Going to College?Going to College?Prepare to take thePrepare to take the

Next Step!Next Step!Jason HowardJason Howard

Associate DirectorAssociate Director

Ohio University ZanesvilleOhio University Zanesville

*Presentation adapted from ACT: Planning for College

College Preparation:College Preparation:

How do I make myself attractive to How do I make myself attractive to colleges and/or universities?colleges and/or universities?AcademicsAcademics

GradesGradesTest ScoresTest ScoresCurriculumCurriculum

Extra-Curricular ActivitiesExtra-Curricular ActivitiesCommunity InvolvementCommunity Involvement

AcademicsAcademics

Colleges & Universities consider your Colleges & Universities consider your academic record beginning with the academic record beginning with the 99thth grade gradeIt is imperative you get off to a strong It is imperative you get off to a strong

start!start!Earning an ‘A’ has as much impact on your Earning an ‘A’ has as much impact on your

overall gpa your freshman year as one overall gpa your freshman year as one earned during your senior yearearned during your senior year

Your ability to be considered for admission Your ability to be considered for admission to some of the best colleges and universitiesto some of the best colleges and universities

AcademicsAcademics

Keep in mind, earning an ‘A’ is only Keep in mind, earning an ‘A’ is only one piece of the puzzleone piece of the puzzle

You MUST challenge yourself You MUST challenge yourself academically!academically!Don’t do the minimum to “get by”Don’t do the minimum to “get by”Take challenging subjectsTake challenging subjectsColleges are more impressed by Colleges are more impressed by

students who challenge themselvesstudents who challenge themselves

Test Scores: ACT/SATTest Scores: ACT/SAT

Standardized ExamsStandardized ExamsRequired for admission to most 4 year Required for admission to most 4 year

institutionsinstitutionsTest your overall knowledgeTest your overall knowledgeYou CAN’T cram for the ACT/SAT!You CAN’T cram for the ACT/SAT!The best way to be successful…..focus The best way to be successful…..focus

on academics early onon academics early on

Extra-Curricular ActivitiesExtra-Curricular Activities

Colleges/Universities are looking for Colleges/Universities are looking for “well-rounded students”“well-rounded students”Academics play a HUGE role in Academics play a HUGE role in

determining college admissionsdetermining college admissionsExtra-Curricular involvement can ‘push’ Extra-Curricular involvement can ‘push’

you over the topyou over the topBeing involved is important, however, Being involved is important, however,

being ACTIVELY involved is the key: Be a being ACTIVELY involved is the key: Be a Leader!Leader!

Community InvolvementCommunity Involvement

ChurchChurchCivic OrganizationsCivic OrganizationsWorkWorkOtherOtherEVERYTHING you do during your high EVERYTHING you do during your high

school career shows Colleges WHO school career shows Colleges WHO you are… Stand Out!you are… Stand Out!

How do I decide?How do I decide?

10,000+ College and Universities in 10,000+ College and Universities in the United States alone… UGH!!!the United States alone… UGH!!!

Factors to ConsiderFactors to Consider

LocationLocation SizeSize EnvironmentEnvironment Admissions Req.Admissions Req. AcademicsAcademics CostCost

Financial AidFinancial Aid HousingHousing FacilitiesFacilities ActivitiesActivities Support ServicesSupport Services Campus VisitsCampus Visits

LocationLocation

How far from home do you want to How far from home do you want to be?be?Within 50 miles?Within 50 miles?50-100 miles?50-100 miles?100-250 miles?100-250 miles?As far away from my parents as As far away from my parents as

possible!possible!

Size Size

EnrollmentEnrollment Colleges & Colleges &

Universities in the Universities in the US range in size US range in size from a few hundred from a few hundred students to over students to over 50,00050,000

It is important that It is important that the environment you the environment you choose feels the choose feels the most comfortable to most comfortable to youyou

Physical SizePhysical Size College campuses College campuses

can be contained can be contained within a single within a single building or spread building or spread out over hundreds out over hundreds of acresof acres

Consider whether or Consider whether or not a schools layout not a schools layout may present may present potential challengespotential challenges

EnvironmentEnvironment

Type of School- 2yr or 4yr schoolType of School- 2yr or 4yr schoolLiberal Arts or Technical SchoolLiberal Arts or Technical SchoolSchool Setting- Urban, Small City, School Setting- Urban, Small City,

RuralRuralStudent Body- Co-ed, Male only, Student Body- Co-ed, Male only,

Female onlyFemale onlyReligious Affiliation- Catholic, Religious Affiliation- Catholic,

Presbyterian, No Affiliation, Etc…Presbyterian, No Affiliation, Etc…

Admission RequirementsAdmission Requirements

What is the application deadline you What is the application deadline you must meet?must meet?

What tests are required- SAT or ACT; What tests are required- SAT or ACT; do they require the written portion of do they require the written portion of either test?either test?

What is the average GPA, Test Score, What is the average GPA, Test Score, Class Rank of admitted students?Class Rank of admitted students?

Does the school have Early Decision Does the school have Early Decision or Rolling Admissions?or Rolling Admissions?

