College Selection (c) The College Authority, LLC. 2012, all rights reserved

College Selection

(c) The College Authority, LLC. 2012, all rights reserved

College is ExpensiveThe average public university costs:

$25,213 per yearThe average private university

costs:$35,636 per year

The average elite private university costs:$50,000+ per year

And, college prices are trending up…up…and away…



2012-13 Local College CostsSt. EdwardsUniversity of TexasHoward PayneTexas A&M Texas TechUniversity of HoustonTexas ChristianRice BaylorSouthwestern

$42,200$25,572$31,072$20,821$23,326$24,382$46,260$51,261$51,234$45,880


¼ of all public college studen

ts graduate in 4

yrs

Selecting the right university Academic Programs- Will the course of study provide the required academic experience?

◦ Capstone, learning communities, study abroad, service learning, research/creative projects, internships? Major – self explanatory Location – is the location of this college satisfactory to your student’s needs? Size is the size of this college satisfactory?

◦ (Small – less than 3,000 students, Medium – between 3,000 and 10,000, Medium large – between 10,000 and 20,000, Large - greater than 20,000 students) Athletic Program – does this college have a sports program that meets the student’s needs (as an athlete or a spectator)? Talent Program – does this college have a talent program that meets the student’s needs (theater, newspaper, debate team)? Special Programs – does this college have special programs or facilities that the student needs or must have (learning disabilities, special medical facilities,

etc.)? Co-op Programs – does this college have an academic co-op (study/work) program in the student’s major that can reduce your college costs and help the

student achieve employment after graduation? Job Placement – does this college have a Placement Office that places a high number of students in jobs prior to graduation? Religion – does this college have a religious program that fits your needs? Attrition – does this college have a high number of freshmen that graduate within five years? Student/Faculty Ratio – does this college have a low student to faculty ratio to guarantee a more interactive classroom participation and personal faculty

attention for the student? Faculty with PhDs – does this college have a high number of faculty with PhDs? Tutoring – does the college have a system to help a struggling students? Campus Setting – is this college located in a desirable area or neighborhood? Have the right “feel”? Safety – does this college’s campus have adequate security and a good safety reputation? Alcohol/Drug Policy – self expanitory. Student Body Reputation – does this college’s student body reputation fit the student’s personality? Diversity – does the student mix at this college fit the student’s personality, or desire for cultural growth? Greek System – does the role that fraternities and sororities play at this college fit the student’s needs? Housing – is this college’s housing (and housing policy) satisfactory? Is internet and other connectivity readily available? Food – is the on-campus food at this college satisfactory to your needs? Weather – is this college located in a climate that is satisfactory to your needs? Cost—What is the cost of attendance? Financial Aid – awards, need and merit moneys, etc. Prestige- will the university fit the student’s or parent’s expectations? Help in the job search? Accreditation – Does the university or college have the proper certification? Can I transfer community college credits to this university, if needed? Retention and Persistence –Do students “vote with their feet” after freshman year? How quickly is the education finished? Pre-requisites for freshman enrollment – Will my student need to have additional academic preparation prior to enrollment?


How Students and Parents Pick

Boyfriend GirlfriendALL of my friendsEducation is COOLIt’s a party school,

but don’t tell my dad

Good sports teams24 hour Taco Bell

MoneyMoneyMoneyQuality of

EducationI WENT THEREAny school within 2

hours drive of homeWindow Sticker

Students: Parents:


Our “Canned” AnswerI‘d love to attend ___ university. It’s a great

opportunity for me to study ___. In fact, this university is well known for its outstanding faculty and is credited for being one of the best universities at which to study ___. And, by the way, they offer the best financial aid package in comparison to their short list of competitors.


What the Universities Want: High school grades and GPA

Some even look further (ie. AP)Trends

Class rank SAT/ACT Scores Co-Curricular Activities Essays “fit” A display of student interest Special skills and abilities: Athletic/Talent/Other Strength of Recommendations Diversity Full-Pay Candidates


5 Important questions to ask your prospective universities:

What are the most important admissions criteria?

How are these ranked?How many of your students graduate “on

time”?How many come back after freshman

year?What is your enrollment yield?And many others…


Rules of ThumbBe an educated consumerTop Down ApproachGoal: Apply to 6-10 collegesThere is no substitute for a visitEnsure that the college will “want” your

student before applications are started


Points to Consider Strongly Assume your are going to change your mind:

Penn State study: 70% of college students change their academic major after the freshman year (20% change it more than once)

Internships:If wishing to work for a specific company/organization, contact that group and speak to the HR department to see which colleges they recruit from and if they offer internships

College representativesVisit with any local college representatives with offices in DFW areaCome prepared to a college night (i.e., dress for success, resume, note pad, clean up your social media sites, etc.)THANK YOU NOTES ARE NOT OVERATED

Getting in CASH SAT/ACT scores must be better than just to get in to get aidAdmit/DenyEnrollment Yield

Safety schools


Parting ShotsParting ShotsWhich colleges might be the best picks for my

student? Can someone help us choose the right colleges?

Does anyone want to know what their EFC is going to be $19,098 or $8,295?

Can this number be lower?Get a FREE FAFSA REVIEW

Required: Both husband and wife The data form filled out

completely Must be done in the next 2 weeks

Lori Greenhaw, Consultant, The College Authority

E: [email protected] P: 817.756.7485


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College Selection (c) The College Authority, LLC. 2012, all rights reserved