Post-Secondary Institutions

Helpful Hints to Consider During Your College Search

Types of Schools

Vocational schools (PA College of Technology)

Community colleges (HACC or LCCC) PASSHE schools (Bloomsburg,

Millersville, etc) Public schools (PSU, Temple, Pitt,

etc.) Private schools (Lycoming,

Susquehanna, Bucknell, etc.)

Academic Programs Offered

Majors Minors Certificate programs Graduate programs Doctoral programs Opportunities to study abroad Honors programs

Admission Requirements

Standardized test scores High school GPA Essays Letters of recommendation Interviews Placement tests Pre-requisites

Costs

Tuition Room and board Fees Parking passes Books and materials Meal plans Licensure or certification

Paying for School

Grants Student loans Work study programs Scholarships Employment opportunities on

campus Employer reimbursement Assistantships (graduate students)

Location of Campus

Where is the school located? How far is the school from your

hometown? What is the surrounding area like? What are the demographics of the

surrounding community? Are there employment opportunities

near by? What is the crime rate in the

surrounding area?

Student Demographics

Total number of students Male: female ratio Age, gender, race, ethnicity, or

religious affiliation Residents v. commuters PA residents v. out-of-state students International students Non-traditional students Graduate students Doctoral students

School Demographics

Enrollment Faculty Average class size Graduation rate Dropout rate Job placement rate Is the school accredited

Student Housing

Resident halls Campus apartments Availability and cost of off-campus

housing Freshman requirements Visitation requirements Parking requirements Vehicle requirements Accessibility

Campus Activities

Fraternities Sororities Student government NCAA athletic programs Intramural sports Clubs Student organizations Honors fraternities

How Can You Learn More?

Talk to your school counselor Surf the Web Utilize College Navigator Utilize Education Planner College Visits Visit the PHEAA website

Ten Questions to Ask Your School Counselor

What courses do I need to take to be ready for college? How should I plan my schedule so I will complete

them? Which elective courses do you recommend? Which AP courses should I consider taking? Do you have any college handbooks that I can look at? What activities can I do to get ready for college? What kinds of grades do different colleges require? Are there any college fairs nearby? Can you put me in touch with recent grads who are

attending colleges on my list? Do you have any information to help me start exploring

careers?

Tips for Surfing College Websites

Browse the college newspaper online Go clubbing (“Student Life’ links) Patronize the arts (“Events” or “Arts” links) Enlist academic support (look under Student Services) Check out the library Housing (look under Admissions or Prospective

students) Health (look for the Student Health Services link) Grab a tray (“Dining Services” link) Root for the home team (click on Athletics) Browse a course catalog (look under Academics) Visit a department (look under Academic

Departments)

College Navigator

http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/ Allows students to acquire information

about post-secondary institutions according to: Type of school Degree sought State

Provides a list of schools that meet the selected criteria

Acquire information by simply selecting the school

Education Planner

http://www.educationplanner.org Can access from the PHEAA website Provides information and resources

for the following topics: Career planning Preparing for school Paying for school Self-assessments

PASSHE

The PA State System of Higher Education http://passhe.edu Provides information about the 14 state

schools Bloomsburg, California, Cheyney, Clarion,

East Stroudsburg, Edinboro, IUP, Kutztown, Lock Haven, Mansfield, Millersville, Shippensburg, Slippery Rock, and West Chester

Provides information regarding the financial aid process

Campus Visit Checklist

Admissions & Academics Attend an information session at

Admissions Office Interview with an Admissions Officer Pick up financial aid forms Sit in on a class that interests you Meet a professor in your chosen major

Campus Life Take a campus tour Scan bulletin boards Talk to coaches if interested in playing sports Go to the career center Plan an overnight visit with a student Ask to see a freshmen residence hall Visit the cafeteria, library, bookstore, fitness

center, and other facilities Walk and drive around the community

surrounding the campus

Ask current students What are the best reasons to go here? What do you do on the weekends? What do you like best about the

campus? What do most students complain about?

PHEAA

PA Higher Education Assistance Agency

http://www.pheaa.org Provides information on college

planning http://educationplanner.org College fairs Five simple steps to financial aid FAFSA

Provides information on Funding Opportunities PA State Grant Other educational aid Work-Study Employment Aid for military and PA National Guard Loan forgiveness

References

Educationplanner Collegeboard PHEAA PASSHE College Navigator ASCA PDE