Greenville County College Fair

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1 2013 COLLEGE GUIDE Find the perfect school for you Advice on applications SAT/ACT tests finding scholarship money School profiles Tuition costs And more! Featuring Greenville County College Fair Like us on TD Convention center Monday, September 23, 9am-11:30am and 6pm-8pm Tuesday, September 24, 9am-11:30am GreenvilleCountyCollegeFair.com LOOK INSIDE! Complete College Fair Details

2 Erskine College A Distinctive Academic Community Worth Discovering for Nearly 175 Years. Erskine feels like a second home to generations of graduates who ve experienced it. As South Carolina s first private Christian college, Erskine equips students to flourish through academic excellence and a family-like learning environment. It s a rare college experience. But since it s in the Upstate, going away to college doesn t have to mean going far. So while Erskine may be a little harder to find, you ll always know where you belong. KNOW. BE KNOWN. visit.erskine.edu Due West, South Carolina A SMALL PLACE TO THINK BIG IDEAS Erskine College has been equipping young people to flourish in lives of learning, serving, and leading for nearly 175 years. Our rich heritage of thoughtful scholarship, spiritual devotion, and intentional community provides an academic experience that s as distinctive as our students, faculty, and graduates. Vibrantly Academic Nationally ranked among the best liberal arts colleges, our majors span the arts and sciences spectrum. No matter what you study, you ll be personally challenged and profoundly inspired. You ll work hard, think creatively and critically, explore options, and question assumptions across a variety of subjects. Authentically Christian What we learn and how we live are inseparable foundations for an excellent education. Erskine is committed to Christian authenticity that is intentional and pervasive, but never coercive. While we pursue knowledge, we seek grace and wisdom to answer the big questions. Closely Connected Our small size means some big advantages! You ll know almost everyone, especially your professors. And they ll not only know you, they ll probably know if you re having a bad day and why. Beautifully Located Due West of what? Not sure. But we do know that from tree-lined green spaces, gardens and gathering spots to stately architecture, comfortable hangouts, and convenient wi-fi, our campus in Due West, South Carolina, is a great place to learn and live. Intentionally Residential Living on campus provides incredible opportunities for fellowship and leadership. In a community like this, you can t fake it. Quality is revealed. Weaknesses are strengthened. Character is refined through meaningful relationships. Distinctively You Call it a custom-fit college experience. Call it hand-crafted higher education. At Erskine, your unique talents, interests, and contributions really matter. You help shape the experience for others, while they do the same for you. GLADYOUASKED WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL? The combination of excellent academics and a close-knit, vibrant community in an authentically Christian setting. WHAT IS HOUSING LIKE? Our residence halls are clustered into two residential areas. Both men s and women s residences are equipped with high-speed wireless internet and function like large, comfortable homes. WHAT ARE THE BEST HANGOUTS? The best hangout on campus is Watkins Student Center, which includes Snappers, a grill and rec area with pool and ping-pong, a large study area and TV lounge, and Java City. You also have access to 95 beautiful acres of tree-lined campus. WHAT ARE YOUR MOST POPULAR CLASSES? In addition to our core liberal arts curriculum, our Winter Term in January ( J-Term ) allows for concentrated study in a wide variety of fields or interests. Semester-long study abroad opportunities are also popular. Erskine s most popular majors are Biology, Education and Athletic Training. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE STUDENT/PROFESSOR RATIO? It s about more than just ratios. Even big schools can have low ratios. At Erskine it s about face time. Our student-professor ratio is 11:1, but more importantly, almost none of your classes will have more than 25 students. That means more and more meaningful interactions with experienced quality faculty inside and outside the classroom. WHAT ARE THE STEREOTYPES ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL AND ARE THEY TRUE OR FALSE? People often confuse our rural setting with being in the middle of nowhere where there s nothing to do. The truth is that aside from the hundreds of activities on campus, Erskine is just 20 minutes from almost anything you need, a couple of hours from two of the largest cities in the Southeast, and three hours from the beach. WHAT SPECIAL ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS? Don t overlook a college because you think it s too expensive. Erskine is actually very affordable for South Carolina students. In fact, if you re a LIFE or Fellows scholar, you can expect to pay less than $10,000 a year at Erskine.

3 CONTENTS This issue contains important information for everyone. There are articles about how to make full use of a college fair, to questions to consider when evaluating colleges. It also talks about how a student can make some decisions about his or her future direction, and there is also valuable information about preparing for the SAT and ACT tests. Most importantly, there are several articles dealing with how and why students need to be focused on making a good fit or match. There are a couple articles by national experts in the field of college counseling about why this is important and how students might go about getting some insights. As someone once said, college admission is not a prize to be won ; it is a process through which a student gains greater insight into himself or herself. College should not be seen as a moratorium on adulthood but as a step towards becoming a self-fulfilled individual. This insert and the Fair offer great opportunities to students (and parents) to move in that direction through articles, seminars, and conversations with admission officers. 4 Greenville County College Fair 2013 PARTICIPATING COLLEGES Allen University Anderson University Appalachian State University Applerouth Tutoring Services Arclabs Welding School Auburn University Belmont Abbey College Benedict College Bennett College Berea College Berry College Birmingham-Southern College Bob Jones University Brenau University Brevard College Brown Mackie College Campbell University Carson-Newman University Catawba College Charleston Southern University Claflin University Clark Atlanta University Clemson University Coastal Carolina University Coker College College of Charleston Columbia College Columbia International University Columbus State University Converse College Davidson College Denison University Denmark Technical College East Tennessee State University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Erskine College Francis Marion University Furman University Furman University; Military Science Gardner-Webb University Georgia Regents University Georgia Southern University Georgia State University Greenville Technical College High Point University ITT Tech Johnson & Wales University Johnson C. Smith University Kaplan Test Prep King University King s College, Charlotte, NC Lander University Lees-McRae College Lenoir-Rhyne University Limestone College Lincoln College of Technology Living Arts College Livingstone College Marquette University Mars Hill University Mississippi State University Montreat College Morris College NC Wesleyan College Newberry College North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University North Carolina State University North Greenville University Oglethorpe University Pathways Educational Consultants Pfeiffer University Piedmont College Presbyterian College Purdue University Queens University of Charlotte Rutgers University Salem College Samford University Savannah College of Art and Design SC Test Prep Shaw University South Carolina Army National Guard South Carolina State University Southern Wesleyan University Spartanburg Methodist College St. Andrews University Stetson University Stillman College Sweet Briar College Texas A&M University Upstate Club The Art Institutes The Citadel The United States Naval Academy The University of Tennessee Tusculum College UNC Asheville UNC Greensboro University of Alabama University of Alabama in Huntsville University of Georgia University of Kentucky University of North Carolina School of the Arts University of North Georgia University of Richmond University of South Carolina University of South Carolina Aiken University of South Carolina Beaufort University of South Carolina Union US AeroTech USC Upstate Vanderbilt University Virginia Tech Warren Wilson College Washington University in St. Louis Webster University Western Carolina University William Peace University Winthrop University Wittenberg University Wofford College From Greenville Tech to bachelor s degree, We ll get you there. Greenville Tech helped Yesenia get on the track to success. Upon graduating from J.L Mann High School, Yesenia Mendoza wasn t sure if she was ready for a four-year college. She was also unclear on which career path to take. Greenville Tech helped her get on track in its Marketing Program. It was there she found classes she loved and teachers who inspired her to follow her dream. Now armed with an associate degree, she s ready to continue her education toward a bachelor s degree and pursue a successful career in marketing communications. Visit us at gvltec.edu or call (864) Helping people love what they do for a living: Health Sciences & Nursing Technologies Business & Public Service Arts & Sciences Get There.

