11 getting into selective colleges & universities

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Getting into Selective Colleges & Universities

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How are these schools different from public universities? Timelines for admission

vary, depending on your college or university

Content of the application varies

Extensive essays are generally critical to the process

Letters of recommendation can make or break your chances

Your sources for recommendations are critical

Common Application can be used for many schools

CSS Profile is expected with most of these schools

Typed applications are a must

Your sources for recommendations are critical

Scholarship Opportunities Cost per year Cross Disciplines for

undergraduate degrees

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Selection

Narrow your search Geographically

Desirable Locations What is it that you

want to get from your college experience

Look for alternative majors that are not common trademarks

What is the school’s demographic design

What endowments does the school have to offer

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Great Beginnings: AICCU Webpage

aiccu.edu AICCU - Association of Independent

California Colleges and Universities

www.aiccu.edu The Guide to AICCU Colleges Search for AI

CCU schools by geographical area, type of school, category, or academic program.

http://www.aiccu.edu/

http://www.aiccu.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&Itemid=36

http://www.aiccu.edu/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&Itemid=36

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Great Beginnings: Colleges That Change Lives

aiccu.eduwww.ctcl.org Guide to 40 colleges that have

Ivy League results, but without the stiff competition.

Compare the differences Explore a different way of

looking at education

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Great Beginnings:Comparing Independent Colleges or Universities-Ucan-network.org

Compare private colleges in the United States

Search by categories like: -Average GPA accepted -Average loan debt

www.ucan-network.org

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Timetable to Remember -Keep an agenda!

September

SAT & ACTTesting

Registration

Create Student Resume

Commit to 100 + hoursCommunity

service, extracurricular

activities

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October

SAT I or IIACT

Testing

Student Personal

Statements

Ask Sources for Letters of

Recommendation

Timetable - Keep an agenda!

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Timetable

November

SAT I or II Or

ACT TestingFinished

CommonApplication/

CollegeSpecific

ApplicationsReceived

Pre – TypePortions of

recommendation forms for Sources

and Distribute

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Timetable

December

AnalyzeResults of

SAT or ACT Testing

DeterminingRealisticOptions

Scholarship orEndowment

Opportunities Generally need

ApplicationReceived by

The 10th or 15th

Filter your choices:

1- Dream School2- Realistic Option

3- 2nd Choice

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Common Applicationwww.commonapp.org Apply to many colleges at

once Some schools have fee

waivers You may have to pay for

some schools ($55) Supplemental sections will

vary per school (i.e.: graded document, additional personal statements)

Check college websites! Sometimes they have a free application on their website.

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Universal Applicationwww.universalcollegeapp.com

Similar to common Application

Review list of colleges that honor this application

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CollegeBoard

www.collegeboard.com

Sign Up for SATs

Sign Up for AP tests

Fill out College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile -you can transfer information to FAFSA

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FAFSA!?www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Government financial aid analysis

Will need Parent Taxes

Will need your Social Security Number

Schools need this to give you a financial aid package

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Personal Statements Generally, you will need three different types of letters:1. How did you develop your interest in your major? Describe experiences.

2. Describe a personal quality, accomplishment and/or accomplishment.

3. Life defining moment. Do speak of empowerment, do not dwell on the hardships.

4. Start Early and complete all three5.*use as needed in applications*

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Letters of Recommendation Higher Education Coordinator School Counselor Community Service Supervisor Athletic Coaches Club Advisors or individuals who can speak

of your character Teachers

> You will need 2 to 3 letters > Ask in advance > How long have they known you? Do

they know you? (if not, introduce yourself now)

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Visitations/Orientations Connect with your Higher Education Coordinator

frequently regarding presentations from Private Schools that are being conducted throughout Orange and Los Angeles counties

Research when visitations are scheduled for your primary choice colleges or universities throughout the Fall semester and go with your family to visit each one

If your college is out of state, don’t be shy to ask about fly out programs. Many times THEY WILL (and it does not hurt to ask).

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High School Coursework Try to take AP classes somewhere

throughout your high school years. Challenge yourself by keeping a

rigorous schedule. However – There is no need to take

every AP course available especially if it will compromise your overall GPA.

Unweighted GPA’s & Class Ranks are also critical aspects to the admission process.

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High School Coursework - continued

Be careful to not bite off more than you can chew. Colleges are looking for the well-rounded students – ones who can balance their time among coursework, community service, and school activities or sports

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High School Coursework - continued

Enrich your academic program by taking classes at the community college. This shows the admission team that you are serious about higher education and that you are not afraid to be challenged.

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Pros for attending selective colleges & universities

A four year undergraduate degree is obtained in “4 years” about 95% of the time.

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Pros for attending selective colleges & universities - continued

Public Schools, such as the CSU & UC system, generally take at least 5 years, sometimes as much as 6 or 7, to obtain the same “4 year” degree.

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Pros for attending selective colleges & universities - continued Class size – do you know what kind

of learner you are? Class sizes range from 12-30 students.

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Opportunities to know your professors are heightened due to the smaller class size

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Selective colleges have “endowments” that supplement the financial aid packages given through FAFSA

Endowments = internal private discretionary funding

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Many selective schools have study abroad opportunities and internships that can’t be matched at public schools

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Employment and other opportunities for graduates are established through the relationships and connections they make throughout their four years

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The reality is student loans will need to be obtained no matter where you go. The sooner you graduate, the sooner you can start paying them off

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Loans amount will vary. Your family income and their desire to

have YOU on campus will be crucial.

>UC Berkeley: $7,000 per year >Cal-State Humboldt: $4,500 >Goucher: $5,000 per year >George Fox: $5,500 >Colgate: $1,700

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Cons for not attending selective colleges & universities - continued

Majors & minors can sometimes be lumped together for lack of extensive course options

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Diversity is minimal. Non-Caucasian students sometimes feel isolated and alone when they are not emotionally prepared to deal with this new experience

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Fewer students from similar socio-economic backgrounds. Sometimes, this makes assimilating to the new educational environment an on-going adjustment

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Websites: Colleges Careers CollegeBoard.com CaliforniaColleges.edu Fafsa.ed.gov Selective School sites :

(ie:standford.edu,harvard.edu, usc.edu)

Volunteermatch.org Universityofcalifornia.edu/

admissions/ undergrad_adm/apply/how_apply/personalstatement.html

http://www.khake.com/page2.html

http://www.careerexplorer. net/ http://careers.state.gov/ https://

myroad.collegeboard.com/ http://www.educationplann-

er.com/ http://californiacolleges.edu/ http://www.aessuccess.org/ Myroad.collegeboard.com/

myroad/navigator.jsp?t=colleges&i=index

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Early Action vs. Early Decision vs. Regular Decision Early Action = Binding Agreement

(YOU have to Go) Early Decision = Your decision arrives

earlier. Regular Decision = Your decision

arrives within college’s “regular” time frame.

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DEADLINES VARY

As early as November 15 Many applications due December 15 January through February Rolling Admissions (until class is

filled)

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Early Action - continued

One – the admissions “team” for selective schools all know each other. Should you think you will be pulling a fast one over on them, believe me, they will know. They will question why a student is applying to multiple selective schools if they are trying for Early Action to theirs.

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Early Action - continued

Two – if you are not admitted in the Early Action timeline, you can NOT re-apply for “general” admission”

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Q & A

What questions do you now have?

11 getting into selective colleges & universities

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