Princeton Review Advice & Tips - Articles on calculating your GPA, guide to your PSAT scores, what are good SAT and ACT scores, 60 questions to ask on your college tour, and more!
Associate’s Degree (typically earned at a Community College)
Usually referred to as A.A. or A.S. Normally requires two years of full-time work. A minimum of 60 units required with a combination of general education, major courses and electives.
Postsecondary non-degree award (typically earned at a Community College or trade/business school)
These programs lead to a certificate or other award, but not a degree. The certificate is awarded by the educational institution and is the result of completing formal postsecondary schooling. Certification, which is issued by a professional organization or certifying body, is not included here. Some postsecondary non-degree award programs last only a few weeks, while others may last one to two years. Examples of occupations in this category include emergency medical technicians and paramedics, licensed practical and vocational nurses, and firefighters. ("United States Employment Development Department")
Some College, No Degree (College DROPOUTS!! Don't let this happen to you!)
Each year, roughly two million students enter postsecondary education, however, eight years later, one-third of those individuals are no longer enrolled and have not earned any formal credentials. According to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s Some College, No Degree report, more than 36 million Americans hold some postsecondary education but have not completed and are no longer enrolled. ("National Student Clearinghouse")
Bachelor’s Degree
Usually referred to as a B.A. or B.S. degree. 124-132 total term units required. Normally requires four years of full-time work. Students may complete the first two years at a community college, then transfer to a four-year university. Examples of occupations in this category include accountants and auditors; software developers, applications developers, and database administrators.
Post-Baccalaureate (a.k.a. Master’s) Degree
Master’s degree - Completion of this degree usually requires one or two years of full-time academic study beyond a bachelor’s degree. Examples of occupations in this category include physician assistants, marriage and family therapists, and healthcare social workers. Includes many professional degrees (MBA, J.D., MSW, etc.)
Doctorate or Professional Degree
Completion of this degree usually requires at least three years of full-time academic study beyond a bachelor's degree. Examples of occupations for which a professional degree is the typical form of entry-level education include lawyers, pharmacists, biochemists and biophysicists, and physical therapists. ("United States Employment Development Department")
Associate or Bachelor in Arts (AA/BA)
The Associate in Arts (AA) degree looks a lot like a typical Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree’s freshman and sophomore years. The AA/BA degrees are largely comprised of general education courses. This design fits nicely with most four-year degree plans. Most four-year college academic advisors recommend students take their required general education course work early in their college career; specifically during their first two years. The AA degree does exactly that, preparing the student to enter a four-year institution at a junior level. AA and BA degrees prepare students for more education.
Associate or Bachelor in Science (AS/BS)
The Associate in Science (AS) degree is parallel to the Bachelor of Science (BS) degree. It contains major courses that a student would take in the first two years of a BS degree. Related majors are in engineering, science, business and other pre-professional area of study in a four-year institution. Students will select mathematics, science and general education courses of equal level and content to those required during the first two years in a four-year college degree program. AS degree holders are well prepared to begin at junior level at competitive four-year colleges and universities. AS and BS degrees prepare students for a career.
Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
Many students want to prepare for career requiring just two years of college. The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) fills this need. The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree is made up mostly of major courses that offer excellent and efficient way to get necessary career-related studies. The student can enter the job market with the entry-level skills employers insist upon. Applied Science degree programs, though primarily designed for the job market, do also include courses that can be transferable to a four-year college program. White some of the technical courses may not be transferred, the general education and other liberal arts courses are usually well received.
Credit Comparison of Associate and Baccalaureate Degrees
Understand the similarities and differences between the certain types of schools.
The list is almost endless —colleges, universities, community colleges, private colleges, public colleges, vocational schools. But what are the differences between them, and where do you begin?
Once you know where you want to end up, then you have to find the right school to get you there. Here's a run-down of the types of options available after high school:
Community and junior colleges
Community and junior colleges generally offer 2-year associate degree programs. For students who decide to continue their studies in a 4-year program, the courses usually transfer to 4-year colleges.
Community colleges offer specialized job training in certain areas, much like vocational schools. They're affordable and prepare students to enter the work force immediately following graduation. It's usually easy to get in and easy to transfer into a 4-year college or university.
Four-year colleges and universities
Four-year colleges and universities offer bachelor's degrees in many fields of study. Many also offer graduate programs with opportunities to earn a master's degree, doctorate, or professional degree. The curriculum is usually broader than a 2-year school.
