Matchmaker, Matchmaker, Make Me a Match: How to Put Together A

POWERFUL College Application List

Dr. Rebecca JosephDr. Rebecca Joseph

rjoseph@calstatela.edurjoseph@calstatela.edu

  

www.getmetocollege.org/hswww.getmetocollege.org/hs

FB: Getmetocollege FreeadviceFB: Getmetocollege Freeadvice

Twitter: @getmetocollegeTwitter: @getmetocollege

There are schools for you…There are schools for you… There are several thousand colleges There are several thousand colleges

in the country. in the country. The larger majority of them want The larger majority of them want

California students and come California students and come shopping here each spring and fall. shopping here each spring and fall. They come in all shapes and sizes. They come in all shapes and sizes.

Going out of the area some times is Going out of the area some times is the best way to get a merit the best way to get a merit scholarship or find the school with scholarship or find the school with the right mix of academic, the right mix of academic, extracurricular, and social features.extracurricular, and social features.

How do I build a college listHow do I build a college list

LocationLocation SizeSize Rah-rahRah-rah AcademicsAcademics Merit scholarshipsMerit scholarships ConnectionsConnections Alumni ConnectionsAlumni Connections Financial AidFinancial Aid

How do I find schools?How do I find schools?

BooksBooks OnlineOnline In PersonIn Person

College Guides-BooksCollege Guides-Books

2014 Fiske Guide 2014 Fiske Guide Great write-upsGreat write-ups Overlap CollegesOverlap Colleges

Steve Antonoff has two booksSteve Antonoff has two books College MatchCollege Match

Great series of questions to help prioritize Great series of questions to help prioritize type of schoolstype of schools

College FinderCollege Finder Has different lists –best school for Has different lists –best school for

snowboarders. Best schools for progressive snowboarders. Best schools for progressive kids. Best undergraduate business programskids. Best undergraduate business programs

College Information-OnlineCollege Information-Online

Each college has online materials.Each college has online materials. Big Future. College BoardBig Future. College Board Youniversity TV has great videosYouniversity TV has great videos Cappex has a great website with Cappex has a great website with

linkslinks

In person…In person…

Campus toursCampus tours College FairsCollege Fairs Los Angeles Performing And Visual Arts FairLos Angeles Performing And Visual Arts Fair

University of California, Los Angeles, Ackerman UnionUniversity of California, Los Angeles, Ackerman Union

Saturday, October 26: 1:00pm - 3:30pmSaturday, October 26: 1:00pm - 3:30pm

College or Groups of College Visits College or Groups of College Visits to LA. Fall and Springto LA. Fall and Spring

Visits to your schoolsVisits to your schools

How to Build A Great ListHow to Build A Great List Every school on your list must be a Every school on your list must be a

school you are willing to attend.school you are willing to attend. Every school on your list can be Every school on your list can be

separated into different categories. separated into different categories. Reaching for the StarsReaching for the Stars StretchStretch 50-5050-50 LikelyLikely

Have an equal number of colleges in Have an equal number of colleges in each category. If you knock one off, each category. If you knock one off, you need to add another one on.you need to add another one on.

Benefits of Different CollegesBenefits of Different Colleges These schools offer amazing academic, These schools offer amazing academic,

extracurricular, and social opportunities. extracurricular, and social opportunities. They offer internships and access to They offer internships and access to

tremendous support programs.tremendous support programs. They have world class professors who They have world class professors who

want to work with our students. want to work with our students. These schools offer access to fantastic These schools offer access to fantastic

programming, individualized attention, programming, individualized attention, and incredible students from around the and incredible students from around the world.world.

Many of the non-Ivy League colleges Many of the non-Ivy League colleges offer different kinds of merit scholarshipsoffer different kinds of merit scholarships

Public CollegesPublic Colleges There are state funded colleges and are traditionally much There are state funded colleges and are traditionally much

cheaper than private colleges. cheaper than private colleges. Each state has its own system of public universities. Each state has its own system of public universities. The University of CA has 9 campuses. The CSUs have 23.The University of CA has 9 campuses. The CSUs have 23. Other states have public universities. Flagship campuses are Other states have public universities. Flagship campuses are

their top campus—University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University their top campus—University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Texas-Austin, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. of Texas-Austin, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

They also have all kinds of other great public universities. In They also have all kinds of other great public universities. In this economy they are looking for out of state tuition and this economy they are looking for out of state tuition and diverse students. diverse students.

There are also exchanges. The Western Undergraduate There are also exchanges. The Western Undergraduate Exchange that gives financial discounts at many out of state Exchange that gives financial discounts at many out of state colleges for California students. colleges for California students. http://wiche.edu/wuehttp://wiche.edu/wue..

These colleges have their own applications with their own These colleges have their own applications with their own requirements. Do research if you have an area of the country requirements. Do research if you have an area of the country that interests you.that interests you.

