Planning for College: What to Look for & Why

1. Click mouse or use key to advancepress ESC key to stop or end What to Look for in PLANNING FOR COLLEGE Presented by The Lutheran Educational Conference of North America

2. Planning for College • What do parents want for their sons and daughters? • What do experts say about educational quality and effectiveness? • What do employers value? • Where are you most likely to find the best educational value?

3. What Do Parents Want? Research shows that Lutheran parents like you hope their children graduate with: • Solid career preparation • Strong values • Commitment to community • Greater sense of faith • Sense of purpose in life

4. What Do Experts Say? The evidence shows that…learning outside of classes, especially in residential settings and extracurricular activities such as the arts, is vital. When we asked students to think of a specific, critical incident or moment that had changed them profoundly, four-fifths of them chose a situation or event outside of the classroom. --- Harvard education professor Richard J. Light, Making the Most of College: Students Speak Their Minds.

5. What Do Experts Say? Our review indicates two persistent themes in the research literature on college effects. The first is the central role of other people in a student’s life, whether students or faculty, and the character of the learning environments they create…The second theme is the potency of the student’s effort and involvement in the academic and non academic systems of the institutions they attend. ---Ernest T. Pascarella and Patrick T. Terenzini, How College Affects Students

6. What Do Employers Value? According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the skills and traits most valued in job candidates include: • Communication skills • Motivation/initiative • Teamwork skills • Leadership skills • Academic achievement

7. A Quality Education Provides… • Strong preparation in fundamental career skills • A learning environment that extends beyond the classroom door • Close relationships with faculty and other students who are also excited about learning • Involvement in extracurricular activities that reinforce academic interests • Integration of values in classroom learning • Opportunities for spiritual growth

8. What to Look For How do you know a quality education when you see it? Look for: • Many small, discussion-oriented classes where students are expected to participate • Most classes taught by professors rather than teaching assistants • Class evaluation based on essay exams, written reports and student presentations rather than multiple choice tests

9. What to Look For How do you know a quality education when you see it? Look for: • Professors who are available outside of class, to mentor and advise students • Most students involved in performing arts, intramural or varsity sports, campus organizations, faculty-directed independent study or research, internships, off-campus or international study programs

10. Where Can You Find Educational Quality? An extensive, ongoing research study reveals significant differences in educational experiences – and in life outcomes: • Phone survey conducted with college graduates from classes of 1958-93 • Lutheran graduates of Lutheran private colleges, and Lutheran graduates of flagship state universities • Geographically balanced, random sample

11. Lutheran Colleges Create a Strong Learning Environment • Close interaction with professors • Mentoring relationships with professors, coaches, campus clergy and staff • Small, discussion-oriented classes • A safe campus community • Emphasis on developing personal values and ethics • Opportunities for spiritual development

12. Involvement With Faculty S = Significant difference Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering . . . (top-two box) * Q.2 How often did your college experience include the following? (top-two box) ** Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (top-two box) *** Q. 4 Who, if anyone, did you meet in college who was a mentor or role model for you?

13. What Faculty Say About Their Own Institutions….

14. Most Grades Were Based On… Q.3 Would you say that most of your course grades were based on . . .

15. What Do Experts Say? The relationship between the amount of writing for a course and students’ level of engagement is stronger than the relationship between students’ engagement and any other course characteristic. -- Richard J. Light, Making the Most of College: Students Speak Their Minds

16. Involvement With Peers S = Significant difference * Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (top-two box) ** Q.1 Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering . . . (top-two box) *** Q. 2 How much did your college experience include the following? (top-two box)

17. The Integration of Faith and Values Into the College Experience S = Significant difference Q.1A/1B Please tell me how much you personally benefited from your college offering . . . (top-two box) * Q.6a Were you involved in…? ** Q.12 How much do you agree or disagree with the following? (top-two box)

18. What Faculty Say About Priorities at Their Own Institutions…

19. Lutheran Colleges Encourage Student Involvement • Opportunities for independent study, faculty-directed research, internships, off-campus and international programs, tutoring • Participation and leadership opportunities in athletics, music/theater, campus publications, student government, religious organizations

20. What Do Experts Say? The evidence shows that…learning outside of classes, especially in residential settings and extracurricular activities such as the arts, is vital. When we asked students to think of a specific, critical incident or moment that had changed them profoundly, four-fifths of them chose a situation or event outside of the classroom. --- Harvard education professor Richard J. Light, Making the Most of College: Students Speak Their Minds.

21. Applied Learning Experiences S = Significant difference Q.5 While in college, did you participate in…?

22. Extracurricular Activities S = Significant difference Q.6a Were you involved in…? Q.6b Did you have a leadership role in…?

23. Lutheran Education Produces Positive Outcomes • Career preparation: communication, teamwork, leadership and critical thinking skills • Values: sense of purpose, strong moral principles, family and community concerns, church participation • Equal to public university alumni in income and graduate/professional degrees

24. More Effective in Developing Professional Skills S = Significant difference Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

25. More Effective in DevelopingInterpersonal Skills S = Significant difference Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

26. Place Higher Value on Family, Ethical and Religious Concerns S = Significant difference Q.19 How important is it to you to. . .? (rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all important and 5=extremely important)

27. Place Higher Value on Community Concerns S = Significant difference * Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (top-two box) Q.19 How important is it to you to. . .? (rating a 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all important and 5=extremely important)

28. More Effective in Helping Students Develop a Sense of Purpose S = Significant difference Q.10 How effective was your college in helping you develop the following? (rating 4 or 5 on a five-point scale, where 1=not at all effective and 5=extremely effective)

29. What About the Cost? A Lutheran college education is more affordable than you might think: • Many families at all income levels receive financial aid • Lutheran college students are much more likely to finish their education in four years – saving tuition and earning a salary sooner

30. Financing a College Education Believe loans a good investment: 99% Q. 7 (top box), 13, 14, 15

31. Family Situation: Four in household, one in college Adjusted gross income $68,748 Assets $ 416 Student income $4,838 Student assets $100 Cost, EFC and Need: Cost of attendance $21,786 Estimated Family Contribution $10,227 NEED $11,559 Package: Merit Scholarship $2,500 Room and Board Grant $1,000 Need-based Grant $1,634 Lutheran Student Scholarship $1,000 State Grant $1,800 Stafford Loan $2,625 Student Employment $1,000 TOTAL $11,559 Sample Financial Aid Package

32. Are Much More Likely to Graduate in Four Years or Less S = Significant difference Q.18 How many years did it take for you to complete your undergraduate degree?

33. An Investment in Educational Value that’s Well Worth the Price According to the reports of college alumni, a higher proportion of Lutheran college graduates feel they: • Were well prepared for their careers • Developed moral and ethical principles to guide their actions • Place a high priority on community involvement • Developed a sense of purpose in life

34. Find Out For Yourself You’re always welcome on Lutheran college campuses: • Attend a concert, play or sports event • Contact the admissions office to arrange a tour or meet with professors • Explore college web sites for academic program information …or visit www.collegevalue.com to learn more about Lutheran college education