4 year or 2 year school?

With today's myriad of choices, how can a student know which school is right for his or her individual needs? Matching students with accredited online and campus-based schools, Education Connection takes the guesswork out of this important life decision and lets students focus on what will be best for their careers.

Education Connection is founded on the principle: "Higher Education opens the door, illuminates the path and guides us to the future."

By providing rich resources to help students explore careers, assess their aptitude for online learning and even match their personality type to specific occupations, Education Connection allows students to make well-informed decisions about the future.

Education Connection is a free consumer service.

More help to find the right school or degree for you!

Student Corner is a resource for researching and comparing career fields, programs and degrees, and requesting free information from participating (about 25) colleges and universities offering them. This is a free service for you, and you’ll find comprehensive systems for leading you to the correct programs for your career or field of interest.

Simply browse through the various colleges and universities represented here, or explore information about the career fields and education options available to you. Then request free information from as many schools as you’d like and they’ll contact you quickly to answer any questions you have.

Their number one goal is to help you find the right program for your needs. Whether it’s at a local campus or completely online, there’s a program for you!

Match yourself to the school that's best for you!

This site reviews criteria that will help you figure out what school might be best for you. Here are some of the questions they'll answer for you:

* What is the value of higher education?
* What expenses do I face prior to attending college?
* Should I live on campus, off campus, or at home?
* How much should I budget for college living expenses?
* Is a meal plan a good deal?
* What will it take to save for a college education?
* What investments can I use to save for college?

Check this site out and let us know what you think!

e-mail: jeff@collegeanalyzer.com

Need help finding a college roommate?

Picking the right roommates may be as important as picking the right school. There are several sites that can help you find a "matched" roommate. Here is a site that seems to have it goin' on with over 1900 colleges and Universities in its D-base.

Be careful when selecting from these sites because people can mislead you with inaccurate info, but it's a good starting point to help find the right match.

Other options are the housing center at your school and bulletin boards within those areas. Also, check with people you know and see if they have any ideas as to other people looking for a good roomie.

Good luck with your search!

College Visits?....

Don't be sold into your school! Check them out!!

Why Visit Colleges?
Seeing Beyond the Brochure

You hear it from colleges. Come visit! You hear it from your high school counselor. Have you visited any campuses yet? And you hear it from us. But what's the big deal about seeing a college?
You Can't Judge a College by Its Brochure

A campus visit is your opportunity to get a firsthand view of a college. A college catalog, viewbook, or website can only show you so much. To really get a feel for the school, you need to walk around the quad, sit in on a class, and visit the dorms.
Get Answers to Your Questions

A visit also gives you the chance to talk to students, faculty, and financial aid and admissions folks. You can get answers to questions, such as:

* What is the average class size, and the student to faculty ratio? Are most classes taught by professors or by teaching assistants?
* What is the campus meal plan like? How is the food?
* What is the make-up of the current freshman class? Is the campus fairly diverse?
* What's the social scene like? What kinds of activities are planned by the college's Residential Affairs?
* Is there ample space in dorms or does there seem to be a housing crunch?
* How many students are commuters/residents?
* Do I feel at home here? Is this what I pictured college to be?

Get Valuable Information

Pick up any official school material you see, such as brochures and financial aid forms. Don't forget to get business cards, too, so you'll have a real, live contact if you have a question about admissions or financial aid.

Student-produced material will give you a sense of what campus life is really like. Look around for newspapers and activity calendars. Check out bulletin boards, too, to see what bands are coming to the campus, parties are advertised, internships are posted, and generally what the day-to-day energy of the place is.
Is This College Right for You?

Ultimately, it's your decision. Listen to your gut. Do you feel comfortable walking around campus? Do you click with the students and faculty? Spending time on a campus allows you to determine if a school is a good match.

If you can't picture yourself walking around the campus you probably shouldn't go there!! Good luck.

Do You Go Away To School Or Not?

When you are picking out a school there is one major choice to make. Are you going away or not. I myself found comfort in the fact that my parents were only 90 minutes away. Some of my friends however chose to go so far away that they needed a plane to get them back home. If you haven't thought about this aspect of choosing your school, you should definitely take some time to consider it. Not only will it help narrow your choices, but you can start to prepare your parents. Here is an article that I found at the National Association for College Admission Counseling that sheds more light on this important choice.

