2011 College Guide

College Guide 2011

LOOK INSIDE! Complete College Fair Details

Find the perfect school for you Advice on applications Financial aid advice Advice from the experts SAT or ACT? Tuition costs

— FEATURING —

Greenville County College Fair TD ConferenCe CenTer Sunday, October 23, 2011 – Workshops 1:00 - 2:30 pm; College Fair 2:30 - 4:30 pm Monday, October 24, 2011 – College Fair 9:00 - 11:30 am (Public Schools)

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Welcome

to this College Admissions Guide, a supplement to the Annual Greenville County College Fair.

The Planning Committee is pleased and excited to offer this collection of professional articles on college admissions to students and families, in addition to the chance to meet college representatives and learn about their respective schools at the College Fair on October 23 & 24.

With the competitiveness for admission and the cost of college increasing over recent years, it has become more important for students and families to begin their college research sooner and to delve further into various options in order to find those choices that will provide them with the best personal educational value. The Greenville County College Fair offers a great opportunity for students to explore and uncover numerous options and opportunities.

Begun in the late 1980s by a collaboration of The Greenville Urban League, Greenville Technical College, and Christ Church Episcopal School, the Fair has grown to be one of the largest in South Carolina. In addition to a large group of colleges and universities attending the Fair, there will be special college planning workshops on Sunday (see workshop schedule inside).

The Planning Committee hopes that both students and colleges find the program valuable for their needs.

Next to personally visiting a college, a college fair is the best way to get some first-hand information about programs and opportunities offered at individual colleges and universities. It is a great time to get questions answered regarding the admission process, application requirements, student life, academic programs, and financial aid. On Sunday, the Fair will be for students and parents from across the Upstate, with college oriented workshops beginning at 1:00 pm and the Fair running from 2:30 – 4:30 pm. On Monday, Greenville County students will be bused to the Fair in the morning.

In this guide, you will find articles about using a college fair to your advantage, visiting colleges, writing the application essay, the SAT/ACT tests, financial aid and much more. We have also included a list of the over 130 colleges attending the Fair.

We look forward to seeing you at the Greenville County College Fair!

Please visit www.greenvillecountycollegefair.com for more information.

The 2011 Planning Committee: Judy Benedict, Giraffe Web Designs Bill Dingledine, Educational Directions India Fulkerson, Greenville Technical College Will Gregg, Greenville Urban League Jeny Kerscher, Furman University BJ Lindley, Greenville County Schools Sue McCalmont, Greenville County Schools Esther Pinckney, Greenville Technical College Rob Rhodes, Greenville County Schools April Ridgeway, The Princeton Review Linda Schulz, Christ Church Episcopal School Karah Viola, St. Joseph’s Catholic High School Jewell Whitney, Greenville Technical College

“Building Bridges to Higher Education” C O L L E G E

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WORKSHOP SESSIONS

COLLEGE FAIR PARTICIPANTS Agnes Scott College American College of the Building Arts Anderson University Appalachian State University Auburn University Belmont Abbey College Benedict College Bennett College for Women Berea College Berry College Birmingham-Southern College Bob Jones University Brevard College Brown Mackie College - Greenville Campbell University Carson Newman College Catawba College Centre College Charleston Southern University Claflin University Clemson University Cleveland Institute of Art Coastal Carolina University Coker College Colgate University College of Charleston Columbia College Columbia International University Converse College Davidson College Denmark Technical College Dickinson College East Tennessee State University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Emory & Henry College Emory University Erskine College Forrest College Francis Marion University Furman University Gardner-Webb University Georgia Southern University Georgia State University Glenville State College Greenville Technical College Hendrix College High Point University ITT Technical Institute James Madison University Johnson and Wales University Johnson C. Smith University Kaplan Test Prep Kennesaw State University King College King’s College LaGrange College Lander University Lees-McRae College Lenoir-Rhyne University Liberty University Limestone College Living Arts College Loyola University New Orleans Mars Hill College Mercer University Montreat College

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Morris College Nashville Auto Diesel College Newberry College North Carolina A&T State University North Carolina Central University North Carolina State University North Georgia College & State Univ. Cadet Admissions North Greenville University Oglethorpe University Ohio Wesleyan University Peace College Pfeiffer University Piedmont College Presbyterian College Professional Golfers Career College Purdue University Queens University of Charlotte Randolph College Rutgers University Saint Augustine’s College Salem College Samford University Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) Savannah State University Shaw University Sherman College of Chiropractic South Carolina State University Southern Wesleyan University Spartanburg Methodist College St. Andrews Syracuse University The Art Institutes The Citadel The University of Alabama The University of Alabama Huntsville Tusculum College University of Florida University of Georgia University of Kentucky University of North Carolina Asheville University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Univ. of North Carolina Charlotte Univ. of North Carolina Greensboro University of North Carolina School of the Arts University of South Carolina Aiken University of South Carolina Beaufort University of South Carolina Columbia University of South Carolina Upstate University of the Sciences University of the South U.S. Air Force Academy U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Vanderbilt University Virginia Tech Voorhees College Wake Forest University Warren Wilson College Washington and Lee University Wesleyan College Western Carolina University Winston-Salem State Winthrop University Wittenberg University Wofford College

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TD Conference Center

Sunday, October 23, 1:00 - 2:30 pm “A) SAT B) ACT C) NONE OF THE ABOVE” College admissions tests – SAT/ACT: Ways to prepare, which test(s) to choose, when to take, and how colleges use them in the admission process Presenter: Master Tutor, The Princeton Review “OPTIMIZE YOUR APPLICATION” Gain an understanding of how to put together strong admission applications to colleges Presenters: Liz Phillips, Assistant Director of Admissions, University of Georgia, Jennie Harris, Assistant Dean of Admissions, Wake Forest University “SHAKING THE MONEY TREE” How financial aid works: Get advice as to how to prepare and apply for financial aid and scholarships and how to manage the expenses.

