NOCP

1
NOCP

• National Organization for College Placement

2
More About Us

• Who are we? (Introduce presenters)
• What do we do? (Help you get into college and
  make decisions regarding higher education)
• Why are we doing this? (we know that getting into
  college and planning for the rest of your
  education isnt easyweve been through the
  process and want to help you)

3

• Why should you get a college education?

4
Three Main Reasons

• Better Quality of Life
• Personal Social Growth (Networking)
• Increase Earning Potential

5
Better Quality of Life

• Experience the culture of college
• More Job Opportunities
• Employers look for workers with a college
  education to fill top positions in companies and
  gain benefits and promotions.
• Actually like what you are doing by giving
  yourself an opportunity to explore hundreds of
  options in college

6
Personal Social Growth (Networking)

• Experience diversity e.g. U of I admits
  students from all over the world
• Make friends that will last a lifetime
• Meet faculty who have direct connections to the
  work force
• Grow socially and personally as you live in a
  college environment and by joining over 1000
  campus organizations

7
Increase Earning Potential

• Yes, possibly the most important for some of you!
• On average, over a lifetime, someone who spends
  two years in college earns 250,000 more than
  someone who doesn't.
• According to the Census Bureau, over an adult's
  working life, high school graduates earn an
  average of 1.2 million associate's degree
  holders earn about 1.6 million and bachelor's
  degree holders earn about 2.1 million

8
(No Transcript)
9
What Kinds of Colleges are There? Which College
Do You Choose?
10
Agricultural, Technical, and Specialized
Colleges FACTS
Examples of Specialized Colleges Art/music,
Bible, Business, Health science,
Seminary/rabbinical, and Teaching.
Specialized colleges emphasize preparation for
specific careers.
Specialized colleges offer a variety of degrees
(2-year degrees and up).
11

• Specialized Colleges
• Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary
  (Cincinnati, Ohio)
• Four-year
• 41 In-state students
• 59 Out-of-state students
• Out-of-state tuition and fees 8,900
• Room and board 5,140
• Books and supplies 600

12

• Specialized Colleges
• Research College of Nursing (Kansas
  City, Missouri)
• Four-year
• Percent applicants admitted 77
• Middle 50 admitted with ACT 21 26
• 75 In-state students
• 25 Out-of-state students
• Out-of-state tuition and fees 18,650
• Room and board 4,200
• Books and supplies 720

13
Public Universities FACTS
Public colleges are usually less expensive than
private colleges and universities.
A university is bigger than a college and offers
more majors and research facilities. Example In
University of Illinois, eight colleges and one
institute offer 4,000 courses and 150 programs of
study.
A university can offer much better credited
professors than a college. Example Nobel Prize
winners at University of Illinois
A university can offer great diversity. Example
In University of Illinois, undergraduates
typically come from all 50 states and there are
1129 international students.
14

• Public Universities
• Illinois State University
• Four-year
• Percent applicants admitted 75
• Middle 50 admitted with ACT 21-26, 3.5 GPA
• 99 In-state students
• 1 Out-of-state students
• 63 Women
• 37 Men
• In-state tuition and fees 6,328
• Room and board 5,576
• Books and supplies 668

15

• Public Universities
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Four-year
• Percent applicants admitted 63
• Middle 50 admitted with ACT 25-31
• 91 In-state students
• 9 Out-of-state students
• 48 Women
• 52 Men
• In-state tuition and fees 7,966
• Room and board 6,848
• Books and supplies 820

16
Community Colleges FACTS
44 of all U.S. undergraduates58 women 42
men63 part time 37 full time
Community Colleges offer technical programs to
upgrade skills for workforce reentry or
advancement.
Community Colleges offer courses for transfer
toward a bachelor's degree after the completion
of two years of full-time study
Average class size at most community colleges is
significantly smaller than at public four-year
universities.
17
Community College ADVANTAGES

• Less Expensive
• cost significantly less than state or private
  colleges and universities
• a cost-effective way to complete the first two
  years of college.
• 2. Undecided?
• explore different subject areas before committing
  to a program
• intensive guidance counseling offered

18

• GPA not good enough?
• community colleges are open to everyone (no
  minimum GPA)
• classes and one-on-one tutoring offered to help
  you strengthen your basic skills
• Flexibility
• classes offered throughout the day and evening,
  on weekends and online.

19

• Community Colleges
• Parkland Community College
• Two-year
• 98 In-state students
• 2 Out-of-state students
• 35 Part-time students
• 49 Women
• 51 Men
• In-state tuition and fees 2,010
• Books and supplies 1,000

20
Private Colleges and Universities FACTS
Private institutions are usually smaller than
public ones.
Private institutions can offer more personalized
attention through smaller classes.
Some private institutions are religious.
21

• Private Colleges and Universities
• Northwestern University
• Four-year
• Percent applicants admitted 33
• Middle 50 admitted with ACT 29 33
• 23 In-state students
• 77 Out-of-state students
• 53 Women
• 47 Men
• In-state tuition and fees 30,085
• Room and board 9,393
• Books and supplies 1,353

22

• Private Colleges and Universities
• University of Chicago
• Four-year
• Percent applicants admitted 40
• Middle 50 admitted with ACT 27 32
• Middle 50 admitted with SAT Reasoning Verbal 650
  760
• Middle 50 admitted with SAT Reasoning Math 650
  750
• 21 In-state students
• 79 Out-of-state students
• In-state tuition and fees 30,729
• Room and board 9,624
• Books and supplies 900

23
Chances of Acceptance

• Increase your chances many folds by Planning
  Ahead and Paying Attention to Details.

