on your great performance on the PSAT/NMSQT, Lucy

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1 CONGRATULATIONS n yur great perfrmance n the PSAT/NMSQT, Lucy We knw there s a lt t cnsider when chsing a cllege this brchure will help yu get started. It s full f everything yu need t keep the mmentum ging. Inside, yu ll find lts f quick tips n: Finding the Right Cllege fr Yu Hw t Build a Cllege List Make the Mst f Yur Summer

2 What s In Here and What t D hw t use yur starter list start here PERSONALIZED STARTER LIST FOR YOU search and build yur cllege list LEARN HOW TO EXPLORE COLLEGES AND SAVE A COLLEGE LIST ON BIGFUTURE make the mst f yur summer USE THIS CHECKLIST TO STAY ON TRACK

3 Hw t Use Yur Starter List Yu perfrmed well n the PSAT/NMSQT, s yu have a lt f ptins. Students wh live near yu and share yur strng academic recrd graduated frm the clleges listed n yur starter list. We want yu t find a cllege where yu ll be just as successful, s we created a persnalized starter cllege list just fr YOU. Cnsider using the list f schls n the next page as a starting pint fr explring clleges that will maximize yur chances f success. There is a lt f infrmatin n this list, s think abut the fllwing when reviewing yur list. Lk at the graduatin rates t see if mst students graduate in fur r six years Lk at hw much yu are likely t pay t attend this schl, depending n family incme Lk at the city and state, and cnsider city size and distance frm hme Think abut wh t discuss this list with schl cunselr, parents, friends and get feedback n ther cllege ptins yu shuld cnsider Lg in t r create yur cllege planning accunt at bigfuture.rg t explre mre cllege ptins Wuld yu like t chat with smene abut yur list? Check ut the back f this bklet fr a list f tpics t discuss with a schl cunselr r ther trusted adviser. 1

4 Start Here, Lucy! GRADUATION RATE 1 COLLEGE LOCATION FOUR-YEAR SIX-YEAR Case Western Reserve University Cleveland, OH 65% 80% Duke University Durham, NC 87% 94% Ohi State University Clumbus, OH 59% 83% Yale University New Haven, CT 90% 98% Crnell University Ithaca, NY 87% 93% University f Ntre Dame Ntre Dame, IN 90% 95% Gergetwn University Washingtn, DC 88% 92% Washingtn University in St. Luis Saint Luis, MO 88% 94% Harvard Cllege Cambridge, MA 87% 97% Nrthwestern University Evanstn, IL 86% 94% Swarthmre Cllege Swarthmre, PA 89% 93% Kenyn Cllege Gambier, OH 86% 89% 1. Graduatin rate data as well as the 25th and 75th percentiles f enrlled students test scres are fr the schl year and cme frm the U.S. Department f Educatin. 2. Annual cst f attendance includes the full cst f tuitin, fees, bks, husing, fd, and ther expenses reprted by clleges in the schl year in the Annual Survey f Clleges. These csts are custmized fr yu based n yur hme state. 2

5 This is yur persnalized starter cllege list. Students wh live near yu and share yur strng academic recrd graduated frm the clleges listed belw. Use this t jump-start yur cllege search start here and then think big! SAT CRITICAL READING WHAT YOU LL LIKELY PAY ANNUALLY ( NET PRICE ) 3 MIDDLE 50% TEST SCORES FULL PRICE ANNUAL COST BASED ON FAMILY INCOME SAT MATH ACT OF ATTENDANCE 2 $0$30K $30K$48K $48K$75K $60,084 $16,325 $21,690 $25, $64,653 $7,463 $5,981 $15, $23,589 $9,491 $11,566 $16, $63,920 $8,185 $8,295 $7, $63,564 $9,759 $11,242 $17, $62,461 $13,157 $11,070 $17, $64,540 $10,987 $11,841 $17, $65,142 $8,400 $12,616 $19, $62,150 $4,245 $3,243 $5, $65,844 $17,144 $16,706 $19, $62,431 $11,564 $15,332 $19, $62,140 $9,170 $10,905 $11, Net price r what yu ll likely pay is estimated fr using data frm the U.S. Department f Educatin. Net price is the annual amunt left after grants and schlarships, which can usually be managed by a cmbinatin f family resurces, earnings frm a campus jb, and lw interest rate lans. Data frm ther surces and different schl years will be slightly different, s remember that the best surce f infrmatin is each cllege s website. 3

