Understanding College Options: Benefits , Pathways, and Preparation

1. Understanding College Options: Benefits, Pathways, and Preparation 3 December 2016 • Gerardo I. Velazquez • SHPE-MS Professional Chapter

2. Workshop Goals • Understand the benefits of a college education • Learn the pathways to college • Learn how to prepare for collegeadmission

3. Why Go To College? • To broaden perspectives • Meet new people from diverse backgrounds and learn to be independent. • To gain more knowledge that will be helpful throughout students’ lives • To have more job opportunities • More and more jobs require education beyond high school. Many jobs rely on new technology and “brainpower.”

4. Why College? continued… • A 4-year college graduate (with Bachelor’s degree) earns almost $1 million more over his/her lifetime than a high school graduate. - Source: U.S. Census Bureau

5. Why College? continued… • A 4-year college graduate earns about $52,200 annually on average, compared to $30,400 for a high school graduate. - Source: U.S. Census Bureau

6. Why College? continued… • Increased education is also associated with: • Better working conditions • Longer job tenure • More on-the-job training opportunities • More promotion opportunities

7. High School – 4 years Diploma Community College – 2 years Associate’s Degree University – 4 years Bachelor’s Degree Bachelor of Arts (BA) / Bachelor of Science (BS) Degrees

8. University - 2 years or more Master’s Degree University - 3 years or more Professional and Doctorate Degrees: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Medicine (M.D.), Law Degree Degrees after the BA/BS

9. Systems of Higher Education • Community Colleges • State Universities • Public Universities • Private Colleges and Universities

10. Community College • Two-year public institutions • Offer transfer programs to universities - prepare students to transfer to a 4 year institution • Grant associate’s degree • Many offer continuing education • Offer technical training in specific occupations • e.g. nurses, machinists, paralegals • Most are nonresidential - students live off-campus • Students can attend part-time or full-time • Example: Hinds Community College

11. State University • typically enroll 7,000 or more students, • publicly funded • offer both undergraduate and graduate work • Accept high school seniors and community college transfers • Provide broad liberal education • Examples: MSU, JSU, University of Mississippi, Alcorn State

12. Public Universities • Most public universities and colleges were founded by state governments to give residents the opportunity to receive public college education. • Today, state governments pay for most of the cost of operating public universities. • - www.petersons.com • Accepts high school seniors and community college transfers • Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees • Have Professional Schools: Law, Medicine, Education, Engineering, Journalism, Social Welfare…

13. Private Universities and Colleges • A private college is an independent school that sets its own policies and goals, and is privately funded. • Private colleges are generally smaller than public or private universities. • The average enrollment at private colleges is 1,900 students. • - www.petersons.com • Vary in size, prestige, and cost • Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate’s, and Professional Degrees • Accepts high school graduates and community college transfers • Professional Schools: Law, Medicine, Education, Engineering, Journalism, Social Welfare… • Examples: Millsaps College, Mississippi College

14. Start Preparing Now for College • READ, READ, READ • Good readers make good thinkers and good writers • “The more you read, the more you know” • Promote good study habits • Turn off the TV • Set aside a homework time and a quiet study space • Meet with your student’s teachers to learn about his/her performance • Tell the teachers that you have high expectations for your student

15. Start Preparing now for Collegecontinued… • Learn the college-preparatory course requirements • Push to get into these courses in high school • Push to get into honors and AP courses in high school, if available • What you do outside of class matters • Sports, Clubs, Work, Church, Honor Societies, and various groups • Take the PSAT by the 9th or 10th grade • It’s good practice for the ACT/SAT!

16. Start Preparing now for Collegecontinued… • Visit college campuses! • Find colleges in your area and schedule a tour • Make a college visit part of your vacation • Ask a school counselor if the school is planning a field trip to a college • Check out college websites, many have virtual tours

17. Factors to consider when choosing a college • Size: What is the total student population? How big are the typical freshman classes? • Location:How far is the college from home? Is it in a rural, urban, suburbansetting? What is the area surrounding the campus like? • Academics:What majors are available? Who teaches the courses? What is the academic reputation of the college? • Social Opportunities: What clubs and teams are available? Are there fraternities and sororities? Is there a SHPE Chapter? • Cost: What is the total cost of attendance, including tuition, room and board, and books? What kind of financial aid is available?

18. Collegeadmissions exams • College admissions exams are commonly used to determine college admissions and for scholarship review. • Students should begin taking the SAT and/or ACT exam during the spring of their junior year. • Students may take these exams multiple times to raise their scores.

19. Comparing the SAT and ACT exams

20. College Search Tools • ACT • www.act.org • FinAid: The SmartStudent Guide to Financial Aid • www.finaid.org • Peterson’s Guide to College • www.petersons.com • The College Board • www.collegeboard.com

21. QUESTIONS?