Public colleges and universities are subsidized by tax money from the state in which they are located and are generally less expensive than private colleges. However, the low rates are normally available only to residents of the state. Out-of-staters, or non-residents, usually pay higher rates. They also may have limited financial aid funds for students.
Private colleges, on the other hand, are funded through endowments, tuition, and donations. The cost of attending a private college is usually higher than a public university. But don't rule private school out only because of cost! Private colleges often offer financial aid options that make their cost feasible.
Vocational training schools
Vocational training schools are privately owned and operated schools that offer a wide variety of training options, such as computer technology, cosmetology, mechanical repair, court reporting, paralegal services, office administration, and medical assistance.
Vocational courses take from five to 12 months to as much as three years to complete. Vocational training schools usually have open admissions, which means they will admit all students interested in attending.
Technical Institutes and Professional Schools enroll students who have made clear decisions about what they want to study and emphasize preparation for specific careers, for example in music or fine arts, engineering or technical sciences. You will want to be quite sure of your future direction before selecting one of these options.
Liberal Arts Colleges
focus on the education of undergraduate students. Classes are generally taught by professors who see teaching as their primary responsibility. Students who attend liberal arts colleges are exposed to a broad sampling of classes. In addition, they select at least one area of in-depth study that is their college "major." Many employers look for graduates of liberal arts programs, because they are "well-rounded."
Historically Black Colleges and Universities
find their origins in the time when African-American students were systematically denied access to most other colleges and universities. Students at HBCUs have a unique opportunity to experience an educational community in which they are a part of the majority. They find committed faculty mentors who encourage their expectations of success.
Tribal Colleges
are similar to HBCUs, in focusing on the needs and education of American-Indian students.
Women's Colleges
with their larger numbers of female faculty and administrators, offer college women confidence-building role models, greater opportunities to serve in a full range of student leadership positions, and a heightened awareness of career possibilities for women. Women's colleges graduate a high number of science majors, as well as students who continue on to graduate school and/or professional studies.
Article compiled from: Adventures in Education and nacacnet.org
Information provided by the PrincetonReview.com
You can apply to as many schools as you want - as long as you are willing to pay the application fees. But that is a poor strategy...
Take your time to research and reduce your list to a more reasonable amount
Crate a list o=that fits your specifications
Categorize your schools into Match, Reach, and Safety Schools based on your GPA, Class Rank, and your SAT/ACT scores.
MATCH
A school where your academic credentials fall well within or even exceed the school's range for the average freshman
No guarantees, but it is not unreasonable to be accepted to several of your match schools
REACH
A school where your academic credentials fall below the schools range for the average freshman
Long shot, but possible
I'm sorry to say, but if you have a 2.0 GPA, Harvard is not a reach, it is a dream.
SAFETY
A school where your academic credentials fall above the school's range for the average freshman
You are reasonably certain that you will be accepted
How do I decide???
Deciding which colleges and universities are worth the time and money it takes to complete an application is not an easy task. The next section will shed some light on the many factors, tools, and resources you can use to help you during this process.
Apply to a few from each category. The Princeton Review recommends...
3 Match to manage your expectations.
3 Reach to set ambitious goals.
2 Safety to have a backup plan.
NACAC currently holds more than 55 fairs across the nation. Free to students, families and counselors, these events allow you to meet face-to-face with college representatives. Visit NACACs National College Fair (both in-person and virtual) section for more information on dates and locations.
Before the Fair, ask yourself the following questions:
Do I want to attend an extra large, large, medium or small school?
What major do I wish to study?
Do I want to attend an urban, suburban, or rural school?
Do I want to attend a 2 year, 4 year, single-sex or religiously-affiliated school?
Do I want to participate in athletics, clubs, fraternities or sororities or special programs such as study abroad or cooperative education?
Research colleges attending the fair to determine if they meet your search criteria. Make a list of questions to ask college representatives. Try to select questions that are insightful and are not easily answered in the literature.
At the Fair
Pick up a fair directory and bag for all of the material you collect
Visit schools that match or are the closets match to you search criteria
Ask the same questions you have developed to each college representative you visit
Ask the college representative to scan your barcode. This will allow the representative to follow up with you directly – and quickly.
