UNIVERSITIES INFORMATION EVENING

1. UNIVERSITIES INFORMATION EVENING DR. DEREK M. BLEYBERG UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS ADVISOR collegehelp@gohillel.com 925 1980 ext. 249

2. College Guidance Services • Advice to students, parents, guardians about subject choice bearing in mind future college aspirations. • Centigrade Interest and Ability Questionnaire. • Advice about examination requirements – PSAT, SAT, SAT Subject Tests, BMAT, UKCAT, LNAT. • PSAT and SAT preparation classes. • Advice on college choice. • College visits to Hillel Academy. • Information about College Fairs in Jamaica

3. College Guidance Services 2 • Help with applications: • Completion of application forms; • Help with writing of personal statements or application essays; • Help with writing the resume; • Provision of Hillel Transcripts; • Counsellor letters of recommendation; • Mediation regarding teacher letters of recommendation; • Completion of financial aid forms, financial eligibility forms, bank guarantee letter etc. • Advice on finance and scholaships

4. Centigrade • Provided by Cambridge Occupational Analysts • Interest questionnaire • 150 Questions • Report based on student’s responses • Overall match – interest compared to related skills / subjects needed to be successful in an area of interest • Looks for inconsistencies / contradictions • Can be taken on line • Cost: US$ 50. • Student can take Centigrade again without additional costs

5. COLLEGE VS. UNIVERSITY • COLLEGE = Undergraduate courses only • In UK and some other countries, a college refers to a unit within a university e.g. King’s College, Cambridge, or St. Anne’s College, Oxford. In UK colleges of further education and some schools are named colleges e.g. Uxbridge College (FE college), Marlborough College (secondary school) • UNIVERSITY = Undergraduate and postgraduate courses • In UK university status indicates that the institution has a charter and can award its own degrees

6. CHOOSING A COLLEGE • Liberal arts vs. specialist college ( business, engineering, art and design) • Am I absolutely sure I know what I want to study? That I understand what the course involves? • That I have the prerequisite skills / knowledge?

7. CHOOSING A COLLEGE • REPUTATION: • Not for profit vs. for profit • Public vs. private: • % of students out-of-state • State admissions requirements • ACCREDITATION • Only regional accreditation counts for university accreditation although certain departments may also receive national accreditation (e.g. business school) • Transfer of credits

8. CHOOSING A COLLEGE • Can I meet the entrance requirements? What are the expected SAT scores? What % of applicants are offered places? What is the % of international students? What % of freshmen return as sophomores? What % of students graduate in 4 years, 5 years, 6 years? • Location: What part of the country? • Location: Urban, suburban, rural? • Campus vs. city centre: horizontal vs. vertical campus

9. CHOOSING A COLLEGE • PROGRAMME OF STUDY: • Which majors are offered • Double major? Triple major? • Strengths of the department in which you want to major • SIZE: • Number of undergraduate students • Number of international students

10. CHOOSING A COLLEGE • TEACHING METHODS: • Lecture • Seminar • Tutorial • INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: • Compulsory? • For how long? When? • STUDY-ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES • RELATIONSHIP WITH FACULTY • Ask current students • How available are faculty members (length of office hours)

11. CHOOSING A COLLEGE • Accommodation facilities and policies: • All first year • All final year • All international students • SOCIAL FACILITIES: • Community spirit • Social life. How much depends or revolves around fraternities and sororities? • Sports. Which NCAA division? Intercollegiate Intramural

12. CHOOSING A COLLEGE • Know thyself • Study the published materials (can be found in the school library) • Do not just rely on alumni, or parents, friends etc. Many people tend to romantize their experiences. • Open days / visits / virtual tours • Talk to students studying there

13. CHOOSING A COLLEGE • COST: • Can vary greatly • Tuition and fees • Room and board • Books and supplies • Transportation • Personal expenses • Bank guarantee needed in order to get a US visa

14. UK costs for international students • A person must have lived in the UK for the three years prior to beginning a university course to be considered a home student for purposes of tuition. • AND during these three years a student cannot just be at a (boarding) school to qualify; the family must work or at least own property for these school years to count.

