Austin College – where tailored programs and experiential learning merge

Founded in 1849 by a Presbyterian missionary, Austin College continues to emphasize core values and high participation in service activities. How would you like to be served breakfast by your professors at 10pm the night before finals? Well, at Austin College, you will!

 

Austin College combines a liberal arts education with strong programs in education, science, health and business. One of the most notable fixtures of Austin’s campus is the IDEA Center. Here, students get hands-on learning in the sciences in the laboratory classrooms and domed observatory, which features a $1-million, 24-inch telescope and astronomical image camera. 

 

Here are a few quick facts about Austin:

Acceptance: 49%

Freshman retention: 82%

Freshmen out of state: 8%

Most popular majors: biology, psychology, business administration and political science

4-year Graduation rate: 68%

Student Community Diversity: 10% Black, 23% Latino, 2% International

 

Housing: Living on campus is required the first three years, resulting in a total of 74% of students residing at Austin College. The residence halls are co-ed except for one all-male and one all-female dorm. Juniors and seniors have a choice of a suite, a flat or a cottage. Another perk of AC’s residence halls is that they are about 200 yards from most classrooms, making it a little easier to get to early-morning classes on time. 

 

The food in the campus dining halls gets rave reviews from students and the staff are described as very friendly and accommodating. Campus security does a great job of making sure students feel safe on campus. 

 

Academics: The core curriculum begins with a first year seminar. The professors who teach the course then become the mentor for the 20 students in their class. Next, students choose courses in social sciences, natural sciences, and humanities, and classes that focus on writing skills and quantitative reasoning. In order to graduate, students must complete one major and one minor or a double major. There is also an experiential learning requirement which students can complete by doing an internship, practicum or similar experience. Students are encouraged to pursue all their interests and can even combine three of AC’s majors into an interdisciplinary degree. 

 

62% of Austin’s classes have fewer than 20 students so students are really able to get to know their professors. The mentor program plays a big role in helping students get registered for classes and look for internships or research programs. 42% of students conduct undergraduate research, mentored by faculty and 60% study abroad. The best time for students to participate in these activities is during January term, when students focus on only one course. 

 

Austin only offers graduate degrees in education, but students in these majors can get their bachelor’s and master’s degrees in five years. AC’s pre-professional programs are strong; pre-med, pre-dentistry and pre-law students have the highest acceptance rates of any Texas schools into graduate programs at other colleges. Students in the cooperative engineering program have the opportunity to take courses at other colleges. 

 

Similar colleges to consider: Hendrix College, Southwestern University, University of Texas at Austin, Texas A&M University

 

Social: Austin College is not actually in Austin, Texas, but rather in Sherman. Sherman is not what you would consider a “college town”; it mainly features restaurants. Most of the social life at Austin College takes place on campus or nearby, and students report that there is always something to do on campus. In the fall, the college hosts a carnival called Mega Texas, and in the spring Kangapalooza brings a big-name musician to campus. 13% of men and 17% of women pledge but the Greeks are not school-funded which means they cannot advertise off-campus parties without the college’s permission. On the weekends, students often take trips to Dallas or the recreational spot owned by the college on Lake Texoma. 

 

The Austin Kangaroos compete in Division III, with men’s and women’s swimming and diving, tennis, men’s soccer and women’s basketball being the strongest teams. The women’s water polo team advanced to the national championship in their first year. Austin has a recreational sports program which one-third of students participate in. Soccer, volleyball and flag football are the most popular offerings.

 

Financial: Austin College offers merit scholarships, but no athletic scholarships. 

100% of student need is met at AC. Although the tuition and fees are $55,100 for both in-state and out-of-state students, the average financial aid package is $33,000. 100% of students receive scholarships.

Smith College – a women’s liberal arts college with strong engineering programs

The 147-acre campus of Smith College features buildings that range in architectural styles from late 18th century to modern. From the outside, it looks like a medieval fortress, but Smith has done a great job of keeping facilities up to date. Smith College was founded in 1871 by Sophia Smith with the hope that students would have a focus on evangelical Christian faith. Today, the climate is much more liberal. In fact, Smith is known to be one of the most left-leaning of the nation’s top women’s colleges. 