Make notes about information that you found most interesting / helpful
Be adventurous. Don’t just talk to the “well-known” schools
Attend an information session that is offered to gather information about the college search process, financial aid or whatever topics are available.
After the Fair
Review information (websites, catalogs, and view-books) to gather more information to help narrow your choices.
Send a thank you note/email to the college representative as a way to reinforce your interest in the school.
One of the most important parts of you college research is the campus visit. Visiting the colleges on your list will give you a firsthand impression of the students, faculty, staff, facilities, and programs. On a visit you can learn what the admission office is looking for in its applicants, gain a feeling for the academic and social atmosphere, see the study/living/recreation facilities, talk with students, and get a sense of the surrounding community.
When to Visit
Admission offices are open all year, but visiting when classes are in session is best. If you visit in the summer, you can certainly learn about admission and get a general tour of the campus, but it might be hard to get a good sense of the atmosphere of the college.
The best time to visit? Spring Break of your junior year can be ideal. Even if you are not certain where you might eventually apply, if you can visit one large, one medium size, and one small school, you will be better prepared to make final decisions about where to apply.
Once you have narrowed your list in the fall of the senior year, you may want to make return overnight visits to schools to which you will be applying. On these visits, plan to go to classes and interact with students.
If at all possible, try to visit colleges before you apply. You may discover the school is not at all what you had thought it would be based on the on-line research you had done. However, attending accepted students visit programs at the colleges you have visited previously can help you narrow down your choices.
Special Visitation Days: Some colleges will offer spring programs for juniors and fall programs for seniors. Check online or contact the admission office since you may need to make a reservation.
How to Plan a Visit
Good campus visit takes 2-4 hours, including time to get a sense of the surrounding town or area. Don’t try to visit more than two schools in one day.
Figure out an itinerary: where you want to travel, how you will travel, how far one school is from another.
Call the admission office at least two weeks ahead of time to schedule your visit. Admission offices have set times for tours and information.
Think of all the things you want to do when you visit and ask what the admission office can help you with: talking with an admission offices, taking a tour, attending a class, meeting with a professor in an area that interest you, eating a meal on campus, talking with a coach or advisor of an extracurricular activity that interests you, etc.
Research each college before you go visit so you’ll have specific questions to ask.
Contact students you might know at the school before you plan to visit.
What To Do When You Visit
Focus on people, place and programs in your visit
Talk to as many people as you can: students, dining hall workers, tour guides, faculty
Look at a campus newspaper and check out campus bulletin boards.
Wander through snack bars and student centers and observe how students interact with each other.
Keep track of all names of people you talk with, especially in the admission office.
Go to the admission session and take the official tour. Listen to the tour guide, but don’t jump to a conclusion about a particular school based solely on your experience with a tour guide.
If you are meeting or interviewing with an admission staff member, be on time, be yourself, ask questions that deal with your particular needs, make sure you mention anything about your background or achievements that you want toe admission office to know.
After the Visit
Fill out the college comparison worksheet before you get to another campus
Send a thank you note to any admission person you meet
Look ahead to fall of the senior year to plan a follow-up, overnight visit.
“Every college visit should have at least two dimensions, formal and informal,” notes the director of college counseling at the University School of Nashville (TN). To cover both dimensions, begin your planning with the following checklist. To make sure you’re able to see everything you’d like to, don’t forget to call the college ahead of time and schedule your visit.
Formal
Take a campus tour
Have an interview with admission officer
Participate in group information session at the admission office
Sit in on a class (or two!)
Talk to a professor (or two) in your chosen major(s)
Talk to a coach in your chosen sport
Talk to a student or counselor in the career center
Spend the night in the dorm with a current student
Informal
Read the student newspaper, even the ads
Try to find other student publications – department newsletters, “alternative” newspapers, literary reviews
Eat in the cafeteria
Ask a student why he/she chose this college, and what their favorite part about it is
Wander around the campus by yourself
Search for your favorite book in the library
Read the bulletin boards in the student union and in the academic department you’re interested in
Ask a student what he/she dislikes about the college
Browse in the college bookstore
Eavesdrop on students to hear what they’re talking or complaining about.
