What are Colleges Looking For?

Mr. Ernest Johnson- Guidance ChairpersonMs. Rhonda Paules- Guidance Counselor

October 17, 2007

INTRODUCTION

COLLEGE PROCESS IS RIGOROUS FOR PARENTS/STUDENTS

EACH YEAR COLLEGE ADMISSION BECOMES MORE COMPETITIVE

NUMBER OF STUDENTS APPLYING TO COLLEGE INCREASES EACH YEAR

APPROX.1650 FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES TONIGHT WE WILL COMPARE/CONTRAST

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOLS AND HOW CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTANCE VARY AMONG THEM

COLLEGES WILL LOOK AT:

TRANSCRIPT- GRADES 9-12 SAT SCORES and/or ACT

SCORES EXTRACURRICULAR

ACTIVITIES ESSAYS LETTERS OF

RECOMMENDATION

THE STATE SCHOOLS

EACH SCHOOL-DIFFERENT CRITERIA FOR ADMISSION

IN STATE AND OUT OF STATE CRITERIA WILL LOOK AT MAJOR SUBJECTS (Math,

Science, English, Social Studies) LARGER STATE SCHOOLS- LESS

EMPHASIS ON “EXTRAS” – MORE EMPHASIS ON “NUMBERS”

CONSIDERABLY LESS EXPENSIVE THAN PRIVATE COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES

University Applicants Admitted Enrolled

Pittsburgh 18,195 10,160 3,420

W. Chester 12,669 5,330 1,903

Maryland 23,546 10,470 3,962

Delaware 21,930 10,373 3,259

Virginia 16,086 6,019 3,091

Penn State 34,813 20,181 8,039

Temple 18,140 10,952 3,888

Bloomsburg 8,943 5,386 1,644

PUBLIC COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES

COMMUNITY COLLEGE

SMALL CLASS SIZES INDIVIDUAL ATTENTION VARIETY OF MAJORS ASSOCIATES DEGREES- PLAN FOR

IMMEDIATE CAREER TRANSFER TO PURSUE A BACHELOR’S

DEGREEE EASY TO COMMUTE, FLEXIBLE

SCHEDULING

COMMUNITY COLL. CONT.

RECIPROCITY WITH FOUR YEAR SCHOOLS- EASY TRANSFER

COST- APPROX. $3,000 TO ENROLL FULL-TIME AT MONTGOMERY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

ADMISSIONS CRITERIA- HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED

IVY LEAGUE AND HIGHLY COMPETITIVE PRIVATE COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES

MANY TOP STUDENTS APPLY WHY ARE SOME STUDENTS

ACCEPTED AND OTHERS DENIED? TRANSCRIPTS, SAT I AND II

SCORES, ACTIVITIES, ETHNICITY, LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION, ESSAYS, INTERVIEW, LEGACY CONNECTIONS

University Applicants Admitted Enrolled

Penn 20,483 3,615 2,385

Cornell 28,098 6,935 3,238

Tufts 15,295 4,096 1,282

Villanova 12,913 5,511 1,638

Boston College

26,584 7,736 2,284

Princeton 17,564 1,790 1,228

Georgetown 15,070 3,367 1,606

NYU 35,448 12,842 4,740

Hampton 7,120 2,659 1,133

IVY LEAGUE AND HIGHLY COMPETITIVE COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES

IN ADDITION TO ACADEMICS, SCHOOLS WANT… DIVERSE, UNIQUE STUDENTS INTELLECTUAL POTENTIAL STRONG CHARACTER INVOLVEMENT- LEADERSHIP TO KNOW…WHY IS “XYZ” COLLEGE

RIGHT FOR YOU? TO FILL CERTAIN NEEDS ON THEIR

CAMPUS- location, special/new programs, diversity, sports, etc.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO… VISIT, VISIT, VISIT! CONSIDER AN INTERVIEW START PLANNING EARLY! ASK QUESTIONS SCHEDULE AN APPT. WITH

YOUR CHILD’S GUIDANCE COUNSELOR

FUTURE PRESENTATIONS NOVEMBER 8TH- TESTING: AN OVERVIEW OF THE

PSAT, SAT, & ACT NOVEMBER 27TH- NAVIANCE PRESENTATION

DECEMBER 6TH- HOW TO EVALUATE A COLLEGE

JANUARY 9TH- FINANCIAL AID PROCESS- GUEST SPEAKER- BONNIE BEHM- DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL AID- VILLANOVA UNIV.

FEBRUARY 7TH- COMPLETING THE ADMISSION APPLICATION

MARCH 12TH- NAVIANCE PRESENTATION

APRIL 17TH- COLLEGE & CAREER NIGHT

ANY QUESTIONS??

THANK YOU FOR COMING!