Private or Independent Colleges and Universities

Making the case for a non-public school higher education…

Distinguishing Qualities

More to choose from in California:

– 23 CSU’s

– 10 UC’s

– 76+ Independents

Some are highly selective (Harvard, Stanford) – some are not as selective.

The tuition at private schools is markedly greater compared to public universities; a major reason for this is that private institutions are not supported by stating funding. The upside to not being funded by the government is that these colleges have the ability to provide much more variety in terms of academic offerings, admissions policies and campus life.

Many students believe they cannot afford an education at a private college, but they often receive financial aid packages that compare favorably with those from public colleges.

Applying to a private college is usually much more involved than applying to a public college; there are usually more components and deadlines to pay attention to.

Personal note… I’m a big private college advocate! Don’t rule them out!

Advantages of Private Colleges as reported on www.scholarships.com

Academic excellence. At the private university learning is the emphasis more than the curriculum itself. The curriculum is rigorous and the course-work is unending, but learning is the central focus at such schools.

Class size. Even at larger private colleges the class size is contained. There are still lecture halls, but typically, fewer teaching assistants and more professors. At small private colleges classes can be as small as 10 or 12 students. Depending on the school, enrollment ranges from fewer than 100 to more than 30,000.

Merit scholarships. The listed tuition is the highest at private colleges; however, what students actually pay for tuition is usually lower. When a student is interested in a private university and the school is interested in the student, both parties begin negotiating tuition by way of grants, merit scholarships, and other financial incentives. Thus, students with a good G.P.A. and knock out test scores should consider applying to any private institutions that they are interested in.

Advantages continued…

Top-notch professors. Like the professors at state universities, the instructors at private universities have track records that attest to their personal academic achievements. While most are reputable, professors at private colleges tend to be more loyal to the college they work for and more interested in the achievements of their students.

Close-knit community. The student community is an integral part of most private colleges. This can be difficult for more independent students who prefer a less hands on approach. The students communicate closely with professors both in and out of class and the students themselves attempt to involve everyone in campus activities. Involvement in the student community is one of the keys to enjoying your college experience at a private college.

Involved students. The classroom dynamic is much different at a private university than at a public school. Most students are entirely committed to their academic success. They participate actively in classroom discussions, complete coursework, and are fully engaged in the classroom culture.

To Name a Few… There are 1,600 private colleges and universities nationwide

California Institute of Technology (Caltech) – Pasadena, CA

Yale – New Haven, CT

Princeton – Princeton, NJ

Rice – Houston, TX

Pepperdine – Malibu, CA

Baylor – Waco, TX

New York University – New York, NY

Loyola College – Baltimore, MD

Gonzaga – Spokane, WA

University of Miami – Coral Gables, FL

Millsaps College – Jackson, MS

College of Wooster – Wooster, OH

Ripon College – Ripon, WI

Carnegie Mellon – Pittsburgh, PA

Marquette – Milwaukee, WI

Sarah Lawrence – Westchester County, NY

Oberlin College – Oberlin, OH

Duke – Durham, NC

Dartmouth College – Hanover, NH

Northwestern – Evanston, IL

Vanderbilt – Nashville, TN

University of Southern California (USC) – Los Angeles, CA

Spelman College – Atlanta, GA

Varied Types as reported on www.naicu.edu

There are an array of private institutions in the U.S. including liberal

arts colleges, major research universities, comprehensive

universities, church- and faith-related institutions, historically black colleges

and universities, single-sex institutions, two-year colleges, and schools of law, medicine, engineering, art, business,

and other professions.

Admissions Criteria as reported on www.californiacolleges.com

Nonprofit, independent colleges and universities establish their own admission criteria and application procedures.

Many have their own admission application, and most of them offer online applications. Several independent colleges accept the "Common Application.” If the schools to which you are applying accept the Common Application, be sure to check with them directly to determine if there are additional application requirements.

Because nonprofit, independent colleges and universities are not government funded, it is important that students wishing to apply contact the colleges and universities of interest to determine specific requirements and deadlines. Go directly to the college or university website.