 

Here are a few quick facts about Smith:

Acceptance: 37%

Freshman retention: 95%

Freshmen out of state: 72%

Most popular majors: psychology, computer science, government, biological sciences, engineering, English

4-year Graduation rate: 85%; 6-year: 91%

Student Community Diversity: 6% Black, 14% Latino, 12% International

 

Housing: Smith’s housing system consists of 40 houses (not dorms) that accommodate anywhere from 12 to 100 students. Each house has its own traditions. Students describe the houses as less of a sorority atmosphere and more of that of an extended family. There is no separation between graduating classes within the houses; seniors share living space with freshmen, sophomores and juniors. 

 

There are several dining locations on campus, each open at specific times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the weekdays and for brunch and dinner on the weekends. Campus food gets good reviews from the students. 

 

Academics: Aside from the requirement to take at least one writing course, students at Smith will find they have an unusual amount of freedom to plan their course of study. However, Smith does require that half of a student’s credits come from outside of her major. First year students can take small seminars in topics such as Rebellious Women. The academic environment is described as “very intense and very difficult” but also “not too competitive.” Students at Smith are more interested in growing together rather than competing with each other. 

 

Smith College is part of the Five College Consortium which means students can also register for classes at Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and UMass Amherst. All courses at Smith are taught by professors who are hailed for being supportive and accessible to students. Students looking for small class sizes will be pleased to know that 69% of classes have fewer than 20 students. 

 

There is no shortage of enrichment opportunities at Smith. Freshman and sophomore students looking to get involved in research will find paid internships through the STRIDE program. Nearly half of juniors participate in the study abroad programs in a number of countries for at least one semester. Smith also funds Praxis where students can participate in at least one semester summer internship. The Picker Engineering Program is the nation’s first women-only accredited engineering program, and those who complete it are highly sought after by graduate programs at various universities and also by employers. Many who have completed the program have received fellowships from the National Science Foundation. 

 

Similar colleges to consider: Barnard College, Brown University, Bryn Mawr College, Scripps College

 

Social: While there is not a huge social scene on campus, student organizations do organize events such as movie nights and sundae parties, and each house hosts an average of two parties each semester. One of Smith’s annual traditions is Mountain Day in the fall where the president cancels class for the day and students spend it hiking and bonding.

 

Just outside of campus is Northampton (aka NoHo) – a town of 30,000 people known for its free-spirited, bohemian culture. Students will find plenty of places to enjoy music and dance, as well as a bowling alley and many great restaurants. For students wanting to venture further off campus, Boston and New York City are popular road trip destinations (2 hours and 3 hours away, respectively). 

 

Smith was the first women’s college to join NCAA, and the Pioneers compete in Division III athletics. The strongest teams include crew, basketball and soccer, and the field hockey team recently won the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference title. 

 

Financial: Smith offers both need-based and non-need based merit aid. 100% of need is met at Smith. Although the tuition and fees are $72,700, the average financial aid package is $47,500. 73% of students receive some type of financial aid.

Carnegie Mellon – where strong programs in technology and the arts meet

Even though Carnegie Mellon has origins as far back as 1900, this university did not become known by this name until 1962. This was the year Carnegie Institute of Technology (founded by Andrew Carnegie as a technical school for the children of the blue-collar workers in Pittsburgh) and Mellon Institute merged. The campus is located in the affluent Oakland section of Pittsburgh and its facilities are built in the Renaissance style – buff-colored brick arches and piers, tile roofs and terra cotta and granite details. 

 

Here are a few quick facts about Carnegie Mellon:

Acceptance: 17%

Freshman retention: 96%

Freshmen out of state: 89%

Most popular majors: computer science, electrical and computer engineering, business administration, mechanical engineering

4-year Graduation rate: 86%; 6-year: 93%

Student Community Diversity: 4% Black; 9% Latino; 22% International

 

Housing: Housing is guaranteed all 4 years if students stay within the university housing system, which about 58% of students do. While freshman are not required to live on campus most (98%) choose to do so. The most popular residences are the university-owned apartments, which tend to fill up very quickly, with upperclassmen getting first pick. There are a number of resident halls specifically for first year students. 

 

Instead of buffet-style dining halls, there are several themed eateries on campus which get good reviews from students. Thanks to the comprehensive security program, students report they feel safe on campus. 

 

Academics: The hallmark of Carnegie Mellon’s curriculum can be described by the term they have coined, which is a “liberal-professional” education. CM is known for being equally strong in technology and the arts and strives to give both types of students a well-rounded education. Two-thirds of classes have fewer than 20 students, and students agree that professors are passionate about what they teach. 

