.collegecountdown.com/ • http://www.princetonreview.com/ • Admissions Blogs • http://www.thecollegesolution.com/ • http://diycollegerankings.com/ • http://collegeadmissionbook.com/ • Admissions Testing • SAT http://www.collegeboard.org • ACT http://www.act.org/ • Test Optional www.fairtest.org • Paying for College • http://www.meritaid.com/ • http://www.fastweb.com/ • http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ • http://www.scholarships.com/main.aspx

20. Print Resources • College Admissions • College Board’s Get It Together For College • The College Board • The New College Reality • Bonnie Kerrigan Snyder • Admissions Matters • By Sally P. Springer & Marion R. Franck • The Portable Guidance Counselor • The Princeton Review • Paying for College • The College Solution • Lynn O’Shaughnessy • Right College, Right Price • Frank Palmasani

21. Find This Presentation Contact me at quaynteece.mosby@hsv-k12.org