15. UK Tuition Costs • 2009-10 statistics: • Arts classroom based courses: • 8,000 to 10,000 pounds sterling per annum • Science lab based courses: • 10,000 to 15,000 pounds sterling per annum • Medicine and other specialist subjects: • 15,000 to 20,000 pounds sterling per annum

16. UK Tuition Costs • Virtually no scholarships are available to cover the costs of the tuition fees at the undergraduate level.

17. UK Application Process • UCAS – Universities and Colleges Admissions Service • Only 5 choices in any one application cycle • Either a similar course at 5 different institutions or maybe different courses at a smaller number of institutions • Simple form to complete on line • Personal Statement • School Open Reference • Results of external examinations most important element in admission decisions • Conditional offers for students who have not completed their secondary schooling – based on total of IB points and possibly a score in specific subjects

18. Tuition Costs in Canada • There are different charges for Canadian citizens and international students. • The fees for international students vary considerably: • At University of Toronto or UBC the costs are over Canadian $30,000 per annum; • At other universities the costs may be as low as $15,000 to 20,000 per annum.

19. Application Process in Canada • In Ontario, Ontario Universities’ Application Center (OUAC) • Other provinces, simple application forms • Transcript • Predicted IB Grades • Only academic criteria matter for admission • Minimum offer usually 28 points, but might be higher for more competitive courses (even up to 40 points!) • Automatic scholarship for achieving certain IB points at many Canadian universities.

20. Tuition Costs in USA • Varies considerably. • In-state residents may pay as little as $3,500 per annum while out-of-state students pay several times more. • In-state residents: US citizens or permanent residents.

21. Comparison of in-state and out-of-state tuition fees in Florida • Florida Agricultural and Mechanical (A & M) University 9,566 $ 3,264 / 15,186 • Florida Atlantic University 20,525 $ 3,344 / 16,409 • Florida Gulf Coast University 7,996 $ 3,656 / 16,174 • Florida International University 29,584 $ 3,466 / 15,865 • Florida State University 31,231 $ 3,355 / 17,403 • University of Central Florida 41,051 $ 3,561 / 17,763 • University of Florida 34,534 $ 3,370 / 17,150 • University of North Florida 14,250 $ 3,491 / 15,134 • University of South Florida 33,998 $ 3,456 / 16,155 • University of West Florida 8,334 $ 3,351 / 16,233 • 231,000 • This distinction between in-state and out-of-state students only applies to state universities

22. Florida Caribbean Institute • The FCI was created by an act of the Florida State legislature to identify and promote commercial, educational and cultural linkages between Florida and the countries of the Caribbean • Florida State universities can arrange for Caribbean students to pay in-state tuition fees

23. Private Colleges in Florida • Barry University 5,053 u / grads $ 24,500 tuition fees • Eckerd College 1,826 $ 30,590 • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 4,531 $ 27,540 • Flagler College 2,537 $ 13,600 • Florida Institute of Technology 2,507 $ 28,920 • Florida Southern College 1,687 $ 21,190 • Jacksonville University 2,893 $ 22,500 • Johnson and Wales University 1,955 $ 21,717 • Lynn University 2,144 $ 28,490 • Northwood University 673 $ 16,455 • Nova Southeastern University 5,403 $ 19,500 • Palm Beach Atlantic University 2,471 $ 20,210 • Ringling College of Art and Design 1,199 $ 25,110 • Rollins College 1,778 $ 34,520 • Saint Leo University 1,587 $ 17,150 • St. Thomas University 1,150 $ 19,680 • Stetson University 2,219 $ 30,216 • University of Miami 9,997 $ 34,834 • University of Tampa 4,887 $ 20,682 56,500

24. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE • MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS • Given for proven ability • IGCSE OR CSEC Results • Quality of the school program. IB diploma usually regarded as the most challenging school program • IB Predicted Grades • SAT Scores!! • Extracurricular involvement • Leadership

25. Merit Scholarships • Most universities have a number of “bands” and will place applicants in a band for merit scholarship purposes. • For example, at the University of Miami merit scholarships are worth $10,000, $16,000 or $24,000 (maximum). • Students who are awarded the maximum scholarship might then be invited to apply for a Presidential Scholarship which could be full tuition. • Often this involves writing an additional essay and / or going for interview.