4 HISTORY OF THE GREENVILLE COUNTY COLLEGE FAIR 25 YEARS OF HELPING STUDENTS About 25 years ago, Xanthene Norris There are over 100 colleges and 3,000 This year s Fair could not have happened without with the Greenville Urban League and students who participate in the Fair and it the participation and support of those people and Becky Godbey with Greenville Tech has expanded from one evening to two days organizations listed below: partnered with Christ Church Episcopal School with several educational seminars for parents Co-chairs: to hold the first Greenville County College Fair. and students. The City of Greenville has BJ Lindley, Greenville County Schools In the next several years, LaBarbra Sampson of the Greenville County School District and Charlie Brock at Furman became involved. In time, the Fair expanded from CCES to Fluor to recognized the value and added its support as well through the use of the TD Exposition Center -- see how we have expanded! It is a wonderful opportunity for students and April Ridgeway, Ridgeway Tutoring Committee Members: Debbie Barefoot, North Greenville University Judy Benedict, Giraffe Website Development McAlister Square. It was at that time that India parents to get a great deal of information Allyson Brown, Furman University Fulkerson of Greenville Tech began to take a Bill Dingledine, Educational Directions about all aspects of the college-going process major role in the planning of the Fair. Through India Fulkerson, Greenville Technical College and should not be missed by those who are her organization and work with CACRAO Jeny Kerscher, Furman University thinking of and considering various college (Carolinas Association of College Registrars Katie Lynn Marshall, North Greenville University options. (See the Faring Well at a College Justin Pitts, Southside Christian School and Admission Officers), it has evolved into one Fair on page 8.) Rob Rhodes, Greenville Country Schools of the foremost college fairs in the Southeast. Linda Schulz, Christ Church Episcopal School what offers students Outcomes (>90% of graduates in jobs or graduate school) Small classes with faculty Personalized attention in and out of classes PARTNERS: Build Faith Challenge Potential Follow Christ Excellent Christian education that is both affordable and close to home! The facts: 95% of new students who apply for grants and scholarships receive them For graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program and other important info visit go.bju.edu/rates. (15800) 9/13 Transformational for students Faith-based Urban, downtown Raleigh setting Bob Jones University offers a unique blend of challenging academics, cultural expansion and heart-focused discipleship all built on an enduring commitment to the truth of Scripture. We re also among the nation s most affordable Christian, liberal arts universities. Learn more about the BJU experience at bju.edu/why. The average annual gift/grant aid per S.C. student is nearly $12,000 More than 60% of our students graduate debt-free I admissions@peace.edu William Peace University admits students of any race, color and national or ethnic origin. 6 Greenville County College Fair 2013 COLLEGE ADMISSIONS GUIDE 7

5 FARING WELL AT A COLLEGE FAIR College Fairs offer an exciting opportunity to talk to the people in the know. Admission representatives from a variety of colleges are all gathered in one place, just waiting to answer your questions. But it s easy to get caught up in the crowds and confusion. Soon you re crossing the room, stopping at any booth that catches your eye or seems popular. When that happens, you end up with lots of pretty brochures, but not a lot of clear impressions about which colleges you may be interested in. Making the most of a college fair means planning your strategy before you enter those double doors. Treat a college fair like a buffet dinner, advises a director of undergraduate admission from Florida. There will be more there than you can possibly take in, but then again, not everything is to your taste. Experienced buffet diners know that it s best to scope out their choices before they start filling their plate. Savvy students can do the equivalent 8 Greenville County College Fair 2013 by looking over a list of college fair participants before the fair. Choose the colleges you most want to find out more about. If you have time, research these colleges by reading information in your guidance office or by checking out guidebooks or Web sites. Know what you want to find out at the fair, says a director of admission at a college in Ohio. Write up a short list of questions to ask admission representatives. To compare several schools, plan on asking the same questions at each table. Be adventurous! Don t just focus on name schools... The questions you ask should be unique to your interests and not easily found in standard college materials. The college fair is a good time to talk person-to-person with the representative of that school, says one guidance counselor. Your job is to think of good questions. So cross out the questions like, How many people are in the freshman class? Instead, ask what the two or three most popular majors are (that can give you a good idea of the main interests of the majority of the students). If you have a particular major in mind, don t ask How good is major X? No college representative will tell you that a program is bad! Instead, ask how many students take that major; what research faculty members are involved in (and the opportunities for undergraduates to participate in it); or what courses you would take your first year in a particular major. Students who are undecided should ask about what services and support are available to help them explore various majors. Other things you can ask about: extracurricular activities, what kinds of students the college is looking for, what percentage of students receive financial aid, and other concerns unique to your interests and situation. Mapping out a strategy Before you leave for the fair, make sure you have the following supplies: a small notebook with your list of colleges and questions you want to ask; a pen or pencil; and a backpack or tote-bag to hold all of the college information you ll be collecting. students may wish to print up a few sheets of self-stick address labels. Include your name, address, phone number, address, high school, year of graduation, intended major(s), and any extracurricular activities you re interested in. At the fair, slap the address labels on the college information cards to save you time in filling out the same information over and over at each college s table. Although this may be a lot to consider, the real strategizing begins when you arrive at the fair. Look for a map of where each college is located and map out your route. Note where each college is located and plan the most efficient way to visit the colleges on your list. (For example, you want to make sure to visit all the colleges of interest to you in one room before moving to the next.) Also, make sure to check out the schedule of information sessions: many fairs have sessions on the search process, applications, financial aid, and other issues run by experts in the field. These sessions are a great place to ask general questions about the college admission process. Your notebook and pen are great tools for keeping all those conversations straight. After you leave a table, jot down your impressions of the college and the answers the admission representatives gave you. Try to do this before you visit the next table, while your impressions are still fresh. Teaming up Depending on the time of day of the fair, both students and parents may be encouraged to attend. If a family member attends the fair with you, talk about your plan ahead of time. You may decide to split up--perhaps a parent can attend the financial aid seminar so you can visit more colleges. Another option is staying together for part or all of time. You may find that your parents or siblings ask different questions than you do. Also, it can be helpful to get a second opinion on your impressions of particular colleges. Browsing Planning ahead ensures that you get to visit the colleges that most interest you. But also make sure to leave time for browsing. Be adventurous! Don t just focus on name schools, says an admission director. You may find that a school you ve never heard of offers the exact major, extracurricular program, etc., that you re seeking. Following up By the time the fair is over, you ll have a bag filled with information about colleges- -and a possible case of information overload. Don t succumb to the temptation of just piling all those brochures in some obscure corner of your bedroom. If you re feeling overwhelmed, take a day or two away from the college search. Then get out all of those brochures, along with the notes you took while at the fair, and read through them. You may find that some colleges aren t as interesting as you first thought. Others only look better the more you research them. For those colleges, follow up by filling out the information cards in the brochures or by starting to schedule college visits National Association for College Admission Counseling 1050 North Highland Street, Suite 400, Arlington, VA Phone: Fax: info@nacacnet.org Great Schools! Great Communities! Our students average ACT college entrance test score continues to exceed the national and state averages. More than 90% of GCS graduates attend college, with many enrolling in the nation s most prestigious universities. The Class of 2013 earned $106.1 million in college scholarships. GCS seniors have earned almost $500 million over five years. More students are taking Advanced Placement exams, and more students are qualifying for possible college credit. GCS students passage rates for all subjects exceed state averages on End-of-Course tests. 301 E. Camperdown Way P.O. Box 2848 Greenville, SC INFOLine Web greenville.k12.sc.us Facebook.com/gcschools COLLEGE ADMISSIONS GUIDE 9