Presenter: Mike Fox, Vice President for Outreach, South Carolina Student Loan Session Time

Session A

Session B

Session C

1:00 – 1:40

SAT/ACT

Financial Aid

Application

1:45 – 2:25

SAT/ACT

Financial Aid

Application

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Advice from the College Experts ✦ Make sure that you take the lead in your college admissions process.

During this time, you will develop good organizational and time management skills and most importantly, you’ll discover more about yourself. All of these qualities will help you become a successful and happy college student! You can minimize the time you invest in completing college applications if you will utilize common application sites. Most South Carolina public colleges use a common application form from College Net (http:// www.sccango.org/applyscholar.html) and others use the Common Application (https:// www.commonapp.org). These on-line services will help speed the process of completing application data by sharing common elements.

— Suzette Stille, Director of Admissions, College of Charleston

Be successful in college admission! Four fool proof, easy steps: ✦ Read what the colleges tell you about the admission, financial aid and scholarship application process. ✦ Do what the colleges tell you to do in the admission, financial aid and scholarship application process. ✦ Have a couple of academic and financial “sure bet” schools on your list that you like. ✦ Don’t fall in love with any one school. This is dating. Marriage comes later.

— J. Carey Thompson, Vice President for Enrollment and Communications, Dean of Admission, Rhodes College

✦ [As a college applicant] you are trying to convey to colleges that you are a strong, mature, independent, and intelligent student/citizen.

Make sure that you show this to the colleges you are considering by taking care of things well before deadlines occur, being respectful of others (parents, guidance counselors, etc.), and communicating with admissions by yourself. ✦ Think of a great joke that you heard recently. Writing a strong admissions essay and telling a good joke actually have many similarities; be specific in the details, use an active voice in telling the joke/writing the essay, know your audience and do not offend them (PG-13 please!), and understand that both have a purpose and lead up to the punch line/climax of the story.

— Dave Graves, Senior Associate Director of Admissions, University of Georgia

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✦ Students should take charge. The college search process can seem intimidating and overwhelming, so some students avoid it by procrastinating, or take a passive approach and hope for the best. Parents end up pressuring (nagging) students to get moving, taking over the process themselves out of frustration, or avoid the subject, hoping the student will eventually engage. Picking a college is probably the biggest decision most students will have faced so far in their lives, and no one has a bigger stake that the student. It’s your life, your future, and your decision. Own it. ✦ Visit the campus. I am always amazed when students decide on their college when they have never visited the campus. I wouldn’t buy a pair of shoes without trying them on first, so selecting a college without visiting seems like a much bigger risk to me. It doesn’t count to visit on your own or with a friend that is already in school. Go on the official campus tour, talk to the admissions office, sit in on a class, eat in the cafeteria, hang out in the student union, get a feel for the place. You will be there for four years, so make sure it fits. I suggest visiting a variety of schools so you can compare and contrast.

Colleges and universities offer tours, open house events, information sessions, and similar programs for a very good reason, so take advantage of them. ✦ Don’t stress too much. Picking a college is a big decision and it ushers in a time of change and uncertainty as students move from the relative protection and guidance of their parents towards life on their own. Friends, family, teachers, co-workers, basically everyone you know, will be interested in what colleges you are considering, and everyone will have an opinion on where you should go. There are several thousand colleges and universities in the US, so picking just one is daunting – nobody wants to make the wrong choice. If that isn’t stress, I don’t know what is. Try to keep everything in perspective, take time to relax, allow yourself some down time and get away from the college discussion every once and a while. You are going to go to college and get a degree – that’s the most important thing, and that decision has been made, right? Just remember that selecting a college is a match to be made, not a prize to be won. There is no such thing as a perfect college, but there is at least one, and more likely several colleges that are perfect for you. Don’t worry, it will all work out for the best.

— R. Scott Verzyl, Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management and Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions, University of South Carolina >>

✦ College admission is a marathon; not a sprint. And just like a marathon, it requires a great amount of preparation, perseverance, and effort. There will be some hills to climb, and many along the route to provide encouragement and support. It will take some time.

But, in the end, you’ll feel a great deal of personal satisfaction and accomplishment. ✦ When beginning the college search, the first thing to do is answer the question, “Who am I?”. In many ways it’s a tough question to answer (as we are often our own biggest critic). But a good look at yourself will help you find the type of college that best fits your needs. Are you looking for a small college or large university? Public or private?

