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Going to College? Prepare to take the Next Step!. Jason Howard Associate Director Ohio University Zanesville. *Presentation adapted from ACT: Planning for College. College Preparation:. How do I make myself attractive to colleges and/or universities? Academics Grades Test Scores
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Going to College?Prepare to take theNext Step! Jason Howard Associate Director Ohio University Zanesville *Presentation adapted from ACT: Planning for College
College Preparation: • How do I make myself attractive to colleges and/or universities? • Academics • Grades • Test Scores • Curriculum • Extra-Curricular Activities • Community Involvement
Academics • Colleges & Universities consider your academic record beginning with the 9th grade • It is imperative you get off to a strong start! • Earning an ‘A’ has as much impact on your overall gpa your freshman year as one earned during your senior year • Your ability to be considered for admission to some of the best colleges and universities
Academics • Keep in mind, earning an ‘A’ is only one piece of the puzzle • You MUST challenge yourself academically! • Don’t do the minimum to “get by” • Take challenging subjects • Colleges are more impressed by students who challenge themselves
Test Scores: ACT/SAT • Standardized Exams • Required for admission to most 4 year institutions • Test your overall knowledge • You CAN’T cram for the ACT/SAT! • The best way to be successful…..focus on academics early on
Extra-Curricular Activities • Colleges/Universities are looking for “well-rounded students” • Academics play a HUGE role in determining college admissions • Extra-Curricular involvement can ‘push’ you over the top • Being involved is important, however, being ACTIVELY involved is the key: Be a Leader!
Community Involvement • Church • Civic Organizations • Work • Other • EVERYTHING you do during your high school career shows Colleges WHO you are… Stand Out!
How do I decide? • 10,000+ College and Universities in the United States alone… UGH!!!
Location Size Environment Admissions Req. Academics Cost Financial Aid Housing Facilities Activities Support Services Campus Visits Factors to Consider
Location • How far from home do you want to be? • Within 50 miles? • 50-100 miles? • 100-250 miles? • As far away from my parents as possible!
Enrollment Colleges & Universities in the US range in size from a few hundred students to over 50,000 It is important that the environment you choose feels the most comfortable to you Physical Size College campuses can be contained within a single building or spread out over hundreds of acres Consider whether or not a schools layout may present potential challenges Size
Environment • Type of School- 2yr or 4yr school • Liberal Arts or Technical School • School Setting- Urban, Small City, Rural • Student Body- Co-ed, Male only, Female only • Religious Affiliation- Catholic, Presbyterian, No Affiliation, Etc…
Admission Requirements • What is the application deadline you must meet? • What tests are required- SAT or ACT; do they require the written portion of either test? • What is the average GPA, Test Score, Class Rank of admitted students? • Does the school have Early Decision or Rolling Admissions?
Academics • Do they offer your Major? If you are Undecided does the school offer services to help you decide? • Accreditation- It is important to find out if the school is accredited AND who the accrediting body is! • Student to Faculty Ratio • Average Class Size- It is important to realize that you will have larger classes at times, especially during the first year or two in college
Cost • Tuition, Room, & Board- You will also want to try to find out what typical increases may be each year • Estimated Total Budget- This includes items such as: books, lab fees, travel, and other miscellaneous items • Application fee • Deposits- Is there a deposit to hold your space in the freshman class? How much is it? Is it refundable? When is it due?
Financial Aid • Required Forms- Virtually every College in the US requires the FAFSA • Deadline- What is the deadline for the FAFSA to be on file with your school(s) of choice? • Availability- What percentage of students receive financial aid? • Scholarships- What are the deadlines for consideration? Additional information required? What award amounts are available? Are scholarships renewable? If so, for how many years and what are the academic requirements?
Housing • Is on campus housing available? • Are students required to live on campus? If so, for how long? • What type of housing is available- Floor plans of Residence Halls, number to a room, etc… • Meal Plan- What types of options are available? (If it’s possible ask about sampling the food during your college visit) • Transportation- Is transportation available to and from your residence to campus buildings?
Facilities • Academic- Find out what the school has to offer in terms of technology, computer labs, etc… • Recreational- Does the school have a Fitness Center? If so, are students required to pay an additional fee? • Other- Outdoor recreation, Bike paths, Athletic Facilities, Facilities available in the community and their availability
Activities • Clubs & Organizations • Greek Life • Athletics & Intramurals • Intercollegiate Sports
Support Services • Accommodations- What types of services does the school offer for students with disabilities, both physical and learning? • Academic- Does the school offer services for academic help, such as tutoring, supplemental instruction, etc…? • Career Services- What type of assistance is available for students? • Resume Writing • Job Search • Internships • Interviewing Techniques
Campus Visit • This is the #1 way for you to decide if a College is right for YOU! • Contact the schools you are considering to learn about opportunities to visit campus • Be prepared- Have a list of questions to ask during your visit and do not hesitate to ask them, it is the best way to make an informed decision! • Try to schedule visits while school is in session, this will give you a better idea of the environment on campus
Keep Your Options Open! • You KNOW what it takes to be prepared for College • You KNOW how to go about selecting the right college for you • WILL you take the necessary steps to make it happen? • Always ask yourself… Did I do everything I could to prepare for the Next Step???
Resources • Students can gain additional information and resources about the college search process by visiting the following websites: www.c3apply.org www.act.org