26. Need-blind Admissions • Merit scholarships are awarded ON MERIT and are not dependent on need. • Need-blind admission policies: many schools admit students without looking at the family’s ability to pay (need blind). • Some will then fund whatever the cost is for that admitted student to attend. • While there is some argument about which colleges follow this policy, the general consensus is that only about 8 to 12 schools fall into this category. These include the richest institutions like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Dartmouth

27. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE • NEED: • US CITIZENS WITH SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER: • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). • Establishes the Expected Family Contribution. • Cannot be completed before 1 January of year in which college is due to start. • The EFC is communicated to the colleges. • CSS/FIANCIAL AID PROFILE (called Profile for short). Establishes eligibility for institutional aid • Individual college financial aid forms

28. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE • NON-US CITIZENS: • Not eligible for federal funds nor for state grants, in most cases • If the college offers need-based financial support to international students, additional forms will need to be completed: • INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION FORM (WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.COM) • College Application Forms

29. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE • Know which colleges give need-based aid to international students • See me! • Know which colleges give the most money to international students! • Apply early – by November. Once the money available for merit scholarships or need-based aid has been allocated, there is no more! • Look carefully at the Aid package offered: • Grants and scholarships • Loans • Work-study

30. FINANACIAL ASSISTANCE • ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS • Eligibility to participate in Division I and II college athletics decided by NCAA. • Financial aid only available to Division I and II athletes (not Division III) • “Few students receive a partial athletic scholarship, and even fewer receive full scholarships. It helps to have college athletic directors talk with students about financial aid availability.”

31. Ways to Reduce Costs in Later Years • IB Transfer Credits. • In 2010 some of our students were awarded up to 18 credits (out of 30) because of the results they achieved in their IB examinations. This could save the student a full semester of college study. Some universities will give credit only for HL subjects, some for both HL and SL; some for only grades 6 and 7; others for grades 5,6 and 7; others for 4,5,6 and 7.

32. More ways to Reduce Costs • Honors Program or Honors College. • At many colleges the Honors program has many advantages, one of which might be a scholarship worth several thousand $. Sometimes students are asked to apply but generally they must express an interest. In some colleges, you can only enter after the first semester or even a year, in others you can start as an honors student. At most colleges, you can enter the program during the first two years. A student needs to maintain a certain GPA to remain in the program.

33. More Ways to Reduce the Costs • Departmental scholarships. Many colleges have departmental scholarship opportunities which a student only gets to hear about once he/she is in a particular department. Often a professor will suggest that a student apply.

34. More Ways to save Costs • Residential Assistant (RA). RAs have special responsibility within a residence – for example, to provide entertainments for their floor, to control cleaning materials, the vacuum cleaner etc. and to ensure that rooms are cleaned, to help with security and safety matters. In most colleges a student applies to be an RA, is interviewed and, if chosen, then trained. For the additional work and responsibility, he/ she will be given a room – usually a single room – rent free; in some colleges a free meal plan is also included. So an RA can save about $5,000 a year.

35. More Ways to reduce Costs • Stay on the Deans List. In some colleges, students who make the Dean’s List as exempt from tuition for the next semester. • Internships / Coops. At many colleges an internship is now compulsory and many of the positions pay pretty well. Because it is compulsory, the normal restrictions about working on a student visa don’t apply.

36. THE APPLICATION PROCESS • Common Application Forms OR individual university / college application forms • Application form can usually be completed online • (College application) essay • College Supplement • Resume WE WILL BE SENDING ALL COMMON APPLICATION FORMS AND RELATED MATERIALS –SUCH AS TRANSCRIPTS - ELECTRONICALLY • Financial aid forms (parents) • Financial guarantee • Application fee

37. APPLICATION ITSELF • Presentation is everything! Never work on an original application before completing the draft copy with your career counsellor. Neatness and clarity are important. The appearance and content of the application will reflect a great deal about you, therefore, it is very important that you invest time and thought into each application. Unless otherwise stated, you should always type your application.