•Private CollegesPrivate Colleges

TThey come in all shapes and sizes. Some are very selective. The Ivy hey come in all shapes and sizes. Some are very selective. The Ivy League is the top tier with many of their colleges only accepting 6 to 10% League is the top tier with many of their colleges only accepting 6 to 10% of students who apply. There are middle level and small colleges all over. of students who apply. There are middle level and small colleges all over. The large majority are desperately seeking diverse students, and they caThe large majority are desperately seeking diverse students, and they cann’’t find them. Their costs range from $10,000 to $57,000 per year include t find them. Their costs range from $10,000 to $57,000 per year include tuition, room, board, and other costs.tuition, room, board, and other costs.

Some private colleges are religious and are looking for students who Some private colleges are religious and are looking for students who match their religious beliefs. Others are Jesuit and accept all students. match their religious beliefs. Others are Jesuit and accept all students. Jesuit colleges are very open to undocumented students. Jesuit colleges are very open to undocumented students.

Other private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great education within Other private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great education within non-technical fields. They offer great access to professors, amazing non-technical fields. They offer great access to professors, amazing activities, and resources. activities, and resources.

Still others are technical or arts-related. There are schools like Boston Still others are technical or arts-related. There are schools like Boston Conservatory or The Maryland Institute of the Arts that only have Conservatory or The Maryland Institute of the Arts that only have programs for music or acting or art. Others are technical like MIT and only programs for music or acting or art. Others are technical like MIT and only have programs related to math and science and engineering and have programs related to math and science and engineering and technology.technology.

More Privates…More Privates…

Other private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great Other private colleges are liberal arts. They often a great education within non-technical fields. They offer great education within non-technical fields. They offer great access to professors, amazing activities, and resources. access to professors, amazing activities, and resources.

Still others are technical or arts-related. There are schools Still others are technical or arts-related. There are schools like Boston Conservatory or The Maryland Institute of the like Boston Conservatory or The Maryland Institute of the Arts that only have programs for music or acting or art. Arts that only have programs for music or acting or art. Others are technical like MIT and only have programs Others are technical like MIT and only have programs related to math and science and engineering and related to math and science and engineering and technology.technology.

How Do I Afford These How Do I Afford These CollegesColleges

Colleges themselves have diversity and presidential Colleges themselves have diversity and presidential scholarships. Students can research on college scholarships. Students can research on college websites to find these scholarships. USC and the Ucs websites to find these scholarships. USC and the Ucs have merit scholarships. Private colleges have have merit scholarships. Private colleges have academic and merit and service scholarshipsacademic and merit and service scholarships

There are special major scholarships—Morehead-There are special major scholarships—Morehead-Cain (UNC). Robertson (Duke-UNC). Jeffersonian Cain (UNC). Robertson (Duke-UNC). Jeffersonian (UVA). Find these scholarships and apply.(UVA). Find these scholarships and apply.

Again the Western Undergraduate Exchange. Again the Western Undergraduate Exchange. The Ivy League and many other colleges are need-The Ivy League and many other colleges are need-

blind. blind. http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/11/1114_tuitiohttp://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/11/1114_tuitionfree/index_01.htmnfree/index_01.htm This means they accept you and This means they accept you and then offer you the money to come. then offer you the money to come.

Will my child be lonely?Will my child be lonely?

All students get homesick freshman year. But they get over it All students get homesick freshman year. But they get over it quickly, especially if their family supports them.quickly, especially if their family supports them.

It would be great if you could find a way to drop your child off It would be great if you could find a way to drop your child off freshman year and visit during parentsfreshman year and visit during parents’’ weekend. weekend.

Your child will come home easily for Christmas and spring Your child will come home easily for Christmas and spring break. Thanksgiving is sometimes hard and they go home break. Thanksgiving is sometimes hard and they go home with friends and relativeswith friends and relatives

You can speak with them on the phone, Skype, and You can speak with them on the phone, Skype, and Facebook.Facebook.

You can send food and messages.You can send food and messages. But please donBut please don’’t ask them to leave or come home.t ask them to leave or come home. You need to encourage your child to go for free tutoring, join You need to encourage your child to go for free tutoring, join

support groups, and make friends.support groups, and make friends.

Will I miss my child?Will I miss my child?

Of course, you will. ItOf course, you will. It’’s s expected. My mother missed expected. My mother missed me. All three of us went out of me. All three of us went out of state. state.

You have worked so hard and You have worked so hard and supported your child to let him supported your child to let him or her have the best college or her have the best college education possible.education possible.

Final WordsFinal Words

You will find a great college to attend.You will find a great college to attend. Kids rarely remember where they didn’t get Kids rarely remember where they didn’t get

in. They focus on where they are.in. They focus on where they are. Want what you can have. Don’t focus on Want what you can have. Don’t focus on

out of reach colleges. out of reach colleges. Completing great applications now makes Completing great applications now makes

a difference.a difference. Plan to visit accepted colleges in AprilPlan to visit accepted colleges in April

For more informationFor more information

Dr. Rebecca JosephDr. Rebecca Joseph rjoseph@calstatela.edurjoseph@calstatela.edu 323-646-5759323-646-5759