6 FINDING THE RIGHT FIT Lauren, a high school senior, was excited about going to college and it was clear she was going to have many choices. With great grades in a whole slew of AP and honors courses at a competitive East Coast school, high standardized test scores, and a résumé that boasted activity in clubs and community service, Lauren was an impressive candidate. She dreamed of attending an Ivy League college that would help her to achieve her ultimate career goal of becoming an investment banker and had her eye on Yale. Like many students, Lauren valued prestige. To Lauren s surprise, Yale denied her application. But she had acceptances to other great schools, of course, since Lauren s high school counselor knew that she needed to apply broadly. One of those acceptances was from a school 3,000 miles away that many refer to as the Harvard of the West Coast. Although Lauren had never visited this school and didn t know a great deal about it, the prospect of going to a school that was arguably as prestigious as the one that had denied her was irresistible. She enthusiastically sent off her deposit. The key is finding schools that are a good fit for a particular student. Unfortunately, this story doesn t have a totally happy ending. When Lauren arrived at her new school in the fall, she found it to be quite different from what she imagined. The fact that there was no ivy climbing the walls was the least of it. She had a hard time getting used to the laid back feel of the west coast school, and the absence of a real fall as well as a November-to-March rainy season bothered her. Although there were plenty of students from the east coast at the school, she never managed to find a group that she was comfortable with. Early on she decided she didn t like Stanford University, and she quickly decided to spend a year abroad as well as graduate a semester early to minimize her time on the California campus before returning to the east coast for business school and an eventual job. And that is exactly what she did. Yet the vast majority of Lauren s classmates at Stanford would speak of their time at the sandstone and red tile campus as the happiest years of their lives. What went wrong for Lauren? While you may not identify with all aspects of Lauren s background, goals, and motivations, you might still fall into the trap that led to her lackluster college experience: picking a school for the wrong reasons. Lauren was so focused on prestige that it became the major focus of her search and final decision. As wonderful as Stanford is, it is not a good fit for One of 49 Up and Coming Universities to Watch in the Nation U.S. News & World Report National Recognition for AU Students Business AU Enactus (formerly Students In Free Enterprise) team was the national champion of the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Sam s Club Environmental Sustainability Challenge Winner of the 2012 Fifth Federal Reserve Bank District s Share the Wealth video competition Visual Arts/Graphic Design AU was the only university in the nation to have two students win a gold ADDY at the 2012 and 2009 National ADDY awards 2010 AIGA Flux National Competition Best in Show 2010 Best in Show National ADDY Award Mobile Learning Initiative All incoming freshmen receive the latest ipad which will be used in specially designed courses. Athletics 2012 Capital One NCAA Div. II All-America Award (one of only four awards nationally) AU Center for Cancer Research Georgia Harpe won the 2013 South Carolina Academy of Science Outstanding Undergraduate Research Award for her research on Antiproliferative Activity of Raspberries on Two Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines knowledge for your journey Anderson, SC AndersonUniversity.edu everyone. The same is true for any school. The key is finding schools that are a good fit for a particular student. But college fit is different from finding a shoe that fits. A shoe that fits well is comfortable and offers the right amount of support when you walk. Pretty simple stuff compared to finding a college that will be a great match where a student will thrive academically and socially. We offer the following tips to help students find those great matches. 1. It is always easier to find something you want if you know at least some of the things you are looking for. Although students can stumble on good matches, it helps a lot if they do a careful self assessment at the outset to identify things that are important to them. For example, does a student like the give-and-take of classroom discussion? Is weather and distance from home important, and if so, how important? How committed is the student to a particular area of study? Is diversity in the student body something that would be a big plus? How important will financial aid be in the final choice of a college? There are many questions to ask. 2. Use college search engines. Online college search engines can be very helpful in identifying colleges that may have what a student is looking for. Three good ones can be found at BigFuture (from the College Board), SuperMatch, and College Navigator (from the US Department of Education). You enter your criteria, and the search engine gives you schools that meet them to varying degrees. If some schools appear on several different lists, they may be particularly good matches for you. The search engines use only criteria that are relatively easy to measure - like class size, majors, etc. Softer factors like quality of advising, availability of faculty outside of class, intellectual intensity of the campus, etc. have to be explored in other ways. 3. Don t make the mistake of thinking that just because a school has a lower admit rate or higher prestige that it is a better school for you. Admit rate goes down simply because more students apply. Some schools have cut their admit rate in half over the course of just a few years. Have they become better schools in that time? Of course not - they have just attracted more applicants! Don t let perceived prestige hijack your thoughtful college search for schools you will love. 4. Do your college research homework. If a school lands on your radar screen, check it out thoroughly. A good place to start is the comprehensive overview at BigFuture. Go next to the school s own website to read about its programs, facilities and mission. Put special focus on the things that are important to you. Several websites contain student reviews of schools - College Prowler and Unigo are two popular ones. Take what you read with a grain of salt, but these can help you get a feel for a school. Check out the blogs that many admissions offices now post. 5. Visit schools in person if you can. You don t have to visit a school before you apply, but you should make every effort to visit a school before you decide to attend. Try to factor out things like the weather on the day of your visit or the personality of your tour guide. These can be either positive or negative, but really don t tell you much about the school overall unless they are representative of the school as Continued on page 12 > 10 Greenville County College Fair 2013 COLLEGE ADMISSIONS GUIDE 11