 

Students at Carnegie Mellon who are looking to sharpen their professional skills can pursue 5-year dual-degree options and co-op programs, and have access to advising and other resources through the Career and Professional Development Center. Research opportunities are available across the curriculum. Students can also participate in service learning through local outreach efforts to strengthen youth STEM education. Opportunities for study abroad are offered at Carnegie Mellon, but many undergraduates have difficulty fitting it into their already packed schedules. 

 

Due to the rigorous nature of the curriculum, Carnegie Mellon has taken steps to help students counteract stress. Every day features a “meeting free” time for students so they can be sure to have time to study and engage in other activities. There is also a “mindfulness room” on campus where students can take a much-needed break from schoolwork, with weekly visits from trained therapy dogs. Students are encouraged to use counseling services, and the Academic Development Office offers tutoring services and resources. Students are supportive of one another and do not attach a stigma to taking advantage of necessary support. 

 

Similar colleges to consider: Brown, UC Berkeley, UChicago, Columbia

 

Social: The most visible social scene on campus is centered on Greek life, with 16% of men and 11% of women pledging. Carnegie Mellon offers late-night events and concerts as well. One of the most popular on-campus events is the annual Spring Carnival – a 4-day weekend festival during which student groups set up themed booths as well as put their design and engineering skills to the test by designing, building and racing buggies made out of lightweight alloys. Off-campus, students will find plenty to do in nearby Oakland or downtown Pittsburgh ranging from coffeehouses to concerts to cultural performances to sporting events. 

 

The CM Tartans compete in Division III, and the Kiltie Band (clad in kilts) rallies the crowd during home football games. The most successful teams in recent years have been men’s soccer, women’s volleyball and tennis, and men’s and women’s cross country, and swimming and diving teams. Students also have 40 intramural sports to choose from. 

 

Financial: Carnegie Mellon offers primarily need-based financial aid, with no athletic scholarships available. 50% of students have their financial need fully met. Although the tuition and fees are $72,300 (same for in- and out-of-state students), the average financial aid package is $37,500. 59% of students receive some type of financial aid.

Baylor University – where faith, community service and research opportunities abound

Baylor University is an institution that is older than Texas; it was founded in 1845, 10 months before Texas became a state. The architectural style of its 1000-acre campus near downtown Waco exhibits the gracious tradition of the Old South. Baylor is known for its Baptist tradition that fosters a strong sense of community among students and faculty. 

Here are a few quick facts about Baylor:

Acceptance: 68%

Freshman retention: 91%

Freshmen out of state: 37%

Most popular majors: biology, nursing, accounting

4-year Graduation rate: 64%; 6-year: 79%

Student Community Diversity: 6% Black, 15% Latino, 3.3%% International

Housing: As could be expected on a conservative, religious campus, dorms are single sex and visitation privileges are limited. Upperclassmen tend to seek housing off-campus, which leaves 35% living in the dorms. In hopes of getting more students to stay on campus, Baylor has recently constructed 3 residence halls with apartment-style rooms. Students share that they feel safe on campus with the abundance of lighting and security patrolling. 

Academics: Baylor undergraduates are required to take four English courses as well as four semesters of human performance. In addition, students will take two religion courses and two semesters of Chapel, which is a series of lectures and meetings focused on faith and Christian service. All students take a New Student Experience course in the fall of their freshman year. Class sizes are small to moderate with 52% of classes having fewer than 20 students.  

Though known for their focus on the Christian faith, Baylor is breaking new ground in science with their research opportunities. These opportunities are made possible partly through Baylor’s large endowment fund. Students who are looking to have other experiential opportunities can be a part of the 17% who study abroad in programs in dozens of countries. 

Similar colleges to consider: Texas A&M, UT Austin, Texas Tech, TCU

Social: With the majority of students living off campus, the social life at Baylor is active, but not a party scene. 18% of men and 33% of women “go Greek.” Baylor boasts more than 330 student organizations and most involve some type of community service. 

The on-campus coffee shop hosts concerts most weekends. Going to the movies is another popular activity for Baylor students who can purchase movie tickets for $5. The most popular on-campus events are the weekly Dr. Pepper hour with free soda floats and the annual Dio del Oso (Day of the Bear), where classes are canceled for a day in April for a campus wide celebration. Christmas on 5th Street features Christmas tree lighting, concerts and other holiday festivities. 

For the student who is looking for adventure off campus, popular road trips include Dallas, Austin, San Antonio as well as the beaches at Galveston, South Padre Island and Corpus Christi. 