24
Mental Awareness

• Keep Focused
• Keep Priorities Straight
• Know the Application Due Dates!
• YOU are responsible for your application.

25
Standardized Tests(ACT, SAT, or TOFEL)

• Should be taken Junior year of HS.
• Most 4 year colleges want ACT above 20 SAT is
  more variable. TOEFL is for non-native speakers
  of English.
• Take them! - if possible, take them more than
  once.

26
Filling out the Application

• Make a good impression show them the best sides
  of you!
• Find out exactly what they want
• How many letters of recommendation?
• Required Standardized Tests?
• Essay? GPA?
• Read Carefully and Give them exactly what they
  ask for

27
Letters of Recommendation

• Select teachers who KNOW YOU and YOUR ABILITIES
  well generally those are the teachers who can
  see your LONG TERM POTENTIAL.
• Give them ample time to complete the
  recommendation.
• Most colleges will ask for 2 or more
  recommendation letters.

28
The Essays!

• We all dread them!
• BUT, it is a necessity part of most college
  applications and CAN increase your chance of
  acceptance by quite a lot. Pay attention to all
  the essay questions required by specific
  colleges.
• Brainstorm!
• Write them EARLY!
• Have others proofread them, more than once.
• Communicate to the readers that YOU are serious
  about getting the college education for a better
  future.

29
What should you Include in the ESSAYS?

• Why you are fit for their college.
• Why you would be an asset to them.
• What you can offer.
• What you want to gain from college experience.
• But Most Importantly
• Through your essay show them your personality
  and your unique qualities
• Be particular! Do not Generalize
• Always make sure to Answer the Question that is
  Being Asked specifically, clearly, and TRUE to
  yourself.

30
Increasing Your Chances of Acceptance

• Take standardized tests Early! Make it be your
  Best!
• Get those letters of recommendations early make
  it 2 or more.
• Follow Application procedures and directions
  carefully. Pay attention to what each college
  asks for. Give them EXACTLY what they want.
• Prepare Ahead! Finish Ahead! Then turn in
  completed applications as early as possible.
• Do not take chances. Take Control

31
Wait for those acceptance letters!
32
How to Pay for College?
33
Fill out a FAFSA Form

• FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)
• First and most important step in attaining and
  assessing financial needs
• By filling out a FAFSA form you have
  automatically applied for federal grants/loans,
  and work-study
• In addition, most states and schools use the
  information from FAFSA to award non-federal aid

34
Where do I get One?

• FASA forms are available through a variety of
  sources
• Students and family can fill out the form via
  online submission _at_ www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Students and family can also request a hard copy
  from the same site or request one from the
  school's financial aid office
• You must turn in a completed FAFSA form by the
  required dates as stated by your financial aid
  officer in order to get an appropriated amount of
  aid in a timely fashion

35
Private Student Loans/Bank Loans

• Go to your bank and talk to a representative who
  can tell you about student loans
• Go to other banks to see what other options you
  may have (cross reference to get the best deal)
• Many national banks provide information online
  and many even let you apply online
• Bank of America- http//www.bankofamerica.com/stud
  entbanking/
• Organization for Student loans-http//www.studentl
  oan.com/
• CitiBank-http//www.53.com/banking/studentloans/lo
  ans/index.asp

36
Scholarships (Merit based, need-based)

• Many schools offer scholarships for minorities
• When you apply to the desired university check
  for scholarships based off your ACT score and
  class rank. (You either get these or you dont)
• There are many scholarships offered outside of
  the school as well

37
Scholarship Links

• http//www.ombudsman.ed.gov/
• The Federal Student Aid Ombudsman of the
  Department of Education helps students settle
  disputes with the government over federal aid.
• www.fastweb.com
• -Take a brief survey so you can be matched
  with available scholarships that apply to you.
• -Includes links to websites of scholarshipsmany
  of which you can apply for online.
• -Lots of these scholarships involve writing are
  for a small amount- but they add up!
• -This site has a lot of advertisements, but lots
  of scholarships too!
• -Ethnicity/cultural background can lead you to
  lots of scholarships.
• -Schools offer scholarships to minorities
• www.finaid.com
• -information on scholarships and other forms of
  financial aid
• -good background on all kinds of loans, private
  and governmental
• http//www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3specpop.ht
  m
• -lists tons of grants available for minorities
• -includes links to websites of these
  grants/scholarships
• http//www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3women.htm
• Scholarships for women and links to these
  scholarship pages.

38
Important Dates
39
Questions Answers