7 < Continued from page 11 a whole. In addition to going on a formal tour, explore on your own, particularly the student union and other areas where students congregate. Ask some students who look like they might have a few minutes what they like best about the campus and what they would change if they could. One wise admissions officer we know suggests that visitors stop in the middle of a campus with a map looking lost. The idea is to see how quickly someone offers to be of help. It is not a bad proxy for the friendliness of a campus. 6. Download the Pocket Guide to Choose a College: questions to ask on your college visit at the website for the National Survey of Student Engagement. These questions cut to the heart of what the academic experience is like on a campus. Questions include things like How often do students work together on class projects and assignments, How often do student talk with faulty members outside class about what they are learning, and Are students satisfied with their overall education experience. It is easiest to get answers to these questions if you are visiting the campus, but you can also get answers by contacting current students. Admissions offices are usually happy to give you the contact information for students who will be happy to answer questions by or phone. 7. Take the bench test. This is best done in person, but it can also be done metaphorically. The idea is that after you have learned everything you can about a school from your research and possibly an in-person visit, sit down on a bench at the school and try to imagine yourself on the campus as an involved, enthusiastic student. Does it work for you? There is no magic formula you can use to build your college list. Being as open-minded as possible and being willing to explore less well-known schools can be surprisingly helpful. And remembering a core principal of college admissions is key: There are no perfect colleges, no matter what the colleges would have everyone believe. But there are many colleges where a given student will be perfectly happy. The key is doing a careful self-assessment and then the research to find them. The thoroughly updated and expanded third edition Admission Matters: What Students and Parents Need to Know About Getting Into College delivers comprehensive, practical advice for selecting the right school, writing effective essays, navigating financial aid, picking the right major, and much more. No matter what type of school college-bound students may select, Admission Matters offers parents and students expert guidance for navigating the complicated maze of the college application process. including much-needed guidance for students with special circumstances, including students with disabilities, international students, and transfer students. In addition, athletes, artists and performers, and homeschoolers will find valuable guidance as they plan for and apply to college. Sally P. Springer, PhD, is Associate Chancellor Emerita at University of California, Davis and a psychologist with over 30 years experience in higher education as a professor and administrator. She has taken the college admissions journey twice with her children. Jon Reider, PhD, is Director of College Counseling at San Francisco University High School, an independent 9-12 high school. For 15 years he served as an admissions officer and taught humanities at Stanford University. Joyce Vining Morgan, PhD, is a Certified Educational Planner specializing in college admissions with an online individualized practice. She has over 17 years of experience in college admissions counseling. Anderson University Anderson University is one of the South s most rapidly emerging private universities. Ranked in the Top Tier (top 20) of universities of its type, Anderson features a rigorous education in a warm, supportive, Christian environment. On one of the most beautiful campuses anywhere, 3,000 students enjoy great academics and great campus life with an emphasis on fun as well as finding one s place in the world and preparing to make an impact. With more than 50 areas of study, there are opportunities to enter most any field from business, to theatre, education, ministry, interior design, graphic design, criminal justice, and the list goes on. There is even a new School of Nursing (opened in 2012) that has already become a top choice for the top students in the field. Anderson has one of the premiere interior design programs at a private, Christian university, a graphic design program that consistently wins national awards, an education program that has school districts lining up for its graduates each year, a program in the sciences that has its own cancer research center, and a business program whose free enterprise teams win national and regional competitions every year. Additionally, the performing arts program at Anderson draws fans from the entire Upstate, and last year s musical theatre performance of Barnum was honored by the Kennedy Center for its excellence. On campus, there are dozens of organizations and fun activities to get involved in. AU is an NCAA Division II school competing in the South Atlantic Conference in 16 sports. Both of AU s basketball teams routinely make the NCAA Division II tournament and the soccer and tennis programs rank at or near the top of the conference every year. wrestling, baseball, golf, tennis, softball and volleyball are also top sports at AU. There is always a game to enjoy with friends somewhere on campus or if you d rather play than watch, the intramural program attracts almost everyone on campus. Anderson is a national leader in the use of technology in the classroom. Under the university s landmark Mobile Learning Initiative, the experience of learning has grown outside the classroom and the limitations of a class time. Each Anderson freshman is provided with an ipad, and the professors in every college of the University have specially designed courses that harness the power of mobile learning. Schools throughout the country as well as Apple itself, have traveled to Anderson to see how best to utilize the power of tablet technology to make learning more fun and effective. The tag line for Anderson University is knowledge for the journey. That means that we believe you were created for a special purpose and we do all we can to help you find that purpose and maximize your gifts and talents to build a life of significance after college. Preparation in the classroom is vital to what we do, but it doesn t end when you walk out of class. We strive to help you develop academically, spiritually, and physically. The best way to learn if Anderson is right for you is to schedule a campus visit. You can do that on our website We look forward to meeting you this year! GLADYOUASKED WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL? Anderson University offers highly-ranked academics in a warm, caring, friendly Christian environment where professors know their students and support them in their journey. WHAT COULD BE EVEN BETTER? We strive to identify and develop new programs each year both in Anderson and Greenville to meet the changing needs of today s students. WHAT IS HOUSING LIKE? The vast majority of AU student choose to live on campus in 18 different residence options ranging from apartmentstyle to suite style, to more traditional college living arrangements. 5 of the residence halls are brand new and all of them feature close-knit, fun communities. WHAT ARE THE BEST HANGOUTS (ON AND OFF CAMPUS)? On campus, Anderson students love Java City, a high-tech, gourmet coffee and dessert venue. Off campus, they love Starbucks, Chipotle and several cool restaurants and coffee houses in Anderson s quickly emerging historic downtown. WHAT ARE YOUR MOST POPULAR CLASSES? Business students love their marketing classes for the entrepreneurial projects they get to do. The introduction to Fine Arts classes are popular as well as those in the nationally-ranked graphic design area. HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE STUDENT/PROFESSOR RATIO? Anderson students enjoy smaller class sizes than in most universities. On average the professor to student ratio is 1/17. Professors here know your name. WHAT ARE THE STEREOTYPES ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL AND ARE THEY TRUE OR FALSE? Anderson s reputation as one of the fastest-growing private universities in the South is true. We ve grown more than 80% in the past decade. Because Anderson is a highly ranked private university, some think that it is expensive, like other private universities. In fact, Anderson has been named one of America s 100 Best College Buys for 7 years in a row, meaning it s of high quality, but also affordable. WHAT SPECIAL ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS? Apply early! AU has become extremely popular and the earlier you apply, the better. 12 Greenville County College Fair 2013 COLLEGE ADMISSIONS GUIDE 13