How to know the right school for you...

Here's what I can tell you.

You have to see yourself at the school you choose. You will be living on that campus and you better be comfortable and have a support group in place. Everyone gets homesick and that's okay, but you better have the right comfort level with the school you choose. For me it was easy, I saw myself going to the school I picked when I was barely able to walk. I went to this school that was 750 miles away from my high school and I was the only member of my graduating class attending this large university. Translation, I knew no one! I got a job, played sports and made friends very quickly. I found they were mostly in the same boat I was...they didn't know that many people either. I picked a group of about 8-10 people I thought I liked and started hanging out with them. Of the group I found 6 people I was very comfortable with and we became lifelong friends, not just acquaintances.

Here's a hint! DO NOT pick the school that "everybody's" going to from your high school...that stinks and you will regret it. Push yourself, expand your horizons it's your life... make your choices based on the things that are most important to you.

I remember my friend who went to the college his girlfriend wanted to go to. Bad choice...he was mad every time she wanted to go to a frat party and couldn't handle the "social aspects" of college. She wanted to experiment and explore, he wanted to get married...so they did, had 4 kids and then figured out they weren't compatible...go figure! Today, he regrets almost everything that happened in college because he didn't follow his instincts, he followed the girl...don't make the same mistakes he did!

Latest ranking of the best schools...

According to a recent survey conducted and published by US news and world reports here are the best of the best. See where your potential school stands or just get some ideas of schools you might be a good fit for.

National Universities: Top Schools
Methodology

* Rank
* Peer assess- ment score (5.0=highest)
* Average freshman retention rate
* 2006 actual graduation rate
* Faculty resources rank
* % of classes w/50 or more ('06)
* % faculty who are full time ('06)
* SAT/ACT 25th-75th percentile ('06)
* Acceptance rate ('06)
* Alumni giving rank

* Overall score
* Graduation & retention rank
* 2006 predicted graduation rate
* 2006 overperf.(+)/ underperf.(-)
* % of classes w/fewer than 20 ('06)
* Student/ faculty ratio ('06)
* Selectivity rank
* Freshmen in top 10% of HS class
* Financial resources rank
* Avg. alumni giving rate


1. Princeton University (NJ)
100 4.9 2 98% 96% 96% 0 3 72% 10% 5/1 93% 3 1370-1590 94% 5 10% 12 1 60%
2. Harvard University (MA)
99 4.9 1 98% 94% 98% +4 3 69% 13% 7/1 92% 1 1390-1590 95% 9% 8 6 41%
3. Yale University(CT)

4. Stanford University(CA)

5. University of Pennsylvania

5. California Institute of Technology

7. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

8. Duke University(NC)

9. Columbia University(NY)

9. University of Chicago

11. Dartmouth College(NH)

12. Washington University in St. Louis

12. Cornell University(NY)

14. Brown University(RI)

14. Northwestern University(IL)

14. Johns Hopkins University(MD)

17. Rice University(TX)

17. Emory University(GA)

19. Vanderbilt University(TN)

19. University of Notre Dame(IN)

21. University of California—Berkeley *

22. Carnegie Mellon University(PA)

23. University of Virginia *

23. Georgetown University(DC)

25. University of California—Los Angeles *

25. University of Michigan—Ann Arbor *

27. University of Southern California

28. University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill *

28. Tufts University(MA)

30. Wake Forest University(NC)

31. Lehigh University(PA)

31. Brandeis University(MA)

33. College of William and Mary(VA) *

34. New York University

35. University of Rochester(NY)

35. Georgia Institute of Technology *

35. Boston College

38. University of Wisconsin—Madison *

38. University of California—San Diego *

38. University of Illinois—Urbana - Champaign *

41. Case Western Reserve University(OH)

42. University of Washington *

42. University of California—Davis *

44. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute(NY)