Close to home or farther away? Single sex or coed? There are many other questions of this type to ask yourself, and only you can answer them.

— Robert S. Barkley, Director of Admissions, Clemson University

believe, but no less true, is that students who search faithfully find the schools they’re looking for. Those schools may not be the ones they thought they’d find, but they’re no less right for being unexpected, and no less a reason to rejoice.

— Stephen Farmer, Associate Provost and Director of Undergraduate Admissions, University of North Carolina

✦ Find the right size for you. Be sure to find a school that meets your needs and desires for size in all aspects...campus, classroom, total students, city/town size. ✦ Location matters! Distance from home and ease of travel to and from. This could be a hidden cost savings or cost increase depending on the decision. ✦ Don’t be afraid of published price “sticker shock.” Know that many forms of need and merit based assistance are available. ✦ Be prepared to brag, this is the time to do it. Be thinking about accomplishments, commitments, awards, passions and interests and talk about them when visiting colleges and in applications — M. Brad Pochard, Associate Vice President for Admissions, Furman University

✦ Enjoy the process. The college search can be stressful at times, but it is also an opportunity for reflection and self-exploration. Determining the features you are looking for in a college will develop a deeper understanding of who you are as an individual. ✦ Think outside the box. Look for a school that brings comfort, but also offers the ability to explore new areas. Step out of that comfort zone and take a few risks, whether it is a class you’ve never taken before, an independent research, or a study-abroad program. ✦ Road trip. Take advantage of the college visit. This is a big decision in your life and one that will determine the next four years. Do your research up front and feel comfortable with making a four year commitment. Colleges want you to be certain of your decision and will arrange class visits, meetings with members of the college community, and even overnight visits to ensure you have all the necessary information. ✦ Don’t be scared by the sticker price. In today’s economy, I understand that many families are concerned about the cost of education. It is a big investment, but one I feel is a necessity and within your reach. Never rule a school out based on sticker price. Most colleges are willing to invest in their students with merit scholarship and need-based aid.

— Brian Fortman, Dean of Enrollment Management Presbyterian College

✦ We know that applying for college can be stressful, but it can also be one of the most exciting times in your life. Students should feel confident that their college search will lead them to a great place – a place that you’ll love; a place where you’ll thrive. The odds are in your favor. One of the truths of college admission, which may be hard to

✦ The choice you make about where to go to college is less important than the effort you make once you’re there. The most important thing you can do to prepare for college is...... your Homework.

— Brand Stille, Vice President for Enrollment, Wofford College

• 55 major fields of study and 44 minors • Nationally acclaimed programs in Marine Science, Business Administration and Professional Golf Management •

• NCAA Division I Athletics • Voted one of “America’s 100 Best College Buys”

The Class of 2011 received $95 million in college scholarships.

Our students’ average ACT college entrance test score exceeds the state and national averages.

90% of GCS graduates attend college, with many enrolling in the nation’s most prestigious universities.

• Ranked among the Top 15 southern regional universities in “Best Value” by US News and World Report

Meet with your school’s guidance counselor to discuss options that fit your child’s college and career goals.

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WHEREAS, the Greenville County College Fair will be held on October 23 &24, 2011 at the TD Convention Center; and

WHEREAS, the community of Greenville, South Carolina further

believes in committing its resources to encourage and help students cross the bridge to higher education.

NOW THEREFORE, I Knox H. White, Mayor of the City of Greenville, South Carolina do hereby proclaim the week of October 23 – October 30, 2011 as:

Proclamation

WHEREAS, the need for post-secondary education is important for

BRIDGES TO COLLEGE WEEK

WHEREAS, educating our students, families and community

in the City of Greenville and on behalf of city council encourage all citizens to participate in educational programs and activities to make a visible statement that we are strongly committed to helping all students bridge the education gap in Greenville, South Carolina.

the future strength of our community and nation; and

about the college admission process is essential to helping students transition from high school to college; and

Signed, sealed and delivered this 6th day of October, 2011

WHEREAS, the Greenville County College Fair provides the

opportunity for students and parents to actively engage in the process by meeting with college representatives and attend workshops; and

WHEREAS, schools, colleges and universities, businesses,

Knox H. White, Mayor City of Greenville, South Carolina

parents, teachers, students, organizations and media will hereby demonstrate their commitment to Bridges to College Week by actively participating in higher education events; and

“America’s #1 Up and Coming College” U.S. News & World Report 2012

Top Tier in South (U.S. News & World Report) • America’s 100 Best College Buys America’s Best Christian Colleges • Best Southeastern Colleges (Princeton Review)

knowledge for the Journey www.andersonuniversity.edu 8

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Anderson University

school than any other private SC university. If you are interested in cancer research, you can do it as an undergrad in Anderson’s cancer research center.

I

f you are looking for a great education in a beautiful setting on one of the most warm and friendly campuses anywhere, Anderson is for you.

One of the most rapidly emerging private universities in The South, AU is ranked in the top tier of southern colleges by U.S. News & World Report, and the #1 “Up and Coming College” of its type in America by the same magazine.

AU offers a rigorous education, combining the best of the liberal arts and professional studies in a warm, caring, Christian environment. The 2,512 students at Anderson enjoy a lively campus atmosphere with constant activities and opportunities to strengthen friendships, not to mention the games of 17 NCAA Division II athletic teams competing in The South Atlantic Conference.