The Baylor Bears compete in Division I and Baylor is known for having the largest collegiate homecoming parade in the nation. The women’s basketball team has done very well with their streak of winning the Big 12 Conference. 43% of Baylor students participate in intramural and/or club sports, including the country’s largest dodgeball tournament. The McLane Student Life Center is also known for having the tallest rock-climbing wall in Texas.

Financial: Baylor offers both need-based and non-need based merit aid, as well as athletic scholarships. The average percent of need met is 68% with 14% being fully met. Although the tuition and fees are $70,000, the average financial aid package is $25,000. 95% of students receive some type of financial aid.

The George Washington University – where the world is at your fingertips

Imagine having your college commencement ceremony with students from all over the US and 130 other countries around the world on the National Mall. This is an honor experienced only by graduates of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. During your time as an undergraduate, you would have had behind the scenes access to the Smithsonian, museums, the Library of Congress, US Capitol and other national treasures. You probably also had top political officials and other influential leaders serve as a guest speaker or visiting professor in at least one of your courses. 

 

Established in 1821 by an act of Congress to fulfill George Washington’s dream of having a national university in D.C, GW has two campuses – one in Foggy Bottom on Pennsylvania Avenue and the Mount Vernon campus near Georgetown. Students live and take classes on both campuses and travel between on the “Vern Express” shuttle which runs 24/7 during the academic year. 

 

Here are a few quick facts about GW:

Acceptance: 43%

Freshman retention: 88%

Freshmen out of state: 99%

Most popular majors: international affairs, political science, finanace

4-year Graduation rate: 79%; 6-year: 85%

Student Community Diversity: 7.6% Black, 11% Latino, 11% International

 

Housing: 61% of students live in campus housing, which is required for the first 3 years. Rising juniors, however, can enter a lottery that grants a limited number of exemptions. Some of the most popular places to live off campus are in Foggy Bottom, Dupont Circle and Georgetown. 

 

The university meal plan allows students to dine at both on-campus cafes and more than 100 off-campus vendors with a great variety of options including food trucks and nicer, sit down restaurants. Being in the middle of an urban campus can raise concern; the campus offers many services to ensure security on campus. 

 

Academics: All GW undergrads are required to complete a 19-credit core curriculum with courses in writing, natural or physical sciences, math or statistics, social science, and the humanities, as well as 2 writing-in-the-disciplines courses. During the first year, all students take a University Writing course. 

 

GW offers an honors program and a number of accelerated undergraduate/graduate degree options. The workload is described as heavy but also not as competitive as one might expect. 52% of classes have fewer than 20 students. Professors teach lectures and seminars while TAs lead discussions or labs. Students who wish to study abroad will find more than 300 programs available in more than 60 countries; 31% of GW students take advantage of this opportunity. 

 

The Center of Career Services connects students with more than 12,000 internships, which includes opportunities on Capitol Hill, the Kennedy Center, the Smithsonian and many other local organizations. Volunteering is also a big thing at GW. More than 70 courses combine academics and service work in the D.C. community. 

 

Similar colleges to consider: Boston University, NYU, Northeastern, UMiami (FL)

 

Social: With everything to do in D.C., no student should ever be bored. 15% and 19% of women, respectively “go Greek” and there are 475 on-campus student organizations students can join. The most popular annual events are the Fall Fest and Spring Fling carnivals, which feature free food and well-known musical performers. Every 4 years, GW has its own Inaugural Ball to celebrate the swearing in of the new President. 

 

For students who want to venture further off campus, popular road trips include Ocean City, Maryland and Virginia Beach. Philadelphia and New York City are accessible by bus or train, which is a plus because most GW students don’t have cars. 

 

While GW doesn’t have a football team, their 27 varsity teams play in the Division I Atlantic 10 Conference. Men’s and women’s basketball teams regularly make NCAA appearances, and women’s basketball and gymnastics, and men’s swimming and diving teams and water polo have been recent conference champions. 20% of students play sports recreationally in 25 intramural and 34 club sports. The mascot for the Colonials resembles a certain Founding Father, however there is also an unofficial mascot – the hippopotamus. 

 

Financial: GWU has a fixed rate-plan that guarantees that tuition will not increase for up to 5 years of full-time undergraduate study. GWU offers need-based aid, as well as non-need based merit scholarships and 175 athletic scholarships. The average percent of need met is 93%, with 81% being fully met. Although the tuition and fees are $83,000, the average financial aid package is $42,000. 66% of students receive some type of financial aid.

