How is this done? Colleges of Distinction require students to take a wide variety of courses in the social sciences, humanities, and natural and mathematical sciences, in addition to majoring in a liberal arts or vocational discipline. The result is a graduate who has the intellectual tools to adapt to the shifts and changes we can expect in the 21st century.
Colleges of Distinction prepare their students not only for the first job, but also for the last job!
Before You Visit
Arrange a visit to the Career Services Office. Make a list of questions to ask about internships and other career exploration opportunities.
Ask if there are recent alumni available in your area with whom you can speak about the school.
When You Are On Campus
Ask your admissions counselor about graduation rates, employment rates, and similar issues.
Ask students about their plans for the future. What is the school doing now to help the achieve their goals?
Ask staff in the Career Services Office or the Alumni Office how alumni help current students.
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A Checklist for finding….
Successful Outcomes
Doing your Homework
[ ] What information does the school provide about employment-related internships and externships? How many internships can a typical student take?
[ ] What professional development does the school offer students? Does the school offer resume support, mock interviews, career fairs, and other employment support?
[ ] What are the employment rates for graduates within 6 months of graduation? Within one year?
[ ] If you are considering graduate or law school, does the school provide information about rates of acceptance and give examples of schools to which graduates were accepted?
[ ] What is the school’s rate of alumni giving? Rates of 30%or more are generally considered fairly strong.
[ ] If the school publishes an alumni magazine, ask for a copy with your admissions packet. How important and well-organized does the alumni association seem to be? Are alumni involved in student life? Do they provide a network for students seeking employment?
Chapter 6: Admissions Climate and Financial Aid
If you feel that college admissions is a competitive game, you’re not alone. College rankings have given the general public the idea that it’s no longer enough to be admitted to college; students have to get into a top-ranked school. Different regions of the country experience this pressure in different ways, but the symptoms are universal.
These days students and parents spend an enormous amount of time and money on guidebooks, SAT tutors, private admissions counselors, and other tools. In some cases, students may actually be missing out on valuable high school experiences and learning because they focus so much energy on getting into the “right” school.
Many college admissions personnel agree that the climate has become overly competitive, but there is no quick fix. What can you do?
First and foremost, decide which schools are really the best for you-not just a magazine’s “best”. Where can you be happiest? What schools offer the programs and development that are right for you? We urge you to worry less about what school is “the best” and instead ask, “Which school is the best for me?”
You are going to spend a lot of valuable time on the college admissions process. Having been through the process ourselves, we at Colleges of Distinction suggest you look past Big Name University, perhaps find the Hidden Gem College that is perfect for you, and tailor your strategy to what that school really wants, rather than wasting your resources on a “one-size-fits-all” approach to test prep and applications strategies.
Use the following checklist to prioritize what’s important for you as you’re looking at schools. You may also want to use our self-assessment in chapter 4 as one of your tools. Then, be sure to read the sections that discuss the admissions climate in the six regions of the country. They include additional information that will help you understand the specific challenges of your region. Good luck!
Narrowing the Field
Once you have finished this section, you should have a fairly complete picture of what you are looking for in a college. Think about the colleges you have visited. Look at the materials colleges have sent you. How many fit the bill? Knock off the ones that just do not match what you’r looking for. You’ll be left with a list of colleges that approach the ideal college for you.
How well do your SATs, ACTs and GPA stack up against their average admissions? You can find some of this information in our book; for more up-to-date figures consult the school’s website or other online resources that list this data. Do you score significantly above or below the average? This can give you a very rough estimate of how well you will stack up against other applicants. Don’t be discouraged if your scores are lower than the college’s average; remember, half of all students admitted to any given college colleges have scores and grades below the mid-point, and many of those students have great careers in college and beyond.
Keep in mind that Colleges of Distinction consider many other factors in their admission decisions. Among those you should consider:
Do you have any special skills or interests that might interest one or more of these schools? Schools with extensive service programs or special service scholarships may be especially interested in your service activities. Every college needs a flute player in the band, an actor for the drama program, and a reporter for the school newspaper. Schools with competitive swim teams might be especially interested in recruiting a talented swimmer. Be sure to mention these interests and talents.
Are you are a member of a group that is under-represented at one of the colleges you are considering? Many schools have far fewer men that women in their student body and, though they won’t admit it, are interested in recruiting men to help correct the imbalance. Some campuses have special programs to encourage firs-generation students or members of certain ethnic and racial groups to apply. Still other campuses would like to recruit more “legacies”, children or grandchildren of alumni.
Do you have life-experiences that make you stand out from the crowd? Have you lived abroad or participated in educational travel opportunities? Have you won any special awards or been recognized for your activities? Have you started clubs or programs in your community, at your school, or through your faith group?
Refine your list based on these questions and narrow your choices down to eight-to-ten colleges; four or five that closely match your interests and to which acceptance is likely; two where the profile might be above yours (“stretches”); and two that have the profiles below yours where admission is almost guaranteed (“safeties”). If you think you’ll be unhappy at being accepted by any of the colleges on your list, cross it off right now.
The Facts about Financial Aid: Can you afford not to go to college?
One final issue needs to be discussed: