COLLEGE SELECTIONFinding the Right Fit

3 Things You Could Work on Today

1. College Applications

2. Setting Up College Visits

3. Scholarships

Deciding Where to Apply:Know Yourself

• Possible Selection Criteria to Consider:

• Geographic Location

• Size

• Major Offered

• Surrounding Community

• Sports & Extra-curricular Activities

• Social Atmosphere

• Diversity

• Study Abroad

• Religious Orientation

Research Online

• C o l l e g e N a v i g a t o r a n d C o l l e g e B o a r d

College Navigator – Retention, Grad Rates

Research

Talk to People - Ask relatives, friends, teachers, neighbors, members of your religious community, co-workers and others in your life.

Admission Reps – Lunchroom Visits College Visits

You may be surprised to learn about colleges you have never heard of that will be great for you to investigate.

Application Process

• Application Deadlines (Early Period, Early Action/Early Decision)

• Teacher or Counselor Form• Transcript from Mrs. Pike • Official Test Scores or OK on Transcript

Admissions Colleges Look At:

• Curriculum/Course Path• Grades & Transcript• Test Scores (ACT or SAT)• Essays, Activities & Leadership, Personal

Qualities, Awards, Recommendations, Interviews, Resume.

Competitive Admissions?

• Admission Requirements• Acceptance Rates• Academic Profile of Entering Freshmen– How do you compare?

College Navigator – Admission Stats

Safety? Target? Reach?

College Visits

• Usually Setup for Fridays• Open Houses / Individual Tours• Call Admission Offices in Advance• Ask Questions and Make Comparisons– Attend a class– Eat in the Cafeteria– See Campus Housing– Look at Surrounding Area– Talk to a Coach– Overnight?

Scholarships / Financial Aid• Do not let cost be the most important factor in selecting

colleges at this time• Attend the Financial Aid night in October• File Free Application for Federal Student Aid (

http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/ NOT .com!)• Research both Need Based and Merit Based Scholarships

• Fastweb.com – National Scholarships• Guidance Office Website – For Local Scholarships• Visit the Colleges’ Financial Aid page to determine their scholarships

procedures

• Use Financial Aid Estimator on findaid.org and/or on individual college sites.

Things to Remember

• Do Not Change Your Schedule• Do You Need to Retake the ACT?

(October 25 @ PTHS – Register by September 19)

• Consider Your Options - You Do Not have a Make a Final Decision until Spring

ACT Retake Dates