The graphic design program at AU is one of the finest in the nation and two years ago, AU was the only university in America to win three national ADDY awards, including “Best in Show” and has won almost all of the ADDY’s on the local level for the past several years.

AU’s School of Interior Design is one of the most sought after programs, as it is one of the few interior design programs to be found at a private Christian university. It attracts students from every corner of the country as well as several foreign countries. It is also one of several programs at AU that has earned national accreditation.

The nationally accredited College of Business is home to the three-time winning team in the national Sam’s Club Environmental Sustainability Challenge as well as one of the most decorated S.I.F.E (students in free enterprise) teams in the country.

For those looking to go back to college, AU offers the ACCEL program for completing your degree in a variety of fields in less time with more personal attention. Our graduate program offers Master’s degrees in Education, Business and Ministry.

AU’s College of Visual and Performing Arts is home to theatre, music, and musical theatre performances that are consistently on par with much larger universities, and the College of Christian Studies features one of America’s most innovative programs in ministry with instruction from the countries most popular authors and preachers.

For students interested in The Sciences, Anderson is a perfect choice for getting an education and entrance into Medical, Dental, Veterinary, Pharmacy or graduate school.

Anderson graduates comprise a higher number of students in the USC Pharmacy

Schedule a visit today. You’ll fall in love with AU.

Anderson University features all of these highly ranked academic programs on one of the South’s most scenic campuses with 100-yearold oak trees shading beautiful lawns near gorgeous Old South architecture.

GLADYOUASKED WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL? AU offers highly ranked academics in a genuine Christian atmosphere, so students who are serious about their academics and their faith don’t have to choose between the two when selecting a college.

WHAT COULD BE EVEN BETTER? We always feel we can expand our program offerings and do so each year. We began offering doctoral degrees this fall and a planned School of Nursing is currently under construction.

WHAT IS HOUSING LIKE? With our 11 residence halls, including two just built last year, there is a wide variety of living options from apartment-style to suites, as well as traditional residence hall settings.

WHAT ARE THE BEST HANGOUTS (ON AND OFF CAMPUS)?

On campus, students can be found hanging out in Java City, a hip coffee and dessert venue in the new Thrift Library.

Also – Food for Thought, a stylish new restaurant featuring gourmet pizza and hot Italian sandwiches. Students also flock to the emerging Anderson downtown district.

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST POPULAR CLASSES? When it comes to elective classes, the Fine Arts 200 class which combines music, theatre, and art appreciation into a lively semester class; in business, the marketing classes under Dr. Joe Spencer are cited as entertaining and challenging; the new musical theatre classes; and the most popular majors are education, business, interior design, science and Christian studies.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE STUDENT/PROFESSOR RATIO? The low ratio at AU has always been a strength of the university. It varies between 14:1 and 16:1.

WHAT SPECIAL ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS? Apply early. AU is a hot commodity in higher education and freshman classes are filling up faster than ever before. We’ve grown nearly 68% over the past 7 years.

Be sure to visit the campus whether you know us well or not. 77% of the students who visit AU enroll here.

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Helpful Websites for the College Search and Application Process

www.fafsa.ed.gov The website for all information about Federal Financial Aid – a must for anyone planning to apply for financial aid.

www.finaid.org

www.collegeboard/com and www.actstudent.org Two biggies you can’t do without. They are gateways to registering for the SAT and ACT as well as good sites for test prep information. The College Board also houses the PROFILE financial aid application, required by some colleges. Both sites have great college search engines that allow you to search for colleges based on criteria you provide.

http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator This website has a great deal of factual information about colleges, including costs and financial aid, admissions statistics, and diversity and graduation rates.

http://nsse.iub.edu Visit the Student/Parent information section of the National Survey for Student Engagement (NSSE). Gather information regarding surveys on college experiences and outcomes.

www.educationalconservancy.org This website focuses on what the college admission process should look like.

Excellent advice for parents and students.

This site provides important information about financial aid and scholarships.

http://eligibilitycenter.org This is the site of the NCAA Clearinghouse. All future college athletes must visit this site to learn the regulations and processes regarding athletic recruiting, including rules for eligibility.

www.che.sc.gov/scholar This site is designed to ease the application process to multiple South Carolina schools.

www.commonapp.org and www.universalcollegeapp.org The Common Application is used by more than 400 colleges and universities nationwide, helping students and schools streamline the application process.

The Universal Application is similar.

www.fairtest.org This site is dedicated to helping make the testing process for college admission fair and equitable. Here you will find a list of all “test optional” colleges.

FURMAN UNIVERSITY

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USC Upstate turns your options into opportunities whether you are just starting college, transferring from technical college, or returning to learn.

www.uscupstate.edu • (864) 503-5000 C O L L E G E

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College Loans Still Good Option

by Forrest M. Stuart, Associate Vice President for Financial Aid, Furman University The college-going rate is higher than in the past, but so is the price. The cost of college does mean that many families will have to go into some debt in order to pay for higher education. But think about why college is a better investment than just about anything else, including your house.