Rensselaer – a technical university that thrives on collaboration

Studying in high-tech studio classrooms where students work on team projects and collaborate to solve real-world problems is what students can expect when attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The 275-acre campus set on a bluff overlooking Troy, New York features a mix of classical ivy-covered buildings as well as modern research facilities. Speaking of research…it is a big part of what goes on at RPI. The Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies houses more than 400 researchers who work in such areas as regenerative medicine, bioinformatics, biocatalysis, and metabolic engineering.

 

Here are a few quick facts about RPI:

Acceptance: 57%

Freshman retention: 91%

Freshmen out of state: 67%

Most popular majors: engineering, computer science, business/management

4-year Graduation rate: 74%; 6-year: 87%

Student Community Diversity: 4% Black, 9.5% Latino, 15% International

 

Housing: Fifty-seven percent of students live in university housing. Freshmen and sophomores are required to live in the residence halls where they will reside in small, tight-knit student communities. Most upperclassmen choose to move into less expensive off-campus apartments. As far as the food goes, the dining halls get lukewarm reviews from students. 

 

Academics: In order to graduate, students must complete coursework in the humanities, social sciences and physical, life and engineering sciences as well as 30 credits in their major and two communication-intensive courses (one of which has to be a writing-intensive course). When students get to their junior and senior years, they will find that their courses are self-paced and they will have the opportunity to take on paid positions helping with faculty research. RPI also offers co-op programs in more than a dozen fields which help students earn money and credits. 

 

RPI’s Lally School of Management combines the latest technical applications with the elements of a business school. Entrepreneurship is one of RPI’s specialties; aspiring entrepreneurs from all majors can participate in a business incubator program – a support system for start-up companies run by RPI students and alumni. 

 

Students in the information technology program select one of 20 concentrations, ranging from cognitive science to economics. The quality of the humanities and social sciences is related to their applicability to technical fields. Students also have the option to enter a 7-year dual degree program in medicine, a 6-year program in law or 5- and 6-year programs in business sciences or engineering. 

 

Unlike many engineering schools, Rensselaer encourages undergrads to participate in some sort of international study, internship or service-learning experience. RPI offers programs in more than 15 countries on four continents. 

 

The Advising and Learning Center gets high ratings from students for their drop-in tutoring services – good news for any student who needs a little extra help. For students looking for smaller class sizes, they will find that over half of RPI’s classes enroll fewer than 20 students. Most of the professors at RPI have spent multiple years in the industry before coming back to teach, which means students are being assigned projects that are relevant to their studies.

 

Similar colleges to consider: MIT, Caltech, Carnegie Mellon, Worcester Polytechnic

 

Social: Weekend options at RPI include sporting events, live entertainment, concerts, movies and half a dozen local pubs. Students also participate in celebrations in Greek houses and off-campus apartments. Albany is just a half hour drive away, for students looking for a larger nightlife scene. 

 

Troy is not a traditional college town, but it does have good places to eat and beautiful parks, and students can take advantage of the free shuttle buses that run regularly to downtown. For more scenic excursions, the Berkshires, Catskills, Adirondacks, Lake George, Lake Placid, the Saranac Lakes, Montreal or Boston are not too far from campus. 

 

Athletics at RPI revolve around ice hockey, which are the only teams that play in Division I. One of the biggest weekends of the year is Big Red Freakout, which involves activities to cheer on “Big Red” (aka the hockey teams). The other athletic teams at RPI play in Division III with the football, baseball, men’s and women’s basketball and women’s field hockey teams being the most successful. Students also have more than 200 student-fun extracurricular clubs to choose from. 

 

Financial: Rensselaer offers both need-based and non need-based financial aid, as well as 41 athletic scholarships for men’s and women’s ice hockey. The average percent of need met is 12%, with 66% being fully met. Although the tuition and fees are $78,000, the average financial aid package is $33,100. 87% of students receive some type of financial aid. 

University of Delaware – traditional education with an emphasis on experiential learning

Standing in the grassy green mall, the hub of University of Delaware’s 970-acre campus, you will find yourself surrounded by a mix of colonial and modern buildings. University of Delaware is one of the oldest US universities, established in 1743 as Newark College, then renamed Delaware College, and finally, University of Delaware in 1921. 

 

Despite its longstanding heritage, UD continues to renovate and upgrade its campus and facilities. Mechanical Hall is a climate-controlled art gallery home to the Paul R. Jones collection of African-American art, and Innovation Suite recently opened for the electrical and computer engineering departments. Students studying hotel and restaurant management gain hands-on experience in the fine dining restaurant and a Courtyard by Marriott right on campus. 