Surf the Net in the student computer center
Walk or drive around the community surrounding the campus to explore the surrounding area
Find out if there is public transportation or if you can have your vehicle on campus
Ask a student what he/she does on weekends
Ask career services about upcoming job opportunities
Look into clubs and organizations on campus that interest you
Listen to the college’s radio station
Try to see a dorm that you didn’t see on the tour
See if you can imagine yourself at this college
About Academics
What academic elements are considered in the admission process, for example: courses, grades, test scores, rank, interests, institutional needs, essays, recommendations, and interviews? How important are each of these factors?
Is the college/university accredited?
How many students return after their freshman year?
What percentage of students graduate in four years or less?
Which academic programs on campus are the most popular?
Does this college offer the major that interests you?
How easy is it to change majors?
Will your AP/previous college credits transfer?
What are the largest classes you could have as a freshman or sophomore? How many large classes can you expect?
Who teaches the freshman classes? Teaching assistants? Graduate assistants? Will you get enough contact with and/or attention from them?
How easy is it to get the courses you want at the times that are convenient for you?
(If this applies to you) Are there any special support services if you have special needs (ADD, ADHD, LD, etc.)? How doe these support services function and is there any additional cost charged for these services?
Is there an Honor Code? How does it operate?
Is there an Honors Program for talented students? How do you qualify?
What percentage of student successfully apply to graduate school?
What kind of career planning services are available?
What does the school do to help graduates find jobs?
Does the school provide free job placement services?
What percentage of graduates find jobs within a few months after gradating?
What percentage of graduates find jobs in the field they studied for?
About Student Life and Social/Recreational Opportunities
What percentage of the students are male/female?
How diverse is the campus?
What percentage of students are commuters?
What portion of the student body lives on campus? What percentage of the student body remains on campus for the weekends?
What activities do students participate in during their free time both on campus (school sponsored) and in the community?
Does the campus have a Greek system of fraternities and sororities? If so, what percent of the student body participates in Greek life? Are parties open? How do students who elect not to participate in the Greek system fit in?
What are the most popular extracurricular activities?
What student organizations are active on campus?
What intramural sports are on campus?
Where is the central gathering place for students?
What transportation options are available to and from campus, both for trips just outside campus and for treks to transportation centers for trips home?
Can freshmen have cars on campus? What is the fee for having a car on campus?
Is it easy to get around campus? Can you walk to and from classes?
Are there parent or sibling events so your family can be a part of your college experience?
About Auxiliary Services
Where do students go if they have a medical emergency?
What tutoring, counseling, and support services are available on campus and how are they accessed?
What computer access will you have? Do you need to bring your won computer? Are the dorms wired for Internet/email services?
What is the quality of the library and research facilities?
What laundry facilities are available and how accessible are they?
What recreational facilities does the campus offer?
What are the safety issues on campus? How are they addressed? Ask for a crime report. Federal law requires schools to provide safety information to students.
Are there on-going construction projects around campus? This is a good thing as is signals good facilities.
About Housing/Food Services
Is campus housing guaranteed for all four years? What percent of students live on campus all four years?
How much does housing cost? Is it easy to get on-campus housing?
What housing options exist? (Honors? Themed? Single sex? Co-ed? Greek?)
How hard is it to find off-campus housing/
What meal plans are available? Are freshmen required to purchase a specific type of meal plan?
Do the meal plans provide menus for special diets (vegetarian, kosher, ethnic, etc.)?
What hours may students access food services?
About Paying for It
What is the yearly cost of attendance, including books, tuition, fees, housing and meal plans? In other words, what is the all-inclusive cost?
Does your ability to pay the full cost of attendance have any impact on the college’s decision to admit you?
Which financial aid forms are required? (The most common two are the FAFSA and the CSS PROFILE, but some schools have institutional or school-specific forms and some states have special forms.)
What percent of entering freshmen receive aid? What was the average freshman aid package? Is there a way to aid is packaged, loans first for example? If you are unhappy with your aid package, is it negotiable?
If you demonstrate need, will the school be able to prepare a financial aid package that will meet 100% of your demonstrated need?
Will outside scholarships affect the amount of aid the school will offer you?
What types of payment plans exist for paying the Estimated Family Contribution?
How easy is it to find a job on campus? Are there work-study programs available?
What kind of refund can you get if you have to suddenly drop out or cancel some of your courses?
By: Making It Count and FastWeb
What Choosing a Major Means: Truth vs. Myth
Written by: Indiana University of Pennsylvania
Does choosing a major mean you’re sealing your fate for your lifetime?