Cars, boats and furniture are financed over time, and we all know that as soon as you drive or sail away or plop in that recliner, these consumer

goods lose a hefty portion of their value. And when you borrow to take a vacation, the loan payments live on long after you’ve returned from the beach and are back at work.

On the other hand, homes and college degrees appreciate in value as years go by. Many financial planning professionals advise that home equity loans to finance improvements are considered sound investments because they usually bring a higher return on resale.

So, if going into debt to purchase or upgrade a house is seen as a prudent investment,

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See BMCprograms.info for program duration, tuition, fees and other costs, median debt, federal salary data, alumni success, programmatic accreditation and other important info. © 2011 Brown Mackie College 2661 Accredited Member, ACICS Licensed by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (1122 Lady Street, Suite 300, Columbia, South Carolina 29201).

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why do so many families hesitate to incur debt to finance a college education?

Furthermore, why would families borrow for cars, boats, and vacations when these items will never bring a nice return on investment? There is plenty of evidence that the payback on a college (JS) AD PROOF: degree may outstrip even the returns realized from investing in real estate. Baum, Ma, and Payea (2010) reported, bachelor’s degree recipients earn 73% more than those with a high school diploma over their lifetimes, and the Census Bureau estimates that those with college degrees earn approximately $1 million more over the college graduate’s working years, not taking into account inflation (p. 4). >>

Further, the research suggested that college degrees provide more than personal gain.

Society benefits, too. Adults with higher levels of education are more involved citizens.

Voting rates of those with bachelor’s degrees were higher than those with high school diplomas. Those with a college education led healthier lives and engaged in educational activities at higher rates with their children (Baum, et al., 2010).

If the numbers above are not impressive enough, think about the impact on your grandchildren. Your children’s children have a much higher probability of going to college if your children

earn degrees themselves.

This has been supported by research, particularly that in which sociologists studied the impact of parental educational attainment on the likelihood of children pursuing postsecondary education.

Simply put, the course of history can be changed by a child graduating from college.

Here’s the bottom line for those worried about borrowing to help finance a college education. The national average loan indebtedness of four-year college graduates is approximately $24,000, about the price of a new car (Cheng & Reed, 2010). At 6.8% interest, the current interest rate for the Federal Direct Unsubsidized

Loan, the monthly payment over 10 years is $280.

Contrast that with the 2002 U.S. average non-education, nonhousing monthly debt payment of $1,070, which includes credit card and automobile loans (Baum & Schwartz, 2006).Which kind of debt would you choose, based on the sound advice that if you take on some debt, borrow for appreciating assets rather than depreciating items?

Forrest M. Stuart, associate vice president for financial aid at Furman University, has worked in higher education for 22 years and is pursuing a Ph.D. in Education Leadership at Clemson University.

References Baum, S., Ma, J, and Payea, K. (2010). Education Pays 2010: The benefits of higher education for individuals and society. Retrieved from The College Board website: http://trends.collegeboard.org/ downloads/Education_Pays_2010.pdf Baum, S. and Schwartz, S. (2006). How much debt is too much? Defining benchmarks for manageable student debt. Retrieved from The College Board website: http://professionals.collegeboard. com/profdownload/pdf/06-0869.

DebtPpr060420.pdf Cheng, D. and Reed, M. (2010).

Student debt and the class of 2009. Institute for College Access & Success. Retrieved from http:// search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?dir ect=true&db=eric&AN=ED515403& site=ehost-live

Your future...our focus

C o l l e g e Pr e p : Pr i m e r ( K ) - 1 2 t h G r a d e

C h r i s t C h u r ch E p i s co pa l S ch o o l w w w. c c e s . o r g 8 6 4 . 3 3 1 . 4 2 2 3

Christ Church Episcopal School does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, creed, religion, national or ethnic origin, in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship programs, financial aid or other programs, or other school-administered programs and activities.

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Make the Most of Your Campus Visits High school students overwhelmingly agree how important it is to visit schools before completing an admissions application. College websites are very useful; however, very few people would buy a car or even a pair of jeans without first test driving or checking out the fit.

When choosing a college, you should be sure the college fits your criteria. Visiting schools during the college selection search can help you to focus on possible schools. You may find that deciding on the college for you is not as difficult a process as you may have imagined.

Visiting schools can help you begin to make some choices: size of the student body; academic programs; location; admission requirements; cost; etc. As you narrow your choices, your visits become more important and more attention can be given to specifics.

There is no ‘best time’ to visit a college. During the summer months you may have more time available, and admissions representatives are usually available to meet with you. On the other hand, campuses,

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especially small ones, can seem very empty when students are gone and there are no classes to attend.

You cannot overestimate the difference of having students on campus opposed to visiting a school on break.

A good plan would be to do preliminary ‘runs’ during summer or school vacations, and if possible, follow-up visits to first choices later. Weekends are like summers: the campus is usually asleep until noon, but there are usually Saturday office hours for prospective students who cannot come at other times. One should avoid visiting on party weekends such as homecoming.

An effective college visit should include a campus tour, a group information session, and a meal in the cafeteria. Seniors are also encouraged to sit in on classes and sleep overnight in a student residence hall, if permissible.