Each nonprofit, independent college or university sets it own application deadlines. If you know the deadline for one independent college, do not assume that other colleges and universities use the same deadline.

Some independent colleges and universities have an early-decision application deadline, as well as a regular application deadline. Be sure you know the different deadlines and the different criteria used to evaluate applicants under early-decision and regular application programs. Most colleges and universities with early-decision programs require you to withdraw your applications from other colleges if you are admitted under their early decision program. If you do apply for early decision, only apply to your top choice school.

Handout

Vitally Important Parts of Your Application

from www.collegeboard.com

Application Fee: The average college application fee is around $35. (Some colleges charge up to $60, while others don't have an application fee at all.) The fee is usually nonrefundable, even if you're not offered admission. Many colleges offer fee waivers for applicants from low-income families. If you need a fee waiver, call the college's admissions office for more information.

If you apply online, some schools will automatically waive the fee.

High School Transcript: This form is filled out by an official of your high school. If it comes with your admissions materials, you should give it to the guidance office to complete as early as possible. Some colleges send this form directly to your school after receiving your application.

Test Scores: At many colleges, you have to submit SAT®, SAT Subject Test™, or ACT test scores. Test scores are a standard way of measuring a student's ability to do college-level work.

Letters of Recommendation: Many private colleges ask you to submit one or more letters of recommendation from a teacher, counselor, or other adult who knows you well. When asking someone to write such a letter, be sure to do so well before the college's deadline.

Application continued…

Essay: If you're applying to private colleges, your essay often plays a very important role. Whether you're writing an autobiographical statement or an essay on a specific theme, take the opportunity to express your individuality in a way that sets you apart from other applicants.

Interview: This is required or recommended by some colleges. Even if it's not required, it's a good idea to set up an interview because it gives you a chance to make a personal connection with someone who will have a voice in deciding whether or not you'll be offered admission. If you're too far away for an on-campus interview, try to arrange to meet with an alumnus in your community.

IN SUMMARY… Your entire application should create a consistent portrait of who you are and what you'll bring to the college. The more the pieces of the puzzle support one impression, the more

confident the admissions committee will be in admitting you. If the essay or interview contradicts information you gave on other forms,

you may cause them to have doubts about accepting you.

If all the parts of your application are filled out honestly and carefully, with an attention to your conviction that each school is a good match

for you, you will come across in the best light possible.

Cost as reported on www.naicu.edu & www.californiacolleges.edu

How much is tuition? The average list price for tuition and fees at private institutions is $23,712 for 2007-08. When grants and tax benefits are taken into account, the average out-of-pocket cost (net price) falls to $14,400. The average price of tuition and fees increased 6.3 percent in 2007-08.

How much financial aid do students receive? Eighty-six percent of students attending private colleges receive some form of aid (grants, loans, work-study, or tax benefits). The average annual aid package is $17,000. Eighty-one percent receive grant aid, worth an average of $10,100 a year. Private colleges have increased institutionally provided aid by more than twice as much as tuition over the last decade -- 197 percent vs. 86 percent. Over the past year, student grant money has increased 8 percent. Two-thirds of grants given by private colleges and universities are need-based.

Additional expenses (estimates):

Books and supplies –$1728 per year

Room and Board - $9640 per year

Miscellaneous/personal expenses - $3125 per year

Choosing a College That’s Right For YOU as reported on www.npr.org

Start with who you are and why you are going. Examine yourself and your reasons for going to college before you start your search. Why, really, are you going? What are your abilities and strengths? What are your weaknesses? What do you want out of life — something tangible or intangible? Are you socially self-sufficient or do you need warm, familial support? Talk with your family, friends and high-school counselors as you ask these questions. The people who know you best can help you the most with these important issues.

Your college does not have to be bigger than your high school. Most good liberal arts colleges have a population of fewer than 4,000 for a reason; college is a time to explore, and a smaller community is more conducive to internal exploration. It is not the number of people, but the people themselves and the kind of community in which you will learn that really matters. Many large universities have established "honors colleges" within the larger university for these same reasons.