8 MONEY FOR COLLEGE With today s college cost, all parents are considering the financial commitment and looking for sources of money for college. There are numerous sources and it will benefit students and parents to know the different sources/resources. First off, most students know of the SC Lottery Scholarships. Those are summarized later in this article and are available to any student who qualifies. Financial Aid Most students and parents are aware of Federal Pell Grants that are awarded to students based on their ability to pay; which is determined from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Also, some colleges require parents and students to complete the CSS Profile. It is similar to the FAFSA, but it includes additional financial information to help determine a family s financial resources (i.e. value of residence). Both of these instruments yield an EFC (Expected Family Contribution). Students and parents can easily complete an estimator or a Net Price Calculator (found on all colleges websites) to get a rough idea of what the EFC might be. Only an official FAFSA or Profile will give an exact EFC, but completing an estimator will help a student (and family) get a perspective of which colleges might be financially possible. Caution, though a student might qualify for financial aid, that aid can be packaged in (widely) different ways by different colleges grant, work study, and loan. Students should look at the history of how a college packages these loans, and be aware that the best students may get the best packages. Scholarship/Merit Aid Though the urban legend is that there are millions of dollars that go unused each year, and that gives the impression that there are all sorts of scholarships available; in reality, most of the money is institutional. Meaning, that most of the scholarship money comes from specific colleges and universities based on a student s academic, testing, athletic, artistic, leadership, etc. profile. These vary widely from college to college, but they represent a great deal of the merit money that is available. It is important that students and families consider the merit money that various colleges might offer. Each college has a different endowment and a different focus in wanting to attract students, College should not be viewed as a four year expense, but as a twenty year investment. so the scholarships offered can reflect that. Colleges have limited funds, and they are dispersed based on various deadlines, so be aware of those! That is not to say that that aren t any scholarships out there that are offer by corporations, local community groups, or other individuals. Students should check with their guidance office and do at least one scholarship search to see if there is something for which a student might be eligible. SC Lottery Scholarships: Palmetto Fellow: $6,700 per year for first year - $7,500 per year for final three years First time freshman must meet the following minimum requirements: SAT or 27 ACT and - Minimum HS GPA of 3.5 and - Rank in the top 6% Consult with high school guidance counselor for complete eligibility requirements and to submit application to the SC Commission on Higher Education. SC Palmetto LIFE Scholarship Automatic consideration, no application required $5,000 per year Incoming Freshman -- First-time freshman must meet 2 out of the 3 following criteria: SAT or 24 ACT HS GPA (SC UGS) - Rank within the top 30% of HS class There is not room to include all the details about these scholarships so students can go to for all the details: StudentServices/scholarship_brochure.pdf Paying for college can include many variables, and each family is different. As someone once said, College should not be viewed as a fouryear expense, but as a twenty-year investment. For that reason, it is important that each family, and that includes the student, consider all aspects of the educational and financial variables form their own perspective. It s true. We did. Converse answered the call for an affordable private college education. Tuition for fall 2014 is $16,500, competitive with premier publics, while providing a high-quality, customized education. Learn more at ConverseTuition.com LIMESTONE COLLEGE 1115 College Drive Gaffney, SC (864) Get Connected! Limestone College s unique combination of a small campus and a liberal arts emphasis provides students with individual attention and a personalized experience. Students choose from over 50 majors and concentrations, nationally ranked NCAA Division II athletic programs and numerous clubs and organizations. There is something for everyone on campus. Come discover what makes you extraordinary! Are you concerned about college financial aid? Aid should go to those families that need it, but in reality it goes to those families that best understand the system. We can help. Some of the financial aid services we offer are: Customized Strategies and Solutions Financial Aid Consultation Award Appeal Consultation FAFSA Review and Consultation We specialize in helping families qualify for more financial aid as well as lowering their taxes. Call today for a 30-minute no obligation consultation: Mehul R. Shah, CPA, LLC Caledon Court Suite A Greenville, SC 14 Greenville County College Fair 2013 COLLEGE ADMISSIONS GUIDE 15

9 DOES THE PRICE FOR THIS COLLEGE MAKE SENSE? by Jane Klemmer The cost of college today has put affordability in question most Americans, including many who are comfortably middle class or better. Now, families make must also make their college decision with respect to cost as well as other factors. The question is how much is too much to pay for college. The question has no simple answer. What makes sense for one student and family may be impractical for another. My goal here is to provide a framework for families wrestling with this question as they help their children make the allimportant decision about where to attend college. specifically for schools that heavily discount tuition. Anyone who follows the news about rising college costs probably is familiar with the difference between the sticker price (what a college publishes as its total cost) and net price (what its students actually pay, on average). In recent year, most colleges have made a practice of offering merit aid to students they wish to lure away from more selective schools. Colleges do that by discounting the sticker price so that students feel like they are getting a real deal but are they? The discounting of tuition, in fact, is one of the main drivers of higher prices. Colleges are able to offer select students sizable discounts by charging everybody else more. So should you pay full price for a college that uses your tuition dollars to subsidize other students? Have the family discussion and a joint understanding about affordability before the applications go out and the acceptances come in. It is okay to apply to the dream college, but be clear about what kind of financial aid package, either need or merit-based, will make it feasible to attend. Setting expectations early may mean avoiding future heartache. Recognize that loans may make it possible to attend the college of choice today, but that excessive borrowing will feel like an albatross around the neck once graduation has passed and the loan payments come due. Borrowing a reasonable amount to pay for college makes sense, but knowing what is affordable requires planning and forward thinking. How much will the student and/or parents probably have to borrow over four years? What will be the approximate size of the future graduate s monthly payments and how long will it take to pay off the loans? Given a student s career plans, what will he or she likely earn, and will that be sufficient to comfortably meet debt payments while still covering other living expenses? A good rule of thumb is to keep debt payments at or below 8% of gross income. Calculators such as those available on the website org/ enable one to project future debt payments, based on expected borrowing and interest rates. The calculators will also help you determine what a person should earn in order to comfortably pay back a given balance in student loans. If you are looking for a way to estimate average salaries in a specific field by region, you might want to check out the Bureau of Labor Statistics site: (Don t forget to include the cost of graduate school if it is in the picture.) Think it through before you pay the sticker price at a college that heavily discounts tuition. It is important to find out what percentage of students receives some type of merit aid and the amount of the average award. If a school discounts tuition for a significant number of students and you are The question is how much is too much to pay for college. not one of them, you are probably overpaying and subsidizing someone else s child who has better grades and test scores. When is it okay to do this? 1) If it s the dream school and you can afford it without borrowing, 2) if the student wants to pursue a unique major or program for which the college is renowned, 3) when the college offers some merit aid, but most students pay full fare (e.g., the subsidizing of other students is not significant) and 4) in cases where other less expensive options truly do not meet the academic needs of the student. Have your child include schools on the college list that that will likely offer tuition discounts based on his or her test scores and GPA. For the most part, you can figure out which colleges these are. Are the test scores and GPA at the high end of the school s range? In all likelihood, the college will offer some discount as an incentive to entice your student to attend. Weigh the emotional against the practical. Does it make sense for the middle income family that receives no need-based aid to choose the Ivy League or highly selective university over the state school option? Given the emotions wrapped up in these types of choices, I find it difficult to advise others on the right and logical decision. Choosing the highly selective, name brand college may indeed change the student s life, but at a high cost if excessive borrowing is involved. This is especially true if a student has plans to go on to graduate school. I know. It s hard to turn down Harvard or Yale, nor am I saying that you should. However, graduating debt-free or with limited loans is anything but over-rated. Do well as an undergraduate anywhere and you can spend the bigger bucks on graduate school. Deciding what a college education is worth is a complex analysis, yet unlike an integral calculus problem, there is no single right answer. My hope is that having a framework to evaluate this decision and a list of questions to ponder will help each family come to the answer that is appropriate for them. Jane Klemmer is a graduate of Wesleyan University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in music, and Columbia University with an MBA in finance. A former Managing Director with a Fortune 500 financial services company, Jane has a wealth of experience as a senior finance executive and mentor to young professionals at all stages of their career development. Jane was a professional violist in New York City and performed and taught music in Venezuela. She remains active in her local music community, and performs regularly with orchestras and chamber groups. Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling (NYSACAC); she holds a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA and is a former member of the Executive Board of NYSACAC. 16 Greenville County College Fair 2013 COLLEGE ADMISSIONS GUIDE 17