Group information sessions are usually conducted by a member of the admissions office and provide an opportunity to learn more about the school; they last about an hour. It is advised to call ahead to verify the schedule.

Sessions address such areas as academic opportunities, social life, housing, student support services, security, financial aid, and admission requirements.

Students should come prepared to listen and to ask questions during these informative sessions.

Campus tours are usually offered throughout the year. It is always best to call the admissions office prior to your visit to verify times.

Most tours are conducted by students who volunteer their time. Tours usually last anywhere from sixty to ninety minutes; the average length is one hour. Wear comfortable walking shoes, and don’t hesitate to ask the guide questions. If there is a specific building or department that you want to visit, ask the guide if it can be included on the tour. If the tour group is too large, or if time does not permit, it may not be possible to meet your request.

You may want to allow extra time to investigate further on your own after the tour. >>

RESIDENCE HALLS This is where you may spend the majority of your time while at college. See where students live in relation to classrooms, the student center, the library, the athletic center, etc. Are the residence halls/apartments within walking distance or will you need a car, bike, or bus to get to the main part of campus? Ask if housing is guaranteed, and what types of housing options are available. Guides can sometimes show their own room or friends’ rooms, or there may be a sample room available for showing. For students who stay overnight, some admissions officers suggest that you observe what happens after 10:30 pm – noise, alcohol, etc.

CLASSROOMS, SCIENCE AND COMPUTER LABS Visiting different academic buildings can give you a sense of the average class size. Are the rooms you see mostly lecture halls with hundreds of seats, or do the rooms accommodate small numbers of students for seminar style classes? Visiting science and computer labs will allow you to see what type of equipment the school has, and whether it is well maintained, available for undergraduate use, and supervised by knowledgeable staff to provide assistance to students when needed.

STUDENT CENTER Is there a building on campus where students can cash checks, receive letters or care packages from home, or purchase books and munchies? Are the student activities offices located in the center? Does the center have meeting rooms, game rooms, and lounges? Is the center well maintained? Visiting the

student center can allow casual conversation with students.

Review bulletin boards, student announcements, graffiti - these can tell you a lot. Pick up a recent college newspaper and look for discussions concerning safety, student life, etc. Many centers also contain the college bookstore.

No visit can be complete without picking up a tee-shirt, cap, or sweats!

LIBRARY How large is the library in terms of physical size and holdings? Are there rooms to meet with other students, and quiet places to get away from roommates and other distractions? Does the library cooperate with other libraries to obtain books that they do not have? Is there more than one library on campus? Also check the hours of operation.

ATHLETIC FACILITIES Besides knowing where the football, basketball, or swimming teams play, find out if there are athletic facilities available for nonteam students. What are the hours of operation? That weight room, basketball arena, or ice rink may look inviting, but may be open only for varsity teams.

CAFETERIA Plan to have at least one meal on campus during your stay. Since many schools require students to participate in a meal plan, it would be smart to try the cuisine.

It probably won’t be as good as mom’s, but it may come close!

Some meal plans offer various options at every meal, ranging from a choice of entrees, deli and grills, yogurt, ice cream, salad and fruit bars. National companies such as Subway, Pizza Hut, and McDonalds operate on college campuses. Ask if students are required to be on a meal plan, and how many meals per week are included. Many schools allow

students to eat in different facilities on campus.

Having a meal on campus gives you a perfect opportunity to talk with students. Don’t be afraid to speak with them while waiting in line to be served; even better, share a table with them. Ask students what they like most and least about their school, why they chose this school, what types of clubs and activities they are involved with, and to what other schools they applied. Most students welcome the opportunity to speak with others about their experience.

SPECIFIC DEPARTMENTS AND FACILITIES It is not always possible to include every building on the tour. If this is the case, ask the guide to point out the places that you want to visit on your own. A conversation with a professor, especially in your field of interest, can be worthwhile. Sometimes it is best to call ahead for an appointment with a professor or department chairperson.

One final piece of advice is to write down your impressions of your visit while they are new.

Many students said that the colleges began to blur after they visited a few. Record your thoughts while they are fresh.

Robert Rummerfield is Director of COLLEGE VISITS, which organizes college tours for college-bound high school students. Rummerfield was previously an admissions representative at The Johns Hopkins University. For more information, contact COLLEGE VISITS, 215 East Bay St., Suite 401, Charleston, SC 29401, 800-944-2798, or 803-8538149, email: info@college-visits.com. or online at www.college-visits.com

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Net Price Calculators Can Help Students Find Affordable Colleges

by Bill Smith, Director of product and business development for Student Aid Services

At a minimum, these calculators disclose – with varying accuracy – a student’s estimated net price, which is the difference between a school’s sticker price (the sum of tuition, fees, room and board, books, supplies, transportation, and other personal expenses) and merit and need-based grants (aid that doesn’t need to be repaid).

point average, class rank, and standardized test scores.

Some of the most accurate customized calculators ask 30 to 40 questions and take 8 to 12 minutes to use.