44. University of Texas—Austin *

44. University of California—Santa Barbara *

44. University of California—Irvine *

48. Pennsylvania State University—University Park *

49. University of Florida *

50. Syracuse University(NY)

50. Tulane University(LA)

52. Yeshiva University(NY)

52. University of Miami(FL)

54. Pepperdine University(CA)

54. George Washington University(DC)

54. University of Maryland—College Park *

57. Ohio State University—Columbus *

57. Boston University

59. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey—New Brunswick(NJ) *

59. University of Pittsburgh *

59. University of Georgia *

62. Texas A&M University—College Station *

62. Worcester Polytechnic Institute(MA)

64. University of Connecticut *

64. Purdue University—West Lafayette(IN) *

64. University of Iowa *

67. Fordham University(NY)

67. Miami University—Oxford(OH) *

67. Clemson University(SC) *

67. Southern Methodist University(TX)

71. University of Minnesota—Twin Cities *

71. Virginia Tech *

71. University of Delaware *

71. Michigan State University *

75. Stevens Institute of Technology(NJ)

75. Baylor University(TX)

75. Colorado School of Mines 11 *

75. Indiana University—Bloomington *

79. Brigham Young University—Provo(UT)

79. University of California—Santa Cruz *

79. University of Colorado—Boulder *

82. St. Louis University

82. SUNY—Binghamton *

82. Marquette University(WI)

85. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry *

85. North Carolina State University—Raleigh *

85. University of Denver

85. American University(DC)

85. Iowa State University *

85. University of Kansas *

91. University of Alabama *

91. University of Missouri—Columbia *

91. University of Nebraska—Lincoln *

91. University of Tulsa(OK)

91. Clark University(MA)

96. Auburn University(AL) *

96. SUNY—Stony Brook *

96. University of Tennessee *

96. University of Vermont *

96. University of Arizona *

96. University of the Pacific(CA)

96. University of California—Riverside *

96. Howard University(DC)

96. Illinois Institute of Technology

96. Northeastern University(MA)

96. University of Massachusetts—Amherst *

107. University of San Diego

108. University of New Hampshire *

108. Texas Christian University

108. Drexel University(PA)

108. University of Oklahoma *

112. University of South Carolina—Columbia *

112. University of Oregon *

112. Loyola University Chicago

112. University of Dayton(OH)

112. Florida State University *

112. Ohio University *

118. University of Missouri—Rolla *

118. Samford University(AL) 11

118. Washington State University *

118. University at Buffalo—SUNY *

122. University of Kentucky *

122. Catholic University of America(DC)

124. New Jersey Institute of Technology *

124. Clarkson University(NY)

124. Colorado State University *

124. University of Arkansas *

124. Michigan Technological University *

124. Kansas State University *

124. Arizona State University *


* * denotes a public school
* N/A means not available.

1. School refused to fill out U.S. News statistical survey. Data that appear may be from school in previous years or from the National Center for Education Statistics unless otherwise noted.
2. SAT and/or ACT not required by school for some or all applicants.
3. Data not submitted in the form requested by U.S. News.
4. Data reported to U.S. News in previous years.
5. Data based on fewer than 51 percent of enrolled freshmen.
6. Some or all data reported to the NCAA and/or the National Center for Education Statistics.
7. Data reported to the Council for Aid to Education.
8. Average graduation or freshman retention rates, normally based on four years of data, are given here for fewer than four years because school didn't report rates for the most recent year or years to U.S. News.
9. SAT and/or ACT not required by school for some or all applicants, and data not submitted in form requested by U.S. News. Data may be based on fewer than 50 percent of enrolled freshmen.
10. School refused to fill out U.S. News survey. Data from school's website were used.
11. School was reclassified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 2006 and appeared in a different category of schools in America's Best Colleges 2007.
12. New to America's Best Colleges rankings or guide this year.
13. Peer assessment score taken from America's Best Colleges 2007.

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Tuition free education? More schools coming up with cool programs.

According to Kiplinger's website the University of Pennsylvania joins a handful of big-name public and private colleges offering special deals for families whose incomes fall below certain levels. At Penn, the limit is much higher than you might expect. The program is available to families with annual incomes of $50,000 or less.

Financial aid always helped low-income families afford the giant college bills. But the key feature of Penn's new program is that it promises to meet the family's entire need with no loans. Penn's list-price tuition is $32,400, and room and board is $9,400 for the current school year. The highest-need students will receive grant aid of more than $45,000 in the 2006-07 school year.

There's been a lot of competitive activity in this area over the past month. Stanford just introduced a similar program for students whose families earn less than $45,000. Harvard, which started its program in 2004, just raised the income limit from $40,000 to $60,000 last week and reduced contribution requirements for families earning up to $80,000. In early March, MIT said it would match Federal Pell Grants with its own grant program, covering a big part of the costs for families earning less than $40,000. Last year, Yale announced that families earning less than $45,000 would get a free ride, with substantial cuts in the contribution required for families earning up to $60,000. And in 2001, Princeton replaced student loans in the financial aid package with grants for all students.

