College Admissions

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College Admissions

• Mike Perry
• Director of Admission
• Florida Institute of Technology

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Why College
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Why go to college

• Most careers require more than a high school
  diploma. The key to getting started is getting
  the right kind of training or education after
  high school.
• If you get a degree or technical certificate
  after high school, you can
• Earn a lot more money over your lifetime
• Better compete in today's work world
• Be less likely to be unemployed
• Have more job and lifestyle choices
• Learn more and meet new people
• Help your family and your community

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Higher Education Options

• Universities
• Multiple disciplines or fields of study
• Confer both undergraduate and graduate degrees
• Public and Private available
• Colleges
• May offer multiple disciplines
• Confers only undergraduate degrees
• Public and Private available
• Community Colleges
• Typically offer 2 year degrees (A.A., A.S.,
  A.A.S.)
• Public institutions
• Located by county
• Over 4,000 higher education options in the U.S.

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How Students Decide Where To Go

• Academic Major/Field Of Study
• Do they have my major
• Quality of the educational majors available
• National academic reputation
• Location (close to home, water, mountains)
• Prestige of the college/university
• Cost
• Financial aid available
• Athletic programs available
• Clubs and organizations available
• Research opportunities
• Quality of campus life
• Where friends are going
• Parental input (Alma Mater/Legacy students)
• Who will accept them for admission

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Statistics

• 2.94 million students graduate high school
  annually
• There are over 27,000 high schools in the United
  States
• There are over 4,000 colleges and universities
• Annually, 25,000 30,000 students have Critical
  Reading and Math scores 750 or higher

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What Colleges/Universities Want

• Assurance of success in enrollment (target goals)
• Adequate number of students enrolled in all
  majors
• Students most likely to enroll (matriculate)
• Students least likely to attrite (leave college
  early)
• Higher Grade Point Averages and SAT1/ACT scores
  (bragging rights)
• Students who will graduate, have great careers
  and be good ambassadors for the school

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Evaluation Criteria

• Application for Admission
• Transcripts
• SAT or ACT results
• Essay
• Letters of Recommendation
• Interview
• Extra-curricular activities
• Contacts with the college or university
• College/University specific test

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Standards for Admission

• Strength of High School Curriculum (AP, IB, AICE,
  Dual Enrolled)
• Math (4)
• Science (3)
• English (4)
• Social Studies (3)
• Foreign Language (2)
• Cumulative GPA (Weighted) Outstanding Grades
  (As and Bs)
• SAT (gt 550 in each category) ACT (gt 25
  composite)
• Essay did you answer the question? Does it make
  sense? Good grammar?
• Letters of Recommendation (who wrote them)
  Teachers, Counselors, Supervisors
• Extra-Curricular (do you have a talent)
  Athletics, Music, Community Service

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Keys To Success

• Prepare for College
• Take challenging courses (core courses)
• Take highest course level you can handle
  (maintain good grades)
• Take extra (i.e. Adv. Chemistry, Foreign Lang.)
• Build a resume
• Visit (colleges and universities)
• Know what application materials are needed
• Apply early

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Seek Help

• Have parent/guardian help fill out the
  application
• Make it look nice (complete and legible)
• Have parent/teacher review essay
• Ask the colleges/universities what they prefer
• Use resources available (Guidance Counselor,
  Teachers, Internet etc)
• Communicate your intentions

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College Preparation Resources

• College Majors www.collegemajors101.com
• Preparing to Take the SAT Dr. Ira Wolfe
• What Colleges Dont Tell You Elizabeth
  Wissner-Gross
• The College Board www.collegeboard.com
• Campus visit

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College Search Resources

• The College Board www.collegeboard.com
• The Princeton Review www.princetonreview.com
• Petersons Competitive Colleges
  www.petersons.com
• Florida SUS www.flbog.org/aboutsus/universities
• FACTS www.FACTS.org
• College View www.collegeview.com
• COLLEGEdata www.collegedata.com
• Individual college websites

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College Application Resources

• Individual College Websites
• FACTS.org www.FACTS.org
• Common Application www.commapp.org/CommonApp
• Universal College Application
  www.universalcollegeapp.com

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Financial Aid Resources

• Bright Futures Scholarships - www.floridastudentfi
  nancialaid.org/ssfad/bf/
• Federal Financial Aid (Grants, Student Loans,
  Work Study) www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Individual College Websites (i.e. www.fit.edu)
• FastWeb www.fastweb.com
• High School Guidance Office

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Plan for College

• Freshmen
• Enroll in challenging courses
• Get involved (extra-curricular activities)
• Go to a college fair (October 30th Melbourne)
• Learn about majors
• Sophomores
• Take PSAT (October)
• Get on mailing lists
• Begin researching colleges/universities online

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Plan for College (cont.)

• Juniors
• Refine list of interests, preferences and
  qualities
• Visit colleges (meet with Admission Counselor)
• Take SAT or ACT (Spring semester)
• Develop a short list of schools to apply
• Seniors
• Apply for Admission
• Apply for Scholarships/Financial Aid
• Visit colleges
• Make decision on attendance

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Conclusion

• If you want to go to college, you can
• There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in
  the United States (at least one is right for you)
• The value of a college education increases over
  time (GO TO COLLEGE)