A name-brand college will not guarantee your success. You will find that success in life has less to do with the choice of college than with the experiences and opportunities encountered while in college, coupled with personal qualities and traits. Employers and graduate schools are looking for outstanding skills and experience, not college pedigree. As you search for colleges, ask about student outcomes; you will find many colleges that outperform the Ivies and "name brands," even though you may have never heard of them!

Choosing continued… You don't need to pick a major to pick a college. Very few high-school students

have enough information or experience to choose a major. You need the variety and depth of college coursework to determine your interest and aptitude.

Don't be scared by the stories. If you only pay attention to the headlines, you might start to believe that "no one is getting in anywhere!" The truth is that the majority of the colleges and universities in this country admit more students than they reject. If you're worried about your chances of getting admitted — and you're willing to investigate beyond the very narrow band of highly selective colleges — you'll find that you have many options that will lead to a great fit for you. Be informed about your academic profile and compare it to the profile of the most recently admitted and enrolled class for the colleges you are investigating. Check the college admission website for this information and contact them if you can't find it. Ask your high-school counselor for additional advice and guidance as it applies to your school.

You can afford to go to college. If you make the assumption that you cannot afford college based on the "sticker price" of tuition, you will miss out. It is difficult to talk about money, but if you investigate all the options and ask for help and advice, you will find affordable choices. Online resources, as well as financial aid workshops sponsored by high schools in local communities, are widely available to get you started. College and university financial aid Web sites offer useful information and links as well. Investigate early and ask for help.

The Right Fit as reported on www.npr.org

Choosing a college because your friends are going there or because of where it ranks on a list does not take into account who you are and who you will become. College is a match to be made, not a prize to be won. Finding a good fit requires time and thoughtfulness.

Visiting college websites and learning about what events take place, who visits as guest speakers, and how to get in touch with current students and faculty is a good way to supplement a campus visit — or to decide if you want to spend the time and money on a visit. Check a school's website to find the admissions officer assigned to your region of the country. Send them an e-mail to ask about getting in touch with students from your area or identifying a few with interests similar to yours. When you visit, try to build in time to sit in on classes, eat in the dining hall and hang around in the student center or other high-traffic areas. That will help you imagine yourself as part of the community. Talk to a few students and ask if they would make the same college choice if they had to do it again. Go back to the first item in this list as you consider the information you've collected about the colleges. You will have great options!

Internet Research Tools

College search:

– www.californiacolleges.edu

– http://collegesearch.collegeboard.com/search/index.jsp

– www.petersons.com

College rankings lists:

– www.usnews.com/sections/rankings

– www.forbes.com

– www.usatoday.com/news/education/best-value-colleges.htm

– www.kiplinger.com

This Summer… from www.petersons.com

Visit Colleges. Visit the campuses of your top five college choices. Take a

tour and speak with the admissions and financial aid staff. You may also be

able to talk to students if some classes are in session. If you have an

interview, be sure to send a thank-you letter to the interviewer once you return

home.

Get Advice From Other College Students. If you have friends or relatives in college, talk to them about what college life is like, especially if they attend a school you’re interested in. Although it’s important to hear what the admissions staff has to say about a school, it’s also important to get the students’ perspective.

Organize Your Financial Aid Information. Develop a plan that includes a list of the aid sources, requirements for each application, and a timetable for meeting the filing deadlines. Getting organized will make the process of applying a lot easier because you’ll know where to find important information.

Start Working On Your Application Essays. Compose rough drafts of the essays you’ll need for your college applications. Have a teacher read and discuss them with you so you can see what to work on. Make any revisions to your essays and prepare final drafts. Don’t forget to proofread your final essays a few times.

Some Local Private Colleges

University of La Verne

Chapman University

University of Redlands

Claremont Colleges:

– Scripps

– Harvey Mudd

– Pomona

– Claremont McKenna

– Pitzer

La Sierra University

Azusa Pacific University

Whittier College

California Baptist University

Biola University

Questions?