 

Here are a few quick facts about UDelaware:

Acceptance: 68%

Freshman retention: 91%

Freshmen out of state: 66%

Most popular majors: finance, marketing, nursing, psychology

4-year Graduation rate: 71%; 6-year: 81%

Student Community Diversity: 5% Black, 8% Latino, 5% International

 

Housing: All freshmen not commuting live in the dorms, making up part of the 40 percent of overall students who reside on campus. Housing is guaranteed and awarded by lottery, but many juniors and seniors move to off-campus apartments. 

 

Honors students live in designated residence halls and certain majors require students to live in a living/learning community. There are also a variety of optional special-interest living communities. Students in traditional residence halls are required to purchase the meal plan. UD students state that the food courts are really good with a variety of options for different dietary needs and restrictions, but the dining halls could use some improvement. 

 

Academics: UD offers 135 majors in a range of disciplines. Some of their newer offerings include biomedical engineering and human resources administration. In order to graduate, students must pass freshman English (critical reading and writing), earn 3 credits of discovery-based or experiential learning (internship, research or study abroad), complete First-Year Seminar course in freshman year and a capstone project in senior year. Other graduation requirements vary by college. 

 

The average class size is 35 students, but 34% of classes have fewer than 20 students. Professors stress the importance of collaboration and working together. Career Services is very active in making sure students are well-supported in gaining real-world experiences. One-third of students travel to 40 countries and 400 students receive stipends each summer to do research with faculty members. Students at UD also have a conviction to get involved in community service; 62 percent of students get involved during their time at UD. Service Learning Scholars program is a 10-week program that immerses students in community service opportunities in the local community.  

 

Similar colleges to consider: Penn State, Rutgers, University of Connecticut, University of Maryland

 

Social: Despite having a smaller percentage of students living in the dorms, most social life at University of Delaware happens on or around campus. Students can find plenty of events hosted by UD student organizations to attend. Greek life attracts a moderate number of students (18% of men and 23% of women pledge), but they do not have a monopoly on the social gatherings. 

 

True to their positive and friendly nature, University of Delaware offers a variety of fun traditions and activities. Hen Fest welcomes students back to campus each fall and juniors mark their progress in the fall with the Halfway There Party. This event features half-legged races, half-lemonade/half-iced tea (Arnold Palmers) and a DJ bumping popular songs…but only halfway through. 

 

Main Street runs almost right through campus, making most places within a comfortable walking distance. Students will find coffee shops, pizza places, restaurants, a movie theater and shops nearby. For students who want to venture a little further, New York, DC, Baltimore and Philadelphia are all about a two-hour drive away. 

 

Division I Blue Hens are becoming more competitive, with football being the biggest deal. Tailgate parties are very popular both before and after the games. Women’s field hockey won a national championship title recently, and women’s golf and men’s soccer have brought home Colonial Athletic Association conference titles. Men’s and women’s basketball teams have a lively rivalry with Drexel. Recreational sports also draw a lot of students with 35 club sports and 30 intramural programs. 

 

Financial: University of Delaware offers both need-based and non-need based financial aid as well as a some athletic scholarships. The average percent of need met is 59%, with 21% being fully met. 

 

Although the cost of attendance for non-commuters is $29,200 and $52,200 for in-state and out-of-state, respectively, the average financial aid package is $20,000. Twenty percent of students receive some type of financial aid.

Getting in + getting money for college – it all begins with “FIT”

campus visit teen

Junior year is the start of the college admissions process. In order for your teen to be successful once they’re in college, they need to be applying to colleges that are a good “fit” for them. 

Here are the factors to consider:

  1. Academic Fit  

Different colleges will have different curriculum and a different approach academically. This includes the faculty-student ratio, the types of programs, how much of an emphasis on writing, and how much access to writing/other academic supports they offer. 

     2. Social Fit 

Social fit means being able to meet like-minded people, make friends and be part of a community. It can also mean the typical aspects of the college experience such as having certain clubs or fraternal/Greek letter organizations on campus. The percentage of freshmen who live on campus, and learning about the residential life experience also plays a role in terms of the social fit. Even learning about the food options and where to go to eat – that’s a big part of communication and socialization. 

     3. Financial Fit 

The third area of fit would be financial fit. Many colleges have different types of opportunities available for families to pay for college. Some colleges have research scholarships for teens that are interested in that area. 

Some colleges have no loans or have a cap on the loans that they offer their students. There are colleges that have grants and scholarships for students who want to study abroad. Consider these different opportunities when deciding which college to attend. 