6 Search and Build Yur Cllege List The next step in yur academic career is deciding where t apply t and attend cllege. Students like yu wh find a cllege that is a gd fit fr them typically apply t fur t eight clleges. When lking at clleges, cnsider the fllwing: ACADEMICS What are the average SAT scres and GPAs f students admitted t the schl? Apply t clleges that are a gd academic fit fr yu whether they are a safe bet r a little ut f reach. GRADUATION RATE D mst students graduate in fur years? If nt, why nt? SIZE D yu want a smaller campus with smaller class sizes r a larger schl with a wider variety f prgrams, such as a state university? LOCATION D yu prefer a big city, suburb, r small twn? NET PRICE High psted prices d nt necessarily equal high net prices fr students and families. Many clleges ffer substantial financial aid awards t students with financial need, s dn t be deterred t much by high sticker prices when deciding where t apply t cllege. MAJORS Des the cllege ffer a variety f majrs that interest yu? SUPPORT PROGRAMS Des the schl ffer tutring, cultural events, academic and financial aid cunseling, r ther supprt prgrams fr yu? 4

7 What the Cllege Bard can d fr yu: By using bigfuture.rg fr yur cllege search this summer, we can prvide yu with persnalized feedback n yur chices. Students wh create a cllege list in BigFuture by August 30 will receive a persnalized cllege applicatin checklist this fall. 1 CREATE A FREE BIGFUTURE ACCOUNT Visit bigfuture.rg and sign up fr a FREE accunt, r sign in with yur existing Cllege Bard accunt. 2 CLICK ON SEARCH COLLEGES BUTTON Use this tl t find the right clleges fr yu. Yu can start by using similar filters that were used t create yur starter cllege list, such as test scres, lcatins, and paying. 3 CHOOSE ADDITIONAL FILTERS Add filters that are imprtant t yu type f schl, majrs, supprt services, r campus diversity. 5

8 4 5 EXPLORE COLLEGES As yu make yur selectins, the number f clleges that match yur search is updated. The mre ptins yu select, the mre refined yur list f clleges becmes. Click n a cllege t learn mre abut it. GET DETAILS ABOUT SPECIFIC SCHOOLS On the At a Glance page, yu ll get an verview f the schl and a map shwing its lcatin. The bx t the right shws yu whether the cllege matches yur preferences with a check mark. The left menu prvides additinal tpics yu can explre abut the schl, including a Calculate Yur Net Price link t the cllege s fficial net price calculatr where yu can generate the mst persnalized estimate f what yu re likely t pay. 6

9 6 7 ADD TO YOUR COLLEGE LIST Click the Add t My Cllege List buttn lcated next t the cllege name t add this t yur list f favrites t cnsider fr applicatin. RECEIVE APPLICATION CHECKLIST If yu create a cllege list in BigFuture by August 30, the Cllege Bard will send yu an applicatin checklist in the fall t keep yu n track with deadlines. 7

10 Make the Mst f Yur Summer Make sure yu re nt behind in September by fllwing this checklist ver the summer t cmplete the imprtant tasks t keep yu n track. Lucy s Summer Checklist Review yur persnalized starter cllege list included n pages 2 and 3. Create a cllege list n bigfuture.rg t mre deeply explre clleges and yur persnal pririties that will supprt yur cllege decisin. Visit sme lcal r cnvenient clleges. Large and small, public and private a visit t a cllege campus can help yu decide if that type f cllege is right fr yu. Many schls ffer virtual turs that yu can view frm anywhere. Talk t cllege students and graduates in yur cmmunity and wh yu knw t learn mre abut their experiences. Set up yur cllege visits. Many clleges hld pen huses and ffer grup turs. Check n bigfuture.rg t learn hw t rganize a visit t the campus and t find a campus checklist with helpful questins t ask. Save yur cllege list n bigfuture.rg by August 30 t receive feedback and directin frm the Cllege Bard. Review yur list with yur schl cunselr r ther adviser t get feedback frm smene wh knws yu and yur academic backgrund. BONUS: Receive mre persnalized guidance frm the Cllege Bard in the fall n hw t refine and finalize yur cllege list, create an applicatin plan, and mre. 8

11 It may seem like there is a lt f wrk in applying t cllege, but yu ve already cmpleted sme really imprtant steps. It may be helpful fr yu t discuss what s next with yur schl cunselr r ther trusted advisers. Here are sme questins and tpics yu might find helpful: Are there ther clleges yu think I shuld cnsider? What clleges d ther kids frm ur schl attend? D they cmplete their degrees there? Are there any cllege fairs at this schl r nearby? Are there any clleges nearby that yu wuld recmmend I visit? Can yu put me in tuch with recent grads wh currently attend the clleges n my starter list? Can yu put me in tuch with any alumni wh have attended the clleges n my list r with ther clleges that might be a fit fr me? Any ther suggestins yu have fr activities ver the summer?

12 The Cllege Bard. Cllege Bard, SAT, and the acrn lg are registered trademarks f the Cllege Bard. BigFuture and 4 r Mre are trademarks wned by the Cllege Bard. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark f the Cllege Bard and Natinal Merit Schlarship Crpratin. All ther prducts and services may be trademarks f their respective wners. Visit the Cllege Bard n the Web: 15b