10 CHOOSING A COLLEGE by Jon Boeckenstedt, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management, DePaul University Go to any bookstore and ask the clerk for a book on how to choose a college. You ll be directed to a long aisle, probably with hundreds of volumes written about this important rite of passage. Some of them are quite good (including a few for which I ve written) and some of them leave a lot to be desired (ditto.) But most of them will tell you how to go about the process of choosing a college: The things you should do as you wind your way through the scores of colleges you might be thinking about; how to make the best of your campus visit, what sources of information can give you the best inside scoop on what the college is really like. Fewer of them, it seems, talk about what factors you should consider. That s a shame, but understandable: Only you (and maybe your parents) can help you there. It s often been said there is no perfect college for you, and most professionals find that to be true. But only you can say what is best for you. It s important to look the things that define the character and learning environment of a college. For instance, consider whether you like fraternities and sororities; whether you re liberal or conservative; whether you d like to be a big fish in a small pond or vice versa; whether you like to learn via intense classroom discussion, or on your own in quiet reflection and absorption; whether you prefer the excitement of a city or the solitude of a rural setting. Perhaps most important, whether any of those labels define you or even describe you. Whatever the combination of those factors define the ideal place for you, there is an almost-perfect college for you somewhere. You may notice that I haven t mentioned any of the numbers you might be confronted with in the college search process: Admission rate (what percentage of applicants get in); average GPA or test scores of those admitted, placement rates of graduates, the college s position in US News and World Report, or the tour guide s favorite meaningless statistic, the number of books in the library. It s not that those things can t be important at some stage of the process, but it s much better I think, to focus on the personality of the college first. Let me give you an example: Do you know anyone who really loves his car? Ask him about it; get him to describe what he loves about it. You ll probably notice he ll say things like, It s got great acceleration, or It has a very smooth ride, or I love the way I feel when I drive it. Then ask him some questions: How many horsepower does the engine have? How many foot pounds of torque? What s the wheelbase? How big are the tires? Chances are, he ll be dumbfounded by those questions, even though they were probably pointed out to him sometime during the sales process by a salesman who thought they were important. The numbers may at some point contribute to the experience, but they don t define it. Still don t believe me? Consider this. You may have heard about some big name colleges in recent years who fabricated some of the statistics they reported publicly: Things like average test scores, the percentage of students admitted, the average GPA or rank in class, or even the number of applications received. What s interesting is that not once in all those instances did the faculty the people who teach and interact with the students every day have any idea that the numbers were wrong. They didn t know because almost no one can tell the difference between a student with an 1850 SAT and a 2000 SAT; between a 26 ACT Composite Score and a 29. And the higher the numbers go, the harder it is to tell. I ve been doing admissions work for 30 years, and I can t tell. In fact, I m a pretty bad guesser when it comes to trying to figure out where a student might fall on the scale. We live in a numbers-obsessed society, so of course the focus may eventually y shift to statistics and data. But that should come after you ve developed a list of places that meet your intellectual, personal, and professional goals. Choosing the wrong college because it s very selective or because the average test scores in the freshman class are high will more than likely put you at a place that doesn t fit you as well as it could. Even in the final analysis and your choice of the college, listen with your head, but don t discount the sound of your heart. That s something only you can figure out for yourself, but remember that hundreds of thousands of students do it and do it well every single year. Good luck! Jon Boeckenstedt has 25 years of enrollment experience, specifically in the strategic side of enrollment management, including predictive modeling, geodemography, market segmentation and the application of corporate strategy techniques to higher education institutions and other not-forprofits. He was among the first in the nation to present on the concept of branding higher education institutions and considers it a special interest. Presbyterian College Your success, our commitment. Register for our next Preview Day at swu.edu/visit admissions@presby.edu facebook.com/presbyteriancollege Greenville County College Fair 2013 COLLEGE ADMISSIONS GUIDE 19