Several public colleges, such as the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of Virginia and the University of Maryland also have similar programs.

These programs make it worthwhile to apply to some high-priced schools even if you don't think you have enough money to pay the bills. But there's one big catch: You still need to get accepted into the college, which can be tough to do. Harvard, for example, only accepted 9.1% of its applicants for last year's freshman class. Still, it can be worth a try and generally just requires the standard aid application.

Looking for the right school?

Here are some things to consider. Do you know all the criteria that schools are looking for this year? Do you know if 10th and 11th grade make a difference in the application process? Do you know what the application process even is? If you answered no tho any of these questions, maybe we have some help for you. There are sites out there that offer to provide a "college admission coach" to help de-mystify the college acceptance process. Check it out if you need help. It looks like a good site. I'd stay away from the pay sections and pick up the free tid-bits of advice they offer. I'd give it 6-7 out of 10.

More later.

The Right Formula For College

Tonight's post contains no links to the outside world. I may offend some with this but I want to insert a reality check into this blog. When choosing a college, there are many things to consider. Cost, location, student population, majors offered, and financial aid package are just a few of the considerations that you must make.

With the costs of college on the rise and students taking out more and more loans, it seems logical that schools with lower price tags become more attractive right? Not necessarily. For example, my younger sister went to a private college to get her degree in pharmacy. It was an accelerated program and when she was done she had her doctorate, AND $100, 000 in student loans. By the way, she worked part-time and was a Resident Advisor on her floor (this takes care of room costs) and still came out up to her well educated eyeballs in debt. Here's the good news, she got a job as a pharmacist making in the low six figures to start! Here is the bad news, not everyone is so lucky.

This is by no means a slant on private schools or the college system in general. All I want to bring to light is this one point. BE SURE THAT THE JOB YOU ARE TRYING TO GET WILL COVER THE COST OF YOU TRYING TO GET IT!! You may be the most well educated person you know with a degree worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. The truth is if you can't pay back the loans the banks don't care how smart you are. I'm currently working on finding some sites that can help you to calculate this. More to come!

Looking for a school?

Okay here's the process:

1. Begin your search
2. Refine your search
3. Build a list of schools to compare
4. Pinpoint locations
5. Export search results to spreadsheet

All of this can be accomplished at the National Center for Education Statistics site called College Navigator.

This is an effective site to help build a base of information of schools across the country. They will help you locate the schools that might be the best fit based on the criteria set forth. Check it out!

Virtual College Visits

You can take college classes online. You can even get degrees online from accredited institutions. Did you know that now you can even visit colleges on the other side of the country right from the comfort of your own computer? With Campustours you are able to take a virtual walk-thru of tons of schools with more being added all the time.

Its very expensive, especially with rising cost of gas, to visit potential colleges. Although Campustours houses the most virtual visits, many schools have started to offer similar services. A quick search for your potential school + the words "virtual tour" will most likely get you where you want to go.

One note of caution: Campustours specializes in online views of college campuses. When in doubt, it almost always makes sense to trust the experts. I would personally try both tours if they are available.

Many of us need some help locating that College or University that will fit our needs. Try the college search to locate a school that may be right for you!

Tell a friend about our site! We welcome your comments.

Some key elements to choosing a school...

Here's a quick checklist to review before you make any commitments:

1. Size of the student body
2. Location (can Mom and Dad get there easily and unannounced!)
3. Academic programs (pick something that allows you to be employable)
4. Campus life
5. Cost (of course)
6. Diversity

Looking for Business Schools?

Businessweek has done some research on the best business schools in the country. Here's the skinny:

1. Penn
2. Virginia
3. Notre Dame
4. Cornell

Check out the official list for the hot 100.

Picking the Right School?

So much to think about when choosing the right school...

The cost?
The major?
The night-life?
2 year/4 year?
The football team?
The basketball team?
Dorms?
Frats?
Books?

Upcoming reports will dive more deeply into some of the critical elements to consider when selecting a school. In the mean time check out some of our RSS feeds located in the right pane. Stay tuned for more...