     4. Vocational Fit 

The fourth (frequently overlooked) area of fit is vocational fit. I encourage teens to look at vocational fit in a couple different ways. First, they should think about what they would like to do after college to determine if a particular college will support them in these endeavors career-wise or professionally.

Also look at the services and support their career planning and placement office offers and at the alumni network. They can determine if there is a preprofessional program. What kind of tracks and offerings do they have for pre-professional programs (such as pre-business, pre-med or pre-law)? Are there networking events they can participate in during college for that vocation later? These are all ways that your teen can consider vocational fit. 

     5. Cultural Fit 

In these times, the cultural piece is one that really matters. While in some ways similar to social fit, this piece goes deeper and asks, “Where will my teen who is different in whatever regard (racially, ethnically, part of the LGBTQ community, etc.) be able to attend and feel celebrated and embraced as part of that community?”

                                              When looking at colleges, cultural fit makes a big difference.

The Importance of the Five Areas of Fit 

The five areas of fit I mentioned also make a difference as far as receiving internal scholarships (scholarships that come from the colleges directly). In another article, I will address external scholarships.

How do colleges know if you’re a good fit? Trust me, they know their institutions very well. They know the kinds of students that make up and support the community and who will thrive there, therefore they know the kind of students they want to attract and recruit. This means that it is up to the student to also determine if the college is a good fit for them as well. 

It starts with the students, not with the colleges. 

Students need to have a sense for who they are, what they want to do, their likes and dislikes. This type of self-awareness combined with learning how to self advocate will really help them to put this list together. 

During junior year, there will be opportunities to visit colleges so they need to be sure they have done some homework about what that college offers. Then, they can do a virtual or in-person visit (when those are available) and start to see if that college is a fit for them. 

Keep these tips in mind throughout junior year to support your student’s success with getting into the colleges where they will thrive during their college career. 

The key to helping your junior get in and get money for college

Parents of juniors…I want college admissions to be a stress-free process for your teen. Don’t see how that’s possible? Let me share some intentional things you can do to support your teen’s success to help them (and you!) avoid stressing out. The key is to approach the process in a way that makes sense for your teen, beginning with ownership. 

Own the Process 

First off, having your junior own the process (being engaged, responsible and accountable) will take a lot of pressure off you as a parent. But it goes deeper than that. I know from the research, and from experience with my own children that when your teen takes ownership of the process, they:

  • are much more successful in the college admissions process and more likely to get into the top colleges on their ist
  • can be sure they are a good fit for the college, and as a result, 
  • end up getting scholarship money. 

 

The key takeaway is to be sure your teen is in charge so that they are owning the process. 

 

Now that we’ve established that, where can you and your teen start with finding money for college?

 

External Scholarship Opportunities 

Let’s talk about external scholarships, which are scholarships that are not from the colleges, but from external sources. Oftentimes families are unaware of the other resources that are out there. This year especially, you want to be intentional around external scholarships. Here are five in particular that you may not have considered. 

 

1. Scholarships from Companies

Many companies, including law firms, major restaurants and retail companies offer scholarships. One widely-known example is the Coca-Cola scholarship for seniors which is a very large scholarship. However, your junior can position themselves to compete for that scholarship going into senior year. Also look at some of the companies in your own community that offer scholarships, which you can often find on their websites.

 

2. Scholarships from Civic Organizations 

Another great resource is civic organizations and foundations. Sometimes they are need-based (which require you to provide proof of need) while others involve a contest, where you complete an application with an essay to qualify. Now is a good time to research the civic organizations in your community that offer scholarships.

 

3. Scholarships from Credit Unions 

Credit unions are wonderful community neighbors, and they often will have scholarships as well. Sometimes, there are additional offerings for members of that credit union. If you’re a member of a credit union, definitely check that out! I recommend that you look into these opportunities in junior year; some of the requirements are junior-year specific.  Another note regarding credit unions: if you know that there is a credit union that offers a scholarship and you’re not a member, now is the time to become a member. If you plan ahead your teen can position themselves for that particular award now. 

 

4. Scholarships from Your Employer 

There are a lot of employers that offer scholarships. I believe that NiSource, the energy company here in Columbus, offers scholarships. See if your employer offers scholarships as well. Again, junior year is the time to look into the criteria. 

 

5. National Merit Scholarship Program 

Most students take the PSAT in junior year and their score will determine whether they qualify for national merit. One thing to know regarding the PSAT, is that it is not really considered for college admission. However, when your junior takes the PSAT and scores in the 99th percentile, then they qualify for a national merit scholarship. Have your teen research the criteria for the National Merit scholarship. 