11 Researching Colleges at Home E ven though a visit is a key part of the college search process, there is often a point, especially early, when there are many colleges, so of which are a good distance away and a quick visit is not really feasible. But, there are many things that a student can do to gain a greater insight into possible college choices and whether a specific college is worth an in-person visit. First, a student should have a list of specific things he or she is looking for in a college. Second, one should have a sheet(s) on which to write his likes and dislikes about each college. college as well as find out about new programs. If there is no specific page for entering your information and listing your interests, then an admission officer or counselor requesting information as noting your specific interests. Next, begin searching for information on areas of your interest, especially academic programs. Find out what majors and degrees are offered and what the requirements are for graduation, both in general and in specific majors. In addition, check out the course offerings see what opportunities are available not only for courses, but for internships and research. might qualify. Also, students with specific interests in sports, arts, music, etc should look for specific pages and information on those programs. Make sure to keep a running list of all things you see that you like (or dislike)! It s hard to remember everything. Next, one should begin reading some of the subjective information about various colleges that is available in print and on the web there s lots, so read a few to gain some perspective! There are a number of books purporting to give the inside story on the best colleges. While these do add some perspective to one s understanding of the personality of a college, one must keep in mind that these summaries are usually done without real (valid) statistical and research protocol (US News & World Reports is one of these); so a student should keep those descriptions in perspective. University of South Carolina Upstate Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB Next, the armchair college searcher can use Then visit pages about student activities/life. International). Nursing programs at the Mary GLADYOUASKED the internet. Every college has a website with Investigate what clubs and organizations are Black School of Nursing are accredited by the countless pages of information, but those can be available; many of them may have their own Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL? overwhelming without some plan as to what one websites. You may need to use the search The diversity of students, cultures and backgrounds is (CCNE), and the School of Education s is seeking and how to look for it. what draws us closer together as a university community. option to dig into a college s website to find programs are accredited by the National WHAT COULD BE EVEN BETTER? The first important step is to go first to the various opportunities. In addition, many school Council for the Accreditation of Teacher The university has a writing center, tutoring labs, language college s admission page (it may also be labeled newspapers can be found online these are great With all this information, a student should now Education (NCATE). U.S. News & World Report labs, and a math lab, all of which could be utilized more prospective students or future students ) and ways to find out what is happening on campus. have a good enough idea about the nature of a by students. There is no excuse for struggling with course get your name on the college s mailing list. This With enrollment now exceeding released its 2013 college rankings and named Don t forget to look at the scholarship page to see college to know whether it would be a place that material when so much help is available for the asking! is a great way for you to get updates about the if there are possible grants for which a student deserves a firsthand visit. 5,500 students, the campus of the USC Upstate #1 Public Regional College in the WHAT IS HOUSING LIKE? University of South Carolina Upstate South. On-campus housing is a wonderful place to live. The RAs are cool and they ll help you with anything you need to be is a whirlwind of activity. As a senior The USC Upstate Spartans compete in NCAA comfortable. Facilities are new and clean, with state-ofthe-art features. public institution of the University of South Division I sports as part of the Atlantic Sun Accessible. Affordable. Carolina with a comprehensive residential Conference. They field 17 teams, including WHAT ARE THE BEST HANGOUTS campus in Spartanburg and commuting baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, (ON AND OFF CAMPUS)? On-campus hangouts are the Campus Life Center s lower Committed to Student Success. degree completion operations at the University softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. level, and when it s a nice day, the Lower Quad fills with Center of Greenville, the university s primary students between classes. Students have a variety of At USC Upstate, opportunities abound for responsibilities are to offer baccalaureate off-campus hangouts, including Wild Wing s, Delaney s, students to get involved in campus and Paradise Lanes bowling, and numerous events sponsored by education to the citizens of the Upstate of South community activities. From living on campus, College Town in downtown Spartanburg. Carolina and to offer selected master s degrees to joining fellow students in intramural sports, WHAT ARE YOUR MOST POPULAR CLASSES? in response to regional demand. The History of Rock has been pretty popular, as well as Greek life, student organizations, leadership classes offered at the Wellness Center including yoga. Supporting the employment objectives of its programs, and community service projects, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE students, the university provides opportunities a student s participation in campus life helps STUDENT/PROFESSOR RATIO? Learn More! for creative endeavors, professional and public instill a sense of community, develop leadership The ratio is small and comfortable, 18:1. You are known by name, not as a number. Take a campus Tour on FAB FRIDAY service, basic and applied scholarship, and skills, increase appreciation of diversity, and research. USC Upstate students are able to develop character core qualities to help WHAT ARE THE STEREOTYPES ABOUT YOUR october 4 February 7 April 4 SCHOOL AND ARE THEY TRUE OR FALSE? pursue their educational goals in a setting guarantee success in the professional and There are several stereotypes about USC Upstate that november 1 March 7 May 2 where they are known by name, not as a personal lives of our graduates. are false. Many think the university offers only nursing December 6 programs. The university was founded with a nursing number. You are invited to learn more about the program more than 45 years ago, but has grown to or visit us for open house USC Upstate offers more than 40 degree university online at or include more than 40 majors. You might also hear that the curriculum is easy, or that the university is easy to programs, and is very proud of its nationally call (864) Campus visits are always get into, a safety school. None of that is true either. october 26 March 15 April 26 recognized schools of business, nursing, and welcome, too, and a number of Open Houses USC Upstate has become a first choice school for many reasons, including accessibility, affordability and rigorous call or go online to register. education. The George Dean Johnson, Jr. and Fab Fridays are scheduled throughout programs. Years ago the university was thought of as College of Business and Economics, located the year for future students to learn, see and a commuter school. Today, over 1,000 students live on uscupstate.edu/admissions in the heart of downtown Spartanburg, is hear all that USC Upstate has to offer. We look campus, and many more live in the apartment complexes adjacent to campus. accredited by The Association to Advance forward to seeing you soon! 20 Greenville County College Fair 2013 COLLEGE ADMISSIONS GUIDE 21

12 THE CAREER MAJOR DILEMMA What do you want to be when you grow up? It s the question we all get asked by grandparents and parents from a very early age. As we go through high school, this is a continued query, accompanied by what do you want to major in? Now, we hear even more about majors, careers, and return on investment ; and students, parents, and even legislators talk about preparation for career as being a main purpose of college. The value of a liberal arts education can be debated, but that is not the purpose of this article -- It is to help students (and parents) figure out the best path to pursue in college and beyond. Of course, everyone would like to make lots of money, but that is not how most would measure success; and in fact, there are many with much material wealth who are not happy. Being successful means, in general, finding what one is interested in and good at and pursuing that. But how does one find what one is good at? It can come through trial and error, but that may take many years (sometimes half a lifetime); or it can occur through rational thought, action, and maybe the use of various inventories. Most commonly used are the Myers-Briggs Personality Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory. These help a student gain insight into his or her personality traits and interests. Do What You Being successful means...finding what one is interested in and good at. Are is another instrument that uses the Myers- Briggs; and career clusters are another way that students can state their interests. But again, those do little to help individuals gain a true understanding on abilities and skills (in fact, the Strong Inventory cautions that it does not do this). That understanding can be gotten partially through assessing various areas, both academic and extracurricular, in which the student is involved and the relative ease and success attained in those areas. But, what about areas in which a student has not been involved or skills that have not been used? Remember, students have relatively little exposure to the many and varied career options that exist. A series of batteries or tests designed to assess an individual s particular strengths and abilities can really help in those areas. Because the world or work is so varied, no battery or test can tell a student exactly what job to pursue, but these batteries can objectively present to a student where his or her strengths lie and thus in what capacities he or she might be successful and find reward. The Highlands Ability Battery and the Johnson-O Connor are two of the ttests that are often used. It is important that students recognize that very few majors will prepare them for a specific job once they graduate from college. In fact, most employers don t really care about the degree a students has; they are much more interested in what a student can do or in essence, what a student has done. Experience is so valuable, not only when applying for a job, but it also helps an individual know what he or she is good at and enjoys. Students must plan early on to become involved, volunteer, take on internships, and even have a job in order to gain experience. Career and personality inventories and ability batteries can help greatly in figuring out this direction for involvement, rather than an individual spending a great deal of time in trial and error. Bill Dingledine (wsdingle@educdir.com) is an independent counselor and Allison Rosemond (arosemond@greenville.k12.sc.us) is a career counselor in Greenville. New Happening And at Furman. YOU can be part of it. VISIT US at the college fair and online at furman.edu/admission. things are UNIVERSITY Furman University Office of Admission 3300 Poinsett Highway Greenville, SC furman.edu/admission Exceptional academic opportunities... That s why I chose Lander. With more than 60 areas of study, a selection of unique Master s programs, a distinctive Honors College, competitive athletic programs, a wide range of student clubs and exciting opportunities for study abroad, there are many reasons why students choose Lander University. Visit campus and discover why you ll choose Lander University. Register for Open House or view other visit opportunities at: 22 Greenville County College Fair 2013 Your State University in Greenwood, SC LANDER admissions@lander.edu COLLEGE ADMISSIONS GUIDE 23