No! Your major can be a stepping stone to a job in a field that really excites you. But it may be a small stone. It may be one of many stones. It may be a path that has a few twists and turns before you end up just where you should be professionally.
So you see you don’t need to worry so much about making the supposedly wrong decision. In fact, everything you do and all the choices you make – including, yes, even choosing a major that may turn out less than ideal for you – contain within them learning experiences that you may apply to many of the things you don in the future.
Below are a few common myths about majors and what they mean to your life. Have you heard these before?
MYTH: Major = Job = Career
TRUTH: About half of all college graduates change their career plans after college
MYTH: Students who are undecided are less mature than those who declare a major before arriving on campus
TRUTH: Not declaring a major until you’ve thoughtfully decided can be a mark of maturity. Thirty to fifty percent of students change majors at least once before graduation.
MYTH: People should have one job for a lifetime.
TRUTH: Many people entering the job market today will have four to five (or more) jobs in their lifetime.
MYTH: There is a single right career for everyone.
TRUTH: As people mature and have new life experiences, interests and opportunities often lead them into new careers.
MYTH: Everybody can answer the question, “What is your major?”
TRUTH: About 40 percent of students applying to IUP are undecided; about 10 percent of entering freshmen are undecided.
Go to: www.temple.edu and use the research box to find the Undergraduate Bulletin. Search the Academic Programs. Try to find a **Bachelor's Degree** program that you are interested in. Temple may not have a program that you are interested in, but try to find something similar. View the "Academic Plan". I'm here to help - just email me to schedule a visit, but you can use the questions below as a guide:
After you have earned the degree, what will you be prepared to do?
What type of courses will you need to take? List the classes you find interesting. Which classes are you not interested in taking? Why not?
After researching the academic program, are you still interested in this major? Why or why not? Do you think the course requirements may be different at another college?
Regular Decision
You turn in your application by the college’s deadline, and they let you know by a specified date
Rolling Admission
Schools review applications as they’re submitted and make decision throughout the admission cycle (usually within four to six weeks of submission of the application). It is usually wise to send your application as soon as possible since some colleges will fill their class by early winter.
Early Action
You send your application by the early deadline and the college sends you its decision earlier. Some colleges do have additional restrictions on their early action programs, though, so make sure to read carefully the instructions from each college.
Early Decision
You are committing yourself to going to that school. Early Decision is for those early-bird students who already have a clear first-choice college. If you are still comparing colleges and don’t want to limit your choices yet, Early Decision is not for you. Why? Early Decision is a contract between you and the college. You agree that if the college accepts you, you’ll withdraw all other college applications and attend the early decision college. Because of this commitment, you can apply Early Decision to only one college.
Restrictive Early Action
This one means that you apply to your school of choice and get a decision early. Be aware, though, that some schools restrict applicants from applying to any other early plans at other schools. If you go this way, you’ll have until May 1 to confirm that you’ll be attending.
All Seniors must follow the procedures listed below when applying to college. Please allow the Guidance Office 7-10 school days to send all required forms and transcripts. All students should be aware of each college application deadline, and schedule an appointment with their guidance counselor at least two (2) weeks prior to the deadline. Be sure to bring to your meeting with your counselor ALL required school forms to be completed if necessary.
Complete College Application student sections on-line or use the paper application (all colleges prefer that you apply on-line but a credit card is required for the application fee).
Make an appointment with your School Counselor to complete your transcript, which includes courses taken, grades, credits, activities and awards.
After you have sent your on-line application to the college(s), please make an appointment to meet with your School Counselor. The Guidance Office will send an official transcript, and other required school related forms directly to the college(s). Please bring ALL forms that are needed for each college to your meeting with your School Counselor (college form, counselor recommendation form, student essay, if these are needed).
IF a teacher recommendation is needed, pick up an unofficial transcript in the guidance office to give to the teacher, with a copy of the college's teacher recommendation form. All teachers will return the recommendation form directly to the guidance office to be sent with the transcript. PLEASE ALLOW TEACHERS AT LEAST TWO (2) WEEKS TO COMPLETE ALL RECOMMENDATION FORMS!
Key Questions for the video below:
What are some good ways to start out a college admissions essay?
What are some good ways to end a college admissions essay?
What are they looking for in an essay?
What are some topics to avoid in an essay?
How to Get a Great Letter of Recommendation from BigFuture
How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation from College from USNews & World Report
