The purpose of this lesson is to guide you through the college search process and to familiarize you with several websites to help you compare colleges, learn about financial aid and locate scholarship money.  

PROCEDURE

The college selection process begins by identifying a school, either by name, location or student's program of study or area of interest.  The prospective student then looks at the individual admission requirements for that school by comparing the admissions records of last year's freshmen class to his/her own credentials.  These would include high school class rank, GPA, test scores (ACT and/or SAT).  These factors determine the "selectivity" of a school, or how difficult it may be to gain admission.  This lets the student know if his/her own credentials would qualify for admissions consideration. 

The next step is to identify the features of the school that attract you to this school, such as the make-up of the student body (by gender, ethnicity, size, type of institution (liberal arts, etc), extracurricular offerings, financial aid, etc).   This information can be expressed in various ways, so I have chosen several different websites to explore.  Also, it is always a good idea to research a school using several points of view via the web.

Finally, questions about financial aid, how to file federal forms (FAFSA), and additional scholarship information should be researched.   WOW!...All this before you even think about filling out an application!

STEP 1:

Using the table above, find a college in each of the "College Locators" categories (name, state, major).  Write the names on a piece of paper in 3 columns (School #1, School #2, School #3), so that you can compare the information you research for each school.

STEP 2:

Identify specific offerings and requirements at each college selected.  For example, School # 1 has an average ACT score of 25, but School #2 has an average of 28.  You may insert additional columns for specifics that may interest you (size, student body, fraternities, housing), or any criteria that is important to you.

STEP 3:

Identify the four types of aid available to students.   Name the form that must be filed to receive any money for college.  Identify at least one potential area that you might apply for a scholarship. (This may  be found in the categories of the "Wired Scholar" questionnaire when you fill out the search form.

CULMINATING QUESTION:

Which college best meets your personal qualifications and why? 

Now, return to Home page and explore other sites, as each will offer distinct insights and information.