While knowing net price is A federal mandate requires helpful, all post-secondary institutions, It’s just as students which receive federal student aid important that and families For the first time, funds and enroll first-time, fullNPC users typically want prospective time undergraduate students, to remember that to know how post a net price calculator (NPC) the accuracy they will pay college students on their Web sites by October of net price for college. and their families 29th. estimates also Sophisticated can begin college depends on To users, net price calculators calculators Nationally-recognized the accuracy are a set of specific questions can estimate a planning with college-planning expert Lynn of a student’s about a family’s financial student’s outO’Shaughnessy, author of personalized answers. situation, including income of-pocket costs The College Solution, calls estimates of how Students must and dependency status, to by presenting NPCs “revolutionary” because answer NPC assess eligibility for need-based the full array much financial they provide each family “a questions grants and scholarships. Some of options reasonable idea of what a aid to expect from correctly to get NPCs also consider academic in addition college will cost.” colleges before an accurate net merit criteria, such as grade to grant aid price estimate. from a college actually applying. or federal So far, about and state 1,000 postLIMESTONE governments. secondary LIMESTONE These typically include workCOLLEGE institutions, including LIMESTONE LIMESTONE study programs, federal student COLLEGE Presbyterian College in Clinton, COLLEGE loans, scholarships from the COLLEGE LIMESTONE S.C., have posted custom school, Post-9/11 GI Bill and COLLEGE calculators developed by Yellow Ribbon benefits, and selfvendors specializing in NPC financing from savings or current technology. (Other South LIMESTONE income.

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Once an NPC’s questions are answered, the technology generates an estimate of how much that school will cost that student.

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the more accurate its student aid and net price estimates are.

custom NPCs are Erskine College, Wofford College, and The College of Charleston.) A few colleges, such as Princeton University, have developed their NPC technology internally.

Other institutions have posted NPCs based on the free federal calculator template, which is error prone because it asks far fewer questions, uses needbased information to determine merit aid, and is based on twoyear-old historical data.

A 2010 study of 145,000 student profiles by Student Aid Services, >> Inc., the nation’s leading provider

Minimum NPD Output Tuition and Fees

+

Room and Board

+

Books and Supplies

+

Travel and Personal Total Cost of Attendance Merit-Based Aid

+

Need-Based Aid

– Total Grant Aid = Estimated Net Price

of net price calculators, showed aid eligibility and net price estimates from an NPC based on the federal calculator template are inaccurate more than 50% of the time.

Providing Contact Information Shows Interest Providing schools a student’s contact information is optional on net price calculators. Most NPCs offer registration that asks for a student’s name, address, and email address.

Colleges compete for students.

They want to identify students who are good fits. Some colleges prefer to offer admission to students who they know are

interested. Submitting contact information directly to a college through its NPC communicates interest.

Student Aid Services’ NPC clients are already finding that prospective students who complete the institution’s net price calculator are ‘better prospects’ for their schools. By completing a college’s NPC and providing contact information, a student is showing interest in a college, which the college may view favorably when deciding admittance.

By starting college planning using a net price calculator, students and families will gain insight into which schools will be

most affordable for them before preparing college applications.

One promise of NPCs is that they will encourage more students to apply to colleges because early on they will have identified colleges likely to offer them aid.

Finding colleges to apply to that fit the family budget can help students and their families avoid overburdening themselves with education debt.

The minimum output for an NPC is defined by law. It includes the itemized cost of attendance (the “sticker price”) less merit and need-based grant aid (aid that does not need to be repaid). The difference between them is the net price.

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October 7, November 4, November 18, February 3, February 17, March 23, April 13 for more information, visit http://web.usca.edu/admissions/

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LIFE and Palmetto Fellowship Scholarships

LIFE Scholarship

Up to the cost-of-attendance, not to exceed $4,700, plus a $300 book allowance at four-year public and independent colleges in SC; up to the cost-of-tuition at USC Regional campuses plus a $300 book allowance at two-year Public and Independent; and up to the cost-oftuition plus a $300 book allowance at regional technical colleges. The LIFE Enhancement for majors in specific math/sciences is an additional $2,500 beginning in the sophomore year.

Eligibility Requirements for LIFE (2 out of 3 of following): 1. Earn a cumulative 3.0 grade point average (GPA) based on the SC Uniform Grading Policy (UGP) upon high school graduation (cannot be rounded.)

2. Score an 1100 on the SAT or an equivalent 24 on the ACT taken through the June national test administration of the high school graduation year; based on the highest SAT Reading and Math scores from different test administrations. The ACT composite score must be at one test sitting.

3. Rank in the top 30% of the graduating class based on all students who received their diploma during the traditional graduation ceremony in May/June.

The Palmetto Fellow Scholarship

The annual award amount for the freshman year is up to $6,700. The award amount for the sophomore, junior and senior years is up to $7,500 per year.

Deadlines & Eligibility Requirements: For early awards, apply by December 15, 2009; For final awards, by June 15, 2010.

High school seniors may apply if they meet one of the following sets of academic requirements: 1. Score at least 1200 on the SAT (27 on the ACT) by the June national test administration of the senior year; 2. Earn a minimum 3.50 cumulative GPA on the SC UGP at the end of the senior year; and, 3. Rank in the top six percent of the class at the end of the sophomore, junior or senior year; — OR 4. Score at least 1400 on the SAT (32 on the ACT) by the June test administration and earn a minimum 4.00 cumulative GPA on the SC UGP at the end of the senior year.