 

Who Can Apply for External Scholarships?

Although you have a junior, be aware that you can apply for an external scholarship beginning at age 13 (keep that in mind if you have younger children as well). If your child wins a scholarship, that money is held and then sent to the college when they enroll. I encourage families with younger teens to apply for scholarships. Not only does it develop their resilience, it also helps to instill that growth mindset that we want our students to have. Plus, they will be adding to their portfolio of writing samples as well.

How The Different College Application Deadlines Can Impact Your Student and Financial Aid

College application deadlines are not the most exciting topic to consider as your teen prepares for college during high school, but it’s a very important topic one. It’s important because it can make a big difference in terms of what you pay for college as well as impact your student’s chances on getting admitted.

Each year there are different application deadlines that your teen can use for their applications for college. They sound similar, so it can be confusing to understand how they are different. I’ll explain how they can impact your teen and their college future.

One of the deadlines is simply the regular decision deadline that happens every year,  usually around January. The thing to remember is that application deadlines are very unforgiving, so your teen needs to make sure that they meet that deadline.

Regular decision is a standard deadline, and another deadline you may hear about is the “rolling deadline”. The rolling deadline means that your teen can submit their application at any time. Usually they’ll get a notice back of a decision about three or four weeks later (but sometimes it could be sooner, depending on the time of year).

The rolling deadline is one that doesn’t have a specific date. So, it could start perhaps as soon as October and keep going until the final deadline, which means that all the applications have to be in by that time. Or it can be set to go as late as the spring of senior year.

Now that we’ve covered standard and rolling deadlines, I want to review two other deadlines that can be a bit confusing because they start with the same word. One of these deadlines is the “early action deadline”. Early action is non-binding, which means that your teen can apply to an early action deadline and usually they’ll find out the decision perhaps around December. It gives them a little bit of ease, especially if they do get admitted, because they’ll know pretty much where their application stands. Then, if they want to apply to some additional colleges, they still have time to do that under the regular deadline.

The fourth deadline I want to talk about also starts with early, and it’s called “early decision deadline”. Early decision is more strict because this deadline is binding. Every year, there are a lot of families that will apply under the early decision deadline. With the early decision deadline, because it’s binding, you cannot apply to any other colleges that have any type of restrictive deadlines. You want to make sure that you read the fine print on that.

The early decision deadline is one that the parents have to sign off on. Also, the school counselor will be notified as well. The key thing with the early decision deadline is that it means that if your teen is admitted, they must go to that college, regardless of financial aid. This is where sometimes I will see families who decide to do the early decision deadline, because that’s the only one that a particular college offers for them (either early decision or regular).

Generally with the earlier application rounds, the admissions rate is a bit more favorable. Families that want to make sure that their teen has the best shot in terms of admissions will often go ahead and exercise that option to use the early decision deadline. But soon after, if the decision comes back positive in December, you have a short window of time to withdraw all of your other applications and to submit your deposit to hold your space.

That’s a really serious deadline. Sometimes families will say, “Oh, I didn’t know. I thought we would be eligible for financial aid.” They get a surprise that they don’t get any additional aid and then it’s trying to figure out, “Okay, how do we pay for it?”

It’s a deadline that I wouldn’t take lightly. It’s certainly your family’s choice if you decide to do the early decision round, but know that it means that your teen will be going if they get admitted, regardless of what the financial aid is.

At least with the early action option, you have a chance to look through the financial aid offers from other colleges as well. On the flipside, some colleges will offer only the early decision deadline, and then others may have an early action, or they can also have an early decision as well. So you want to be sure you know the deadlines for your student’s college of choice when they begin applying!

One thing I will add about the very late regular decision deadlines is that sometimes colleges will say the deadline is June 1st. They will be filling those seats before then,  so for colleges that may have a very late regular decision deadline doesn’t mean that you can apply on May 31st still find seats available. It’s a point to keep that in mind when your student is scheduling when to submit applications.

Do you have questions about application deadlines and helping your student get into their dream school? Application deadlines can make a big difference in terms of what you could end up paying. In some cases, it can also make a difference as to where your teen gets admitted. I look forward to hearing from you if you have any questions or thought about the process!

If you’re a parent of a high school student preparing for college, I have created a free online training class that answers the most common questions I get from parents: “How to Find The Right College.” It offers insight into the college application process as well as how to get money for college. You can check it out and register for it HERE.