38. THE APPLICATION PROCESS • Transcript • School Report / Guidance Councellor Recommendation • International Supplement ( includes predicted grades) • Teacher letters of recommendation (2 or 3). Teachers should be from the IB years.

39. TRANSCRIPT • The most important factor in the college admissions decision is your academic transcript ( your grades from grade 10). Colleges are looking for strong grades in an academically challenging programme. Specifically, they will be looking at the types of courses you have taken, the number of courses, the level of courses and the grades earned.

40. TRANSCRIPT • IB DIPLOMA: ALL COURSES TAKEN ARE “HONORS” COURSES AND SO THE TRANSCRIPT ALREADY LOOKS STRONG – THE STUDENT IS TAKING THE MOST CHALLENGING PROGRAMME IN THE SCHOOL. • BUT THE RESULTS IN IB1 (GRADE 12) ARE IMPORTANT!

41. APPLICATION ESSAYS • This is the part of the application that students sometimes rush to complete. The essay is a critical factor in the admissions decision and it is entirely under your control! Take time to think about the message you want to get across to the Admissions Committee, and write an essay that demonstrates your writing ability and makes your application “come alive”. The essay is your golden opportunity to let them know more about who you are, what you value and what your future goals are.

42. EXTRACURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT • The emphasis here is on quality and not quantity. • College admission officers are not interested in a list of ten activities with little time commitment and involvement. They are looking for those students who have invested their time, energy and commitment to pursuing one or two activities in-depth. They are looking for those individuals that will make a real commitment to their college community. • Admissions officers are also looking for demonstrated leadership qualities. Remember leadership involves being a team player!

43. SPECIAL TALENTS • Admissions officers are looking for unique individuals, students with special talents or experiences that set them apart from other candidates: • outstanding musicians, writers, actors, athletes, and editors. Colleges are looking for individuals whose unique talents will make significant contributions to their college communities.

44. SCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS • The school recommendation is written by your careers counsellor. • As your primary advocates, we try to present an assessment that is fair and accurate and which emphasises achievements and talents. This comprehensive letter includes information about academics; extracurricular involvement; and, most importantly, a sense of character of the applicant.

45. TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS • Each college has its own specific requirements for teacher recommendations, but in most cases two are requested. • Some colleges are very specific and ask for recommendations from teachers in certain disciplines. The teachers you choose to write your recommendations should be taken from your 12th. and 13th. grade level courses and should be able to speak to your abilities and accomplishments both in and outside the classroom.

46. RECOMMENDATIONS • ALL RECOMMENDATIONS REMAIN STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL TO ENSURE INTEGRITY. ALL RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE SENT DIRCTLY TO THE COLLEGES, TOGETHER WITH THE TRANSCRIPT AND SCHOOL REPORT. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL A COPY OF ANY RECOMMENDATION BE MADE AVAILABLE TO A STUDENT, PARENT OR OUTSIDE AGENCY.

47. OUTSIDE RECOMMENDATIONS These recommendations are sometimes helpful and can support your out-of-school activities or work experience.

48. LEGACY STATUS • At many colleges the sons and daughters of alumni receive special consideration in the application process. Although legacy status is not a guarantee for admission, alumni children usually get a “second look.”

49. INTERVIEWS • Some colleges require or recommend an interview while others do not. • For some colleges, the interview is provided solely to inform you about the college and provide you with an opportunity to ask questions. For other colleges, the interview provides admission officers with additional information about you and your future goals. Depending on the college, this information may or may not be used during the application decision-making process. Interviews may be: face-to-face with an admissions officer; face-to-face with a local alumni; a telephone interview.

50. What criteria do admissions officers consider to be the most reliable indicators of success in college? • School Achievements 93% • Test Scores 87% • Recommendations 50% • Essay 44% • Interview 33% • Activities 30%