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Sunday, June 22, 2008
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.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
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!
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, June 6, 2008
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.
More later.
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