Building a College List

Transcription

1 Building a College List By the fall of senior year, it is our hope that Loyola Academy students will be finalizing their college list. In most cases, a final list will range from six to eight colleges and will be distributed evenly with 2-3 likely schools, 2-3 target schools and 2-3 reach schools. Students wanting to apply to more than 10 schools are required to meet with their College Counselor before requesting the transcripts. As you begin to investigate and visit schools, remember to include schools in the likely, target and reach categories. Students who begin building their lists with likelies and targets that appeal to them feel a greater sense of control and peace throughout the college process. Armed with a foundation of schools where they have a good chance of being admitted, these students can explore more selective colleges with confidence and a clear head because they know that they will have good options no matter how the highly selective decisions come back. Highly selective institutions admit fewer than 10% of their applicants. Most colleges and universities are receiving record numbers of applicants, and many colleges are seeing an increase in the quality of applicants. Therefore, students who fixate on reach schools run the risk of making a potentially stressful process even more anxiety-producing. Finding the right fit Experience tells us that most juniors know very little about the differences among colleges; they know only the schools their relatives and friends attended and the general word on the street about a particular place. During the summer before senior year, we would like you to become familiar with the curriculum, special programs, and other distinctions of each of the places you are considering. Visiting helps in this investigation phase, but it is not the only way to become knowledgeable. Students can visit college websites or write to the college asking for catalogues, DVDs, and other information pertinent to their individual needs. College guidebooks also provide important objective and subjective information. This information-gathering stage is important both in choosing appropriate schools and in setting the stage for writing an application that is informed and persuasive. Many colleges pay attention to the student s demonstrated level of interest at decision-making time; schools may assess this factor by the number of contacts a student has had with the school or by the specificity with which the student explains why he or she is applying.

2 Types of Colleges The following short descriptions outline some of the different types of institutions available in your college selection process. We ve listed just four below. State Schools A state school is typically one that enrolls 7,000 or more students, is publicly funded, and offers both undergraduate and graduate work. Often, state schools have big campuses. They can span acres or actually be considered a town within themselves (ex. the University of Illinois or the University of Michigan). Diversity and research are some of the features for which many state schools are known. You need to be an independent, proactive student to make the most of a big school. Highly Competitive Schools Highly competitive colleges are typically those that describe their admissions policies and standards as most difficult, very difficult, or highly selective. The large majority of these schools are private. Some, such as the University of Virginia or UCLA, are public. Most often, these schools are small to mid-sized. While many other characteristics may vary from campus to campus, the defining characteristic of these schools is the selectivity of their admissions practices. You need to be an academically strong student to do well here. Small Liberal Arts Schools Typically, small schools are characterized by their size, usually under 3,000 students. There is a range in selectivity in admissions policies from least difficult to most difficult. In addition, there is a range of locales, from rural areas to suburban and city locations. For example, St. Joseph s College of Maine is located in a rural area, while St. Edward s University is located in the heart of Austin, Texas. Small class size, low student-to-faculty ratios, and emphasis on undergraduate education are hallmarks of small liberal arts colleges. You should want to have close interaction with faculty and students to select a small school. Jesuit/Religious Schools While most Jesuit colleges and universities tend to be medium in size (3,000-7,000), their defining characteristic is that they are run by the Society of Jesus. The 28 American Jesuit institutions vary in size and culture and span the continental United States. Jesuit colleges and universities represent just one kind of religiously affiliated school. Others, including such popular options as the University of Notre Dame, University of San Diego, DePaul University, Providence College and Villanova University, are Catholic schools, but have different associations with other sects of the Catholic Church. Still others are religiously affiliated, but fall outside the Catholic network. Religious colleges can be found in rural, suburban and urban locations. Many of the colleges and universities of all faiths take great pride in the fact that they emphasize teaching and learning over research.

3 Jesuit Institutions in the United States (Map) Map 1. Boston College 2. Canisius College 3. College of the Holy Cross 4. Creighton University 5. Fairfield University 6. Fordham University 7. Georgetown University 8. Gonzaga University 9. John Carroll University 10. Le Moyne College 11. Loyola University Maryland 12. Loyola Marymount University 13. Loyola University Chicago 14. Loyola University New Orleans 15. Marquette University 16. Regis University 17. Rockhurst University 18. Saint Joseph's University 19. Saint Louis University 20. Saint Peter's College 21. Santa Clara University 22. Seattle University 23. Spring Hill College 24. University of Detroit Mercy 25. University of San Francisco 26. University of Scranton 27. Wheeling Jesuit University 28. Xavier University

4 Loyola Academy Class of 2015 College Choices Top Choices of Loyola Academy Graduates The list below shows the colleges where 5 or more graduates from the Class of 2015 enrolled: College Apply Accept Attend University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Marquette University Saint Louis University Indiana University at Bloomington Loyola University Chicago Miami University, Oxford University of Dayton University of Wisconsin, Madison Xavier University University of Notre Dame Boston College DePaul University The University of Iowa University of Colorado at Boulder DePauw University University of Illinois at Chicago Santa Clara University Illinois State University University of Minnesota, Twin Cities University of Southern California Southern Methodist University Fordham University University of Michigan Purdue University Texas Christian University Villanova University Common myths about the college process Taken, in part, from A Service of the University of Tulsa - Oklahoma s Premier Private University It s better to get good grades than take challenging courses. Success in advanced or accelerated courses indicates to a college that you seek and can handle challenging courses like those you will find in college. Students often overlook strength of curriculum, but it is a very important part of an admission decision.

5 Standardized tests (ACT, SAT Subject Tests, and SAT) are more important than high school grades. Your performance in high school is a better predictor of college success than the standardized tests. Colleges know that. I need to decide on my career before I can choose a college. College is a time to explore. Except in a few specific cases, you can choose a major in your sophomore year and still graduate in four years. You can t get into a selective college because you didn t do particularly well in ninth grade. Colleges look for improvement in performance as a sign that you can and will do the work. If I haven t heard of a college or university, it can t be very good. You may not hear of many of the nation s finest colleges until you are well into your adult life. Athletics on television is how many colleges get to be known, but many excellent colleges do not get that kind of exposure. You should go to the most prestigious college to which you are admitted. You should go to the college that fits you best. If it happens to be prestigious, that s fine. However, fit has to do with how you feel when you are on campus, the match with how you learn and how the professors teach, and the academic pressure you can handle. If the college and you are not a good match, you will be unhappy regardless of the prestige. Big colleges are best if you haven t decided on a major field. Many students think because there are more courses to choose from, a large college offers greater options for undecided students. However, choices alone should not be the deciding factor. If you are undecided, the best college is one that has core requirements or distribution requirements that ensure you will explore new areas and fields. Also look for colleges with the strongest academic advising and career counseling programs regardless of the size. Good advising can help you choose an academic and career path you will enjoy rather than one you think you might like right now. The best time to visit colleges is after you have been admitted Many students have fallen for this myth only to find that none of the colleges to which they were admitted felt right when they visited. If possible, visit before you apply and again after you have been admitted. If you can visit only once, make it before you apply. Updated 6/2015