AcademicsAcademics

Do they offer your Major? If you are Do they offer your Major? If you are Undecided does the school offer services Undecided does the school offer services to help you decide?to help you decide?

Accreditation- It is important to find out if Accreditation- It is important to find out if the school is accredited AND who the the school is accredited AND who the accrediting body is!accrediting body is!

Student to Faculty RatioStudent to Faculty Ratio Average Class Size- It is important to Average Class Size- It is important to

realize that you will have larger classes at realize that you will have larger classes at times, especially during the first year or times, especially during the first year or two in collegetwo in college

CostCost

Tuition, Room, & Board- You will also want Tuition, Room, & Board- You will also want to try to find out what typical increases to try to find out what typical increases may be each yearmay be each year

Estimated Total Budget- This includes Estimated Total Budget- This includes items such as: books, lab fees, travel, and items such as: books, lab fees, travel, and other miscellaneous itemsother miscellaneous items

Application feeApplication fee Deposits- Is there a deposit to hold your Deposits- Is there a deposit to hold your

space in the freshman class? How much is space in the freshman class? How much is it? Is it refundable? When is it due?it? Is it refundable? When is it due?

Financial AidFinancial Aid Required Forms- Virtually every College in Required Forms- Virtually every College in

the US requires the FAFSAthe US requires the FAFSA Deadline- What is the deadline for the Deadline- What is the deadline for the

FAFSA to be on file with your school(s) of FAFSA to be on file with your school(s) of choice?choice?

Availability- What percentage of students Availability- What percentage of students receive financial aid?receive financial aid?

Scholarships- What are the deadlines for Scholarships- What are the deadlines for consideration? Additional information consideration? Additional information required? What award amounts are required? What award amounts are available? Are scholarships renewable? If available? Are scholarships renewable? If so, for how many years and what are the so, for how many years and what are the academic requirements?academic requirements?

HousingHousing

Is on campus housing available?Is on campus housing available? Are students required to live on campus? If Are students required to live on campus? If

so, for how long?so, for how long? What type of housing is available- Floor plans What type of housing is available- Floor plans

of Residence Halls, number to a room, etc…of Residence Halls, number to a room, etc… Meal Plan- What types of options are Meal Plan- What types of options are

available? (If it’s possible ask about sampling available? (If it’s possible ask about sampling the food during your college visit)the food during your college visit)

Transportation- Is transportation available to Transportation- Is transportation available to and from your residence to campus and from your residence to campus buildings?buildings?

FacilitiesFacilities

Academic- Find out what the school Academic- Find out what the school has to offer in terms of technology, has to offer in terms of technology, computer labs, etc…computer labs, etc…

Recreational- Does the school have a Recreational- Does the school have a Fitness Center? If so, are students Fitness Center? If so, are students required to pay an additional fee?required to pay an additional fee?

Other- Outdoor recreation, Bike Other- Outdoor recreation, Bike paths, Athletic Facilities, Facilities paths, Athletic Facilities, Facilities available in the community and their available in the community and their availabilityavailability

ActivitiesActivities

Clubs & OrganizationsClubs & OrganizationsGreek LifeGreek LifeAthletics & IntramuralsAthletics & Intramurals Intercollegiate SportsIntercollegiate Sports

Support ServicesSupport Services

Accommodations- What types of services Accommodations- What types of services does the school offer for students with does the school offer for students with disabilities, both physical and learning?disabilities, both physical and learning?

Academic- Does the school offer services Academic- Does the school offer services for academic help, such as tutoring, for academic help, such as tutoring, supplemental instruction, etc…?supplemental instruction, etc…?

Career Services- What type of assistance Career Services- What type of assistance is available for students?is available for students? Resume WritingResume Writing Job SearchJob Search InternshipsInternships Interviewing TechniquesInterviewing Techniques

Campus VisitCampus Visit

This is the #1 way for you to decide if a This is the #1 way for you to decide if a College is right for YOU!College is right for YOU! Contact the schools you are considering to Contact the schools you are considering to

learn about opportunities to visit campuslearn about opportunities to visit campus Be prepared- Have a list of questions to ask Be prepared- Have a list of questions to ask

during your visit and do not hesitate to ask during your visit and do not hesitate to ask them, it is the best way to make an informed them, it is the best way to make an informed decision!decision!

Try to schedule visits while school is in session, Try to schedule visits while school is in session, this will give you a better idea of the this will give you a better idea of the environment on campusenvironment on campus

Keep Your Options Open!Keep Your Options Open!

You KNOW what it takes to be You KNOW what it takes to be prepared for Collegeprepared for College

You KNOW how to go about selecting You KNOW how to go about selecting the right college for youthe right college for you

WILL you take the necessary steps to WILL you take the necessary steps to make it happen?make it happen?

Always ask yourself… Did I do Always ask yourself… Did I do everything I could to prepare for the everything I could to prepare for the Next Step???Next Step???

ResourcesResourcesStudents can gain additional Students can gain additional

information and resources about the information and resources about the college search process by visiting the college search process by visiting the following websites:following websites:

www.c3apply.orgwww.act.org