13 ACT/SAT Test Preparation by April Epps Ridgeway High School juniors and seniors preparing for college admissions are faced with the onerous task of giving up four plus hours of their lives to sit for the SAT or ACT, or both (colleges accept either equally, so it is only a matter of which works best for you). Students and parents are cautioned: taking these tests extemporaneously (good SAT word!) is highly discouraged. Instead, plan ahead and give yourself adequate preparation prior to test day(s) 6-8 weeks is recommended. Test-taking strategies are abundant books, tutors, companies, online, etc. and determining what works best individually is paramount to success. Reading comprehension, vocabulary, and math skills are the ultimate factors each of the respective sections, and focusing on these areas will prove most advantageous on score reports. If the SAT Critical Reading score needs improvement then: Read one newspaper or magazine article daily and write 3-4 sentences 24 Greenville County College Fair 2013 summarizing the article. There is a catch only read articles in which you have no interest whatsoever. Why? Will you leave the SAT or ACT with a burning desire to finish the excerpt you just read? Of course not! The passages on each exam are not typically the most enticing, and reading a tedious article daily will help you read strictly for information, rather than for enjoyment. As you read, make sure you know the meaning of each word, not just somewhat, but for sure. If not, look it up! Either carry a pocket dictionary with you; or even better, most phones have the capability of defining words. Then, use that word, either in writing, or even better, in conversation with your friends. They will look at you and say, What do you mean? AND you can tell them! Then, you own the meaning! If Math SAT or ACT needs improvement then: Create flash cards of all potential formulas (through Algebra II on the SAT and including Geometry and Trigonometry for the ACT) and attempt questions of each type as part of the study plan for the math section of each test. Practice on real tests sure there are lots of SAT/ACT practice tests out there, but real practice is best done on real tests (would you practice basketball shots on an 8-foot goal? real height is 10-feet). If Writing needs improvement (more colleges are considering writing when they look at the tests, so even though some may say they don t use it, many do): Make grammar flash cards the rules of grammar are very specific, and they can be learned! Make sure to know the different types of grammar questions about which SAT/ACT commonly ask. SC TEST PREP SC TEST PREP Get a good grammar review book if you haven t had a strong background. SC TEST PREP ENTER PREPARED ENTER PREPARED If Science (ACT only) needs improvement: Contact Us: EnterPrepared.com Practice reading charts and graphs the ACT Science section is not so much about science as it is about interpreting charts & graphs and research information. Finally, as with anything that is important, practice and prepare. Do not walk into the tests without having spent some time getting ready. If you are taking the SAT or ACT just to see how I do, think about using one of the free real tests that are downloadable from the testing company website or April Epps Ridgeway is the former Executive Director of The Princeton Review and has 10 years experience working in college admissions, test preparation, and private K-12 tutoring. Her focus areas include increasing standardized test scores through private tutoring and aiding families in the college admission process. We Offer: We Offer: 1-Day In School SAT/ACT SC TEST 1-Day In PREP School SAT/ACT We Offer: Seminars We Offer: Seminars 1-Day 6-Week In School SAT/ACT Prep 6-Week SeminarsSAT/ACT Prep Courses Courses 6-Week Personalized SAT/ACT College Prep Personalized Courses Coaching College Coaching Personalized College Coaching ENTER PREPARED 1-Day In School SAT/ACT Seminars 6-Week SAT/ACT Prep Courses Personalized College Coaching On average, students SAT Critical Reading On average, and students Math SAT Critical Reading and Math scores improve by 80 points after our scores course. improve by 80 points after our course. On average, students SAT Critical Reading and Math scores improve by 80 points after our course. On average, students SAT Critical Reading and Math ENTER PREPARED scores Contact improve by 80 points Us: after our EnterPrepared.com course. Contact Us: EnterPrepared.com Contact Us: EnterPrepared.com COLLEGE ADMISSIONS GUIDE 25

14 QUICK FACTS 127 & MAJORS MINORS STUDENT CLUBS STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS 10,506 UNDERGRADUATES CONTACT US AND ORGANIZATIONS helping you reach your ultimate goal 21 NCAA DIVISION 1 SPORTS 3 BEACHES EACH WITHIN A 25-MINUTE DRIVE OF CAMPUS OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS admissions.cofc.edu admissions@cofc.edu Greenville County College Fair Schedule FAIR DATES AND HOURS: Monday, September 23, :30 am Monday, September 23, pm Tuesday, September 24, :30 am SEMINARS: Seminars for Parents and Students, Monday, September 23 5:30-6:15 An Insider s Look into the College Admissions Process Join a panel of admission professionals from Vanderbilt University, University of Georgia, and Furman University as they provide insight into the college application process. Great insight into how an admission office views applicants and applications. 7:45-8:30 Shaking the Money Tree Affording College through Financial Aid & Scholarships an in-depth look at the different ways a college education can be financed. A lively and very enlightening presentation. How do you turn your desire to help others into a lifelong mission? Find out more about medical education at VCOM, where future physicians learn to provide patient centered care and experience extends far beyond the classroom. Life-friendly schedule of One Course a Month Tablet technology extends learning beyond the classroom Faculty and Staff dedicated to the academic success of each student Two Liberty Square, 75 Beattie Place, Suite 100 Greenville, SC Accredited member, ACICS. See BMCprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees, other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, programmatic tion, and other important info Brown Mackie College /13. Apple, the Apple logo and ipad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. accredita- 26 Greenville County College Fair 2013 OR A) SAT B) ACT C)None of the Above A detailed Look into the College Admission Test Process how to prepare, what they measure (and don t), which test(s) to focus on, and how they might be used in the application process. 350 Howard Street Spartanburg, SC Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. All rights reserved.

15 b e s t professors highly ranked by ratemyprofessor.com m o s t popular consistently in the top 25 by us news b e s t university top 10 sc schools, ranked by forbes a f f o r d a b l e tuition, room & board under $25k distinguish yourself at north greenville university sign up for an encounter day! s ep.21, nov.9, apr.1