*Note: For entering freshmen at an eligible two-year or technical institution only a 3.0 GPA is required – nos. 2 & 3 above are waived.

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Erskine College

past several years nearly 100% of all graduates applying to medical graduate programs were accepted. Erskine alumni lead businesses and organizations both large and small throughout the world.

E

rskine College is a place where you can know and be known.

Erskine’s tradition of excellence in liberal arts higher education goes back nearly 175 years to its founding in 1839 by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, making it one of the oldest, most respected church-affiliated colleges in the Southeast.

Erskine is also small by design. The student body is just under 600. Nearly all students live on the stately 95-acre campus in the town of Due West in historic Abbeville County, South Carolina. With a population of 1,200, it’s a quiet college town, perfect for study.

This combination of excellent academics and close-knit community means your experience will be uniquely yours. Any of Erskine’s two dozen degree programs can be customized by working with Erskine faculty to create an appropriate course of study that suits your personal and career interests.

You’ll be taught by excellent professors (not graduate students), and Erskine faculty members get to know you outside the classroom. They become mentors, taking a personal interest your success in both life and learning.

More than half of Erskine graduates go on to some type of graduate education. In fact, in the

GLADYOUASKED WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL? The combination of excellent academics and a close-knit, vibrant community in an authentically Christian setting.

But we produce more than simply competent professionals. We seek to equip the whole person — intellectually, physically and spiritually — to flourish in life and leadership.

WHAT IS HOUSING LIKE? Our six residence halls are clustered into two residential areas. Both men’s and women’s dorms are equipped with high-speed wireless internet and function like large, comfortable homes.

Erskine’s close-knit academic community helps students focus on what’s really important.

More than a great college experience, it’s a place to begin pursuing a lifelong calling. A smaller residential campus means you can’t fake it. Quality is revealed and weaknesses are strengthened. Character is refined through intentional, individual relationships.

WHAT ARE THE BEST HANGOUTS? The best hangout on campus is Watkins Student Center, which includes Snappers, a grill and rec area with pool and ping-pong, a large study area and TV lounge, and Java City. You also have access to 95 beautiful acres of tree-lined campus.

Erskine offers an unparalleled education that is surprisingly affordable. Over 90% of our students receive some form of financial assistance from federal, state and institutional aid sources. The college offers a variety of scholarship opportunities that recognize students’ academic abilities, athletic talents, or honor their dedication to the performing arts, community service, and more.

WHAT ARE YOUR MOST POPULAR CLASSES? In addition to our core liberal arts curriculum, our Winter Term in January (“J-Term”) allows for concentrated study in a wide variety of fields or interests. Semester-long study abroad opportunities are also popular. Erskine’s most popular majors are Biology, Education and Business Administration.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE STUDENT/PROFESSOR RATIO? Erskine’s student-professor ratio is12:1 and classes are capped at 25. This enables students and professors to move beyond lecturing to engage discussions both during and after classes. Personal relationships with professors and small group projects are some of the major advantages of small class size.

Erskine competes in intercollegiate athletics as a member of the NCAA Division II and Conference Carolinas. The college fields 15 teams: men’s and women’s basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, and volleyball; women’s softball and lacrosse; and men’s baseball.

WHAT ARE THE STEREOTYPES ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL AND ARE THEY TRUE OR FALSE? People often confuse our rural setting with being “in the middle of nowhere” where there’s nothing to do. The truth is that aside from the hundreds of activities on campus, Erskine is just 20 minutes from almost anything you need, a couple of hours from two of the largest cities in the Southeast, and three hours from the beach.

Erskine College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

WHAT SPECIAL ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS? It’s important to understand what kind of environment you want to learn and grow in. If you want to be challenged academically and be part of a close-knit academic community, not just go to college, Erskine might be a good fit.

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Test Optional Admissions In the summer of 2008, Wake Forest became the first top 30 national university to become test optional in undergraduate admissions, publicly recognizing that years of achievement should not be negated by one Saturday morning.

O

ur decision, based on research suggesting that standardized tests are not valuable predictors of college success was also influenced by studies indicating that performance on the SAT and ACT is closely linked to race, family income and parental educational level. By removing a required standardized test, Wake Forest

broadened the definition of academic merit, encouraging applications from highachieving students from a wide expanse of background and viewpoint who may have seen the test score as their single impediment to selective college admission.

For the past three years, we have been delighted by the response from outstanding high school

students who are drawn philosophically to an admissions selection process which includes a personal interview, a creative and thought- provoking application and an emphasis on intellectual curiosity and character. Our student body is now not only more racially and socioeconomically diverse than ever, the number graduating in the top 10% of their high school classes has increased each year since we became test optional.

With these changes, our admissions selection process has become decidedly more labor intensive. We carefully examine curriculum, rewarding students who have pursued the most challenging courses that are available, especially the International Baccalaureate Diploma and

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the Advanced Placement Program. The admissions application is more writing intensive for the Wake Forest applicant thus; it is more reading intensive for the Wake Forest admissions officer.

Thirty- minute personal interviews, conducted on our campus or remotely via Skype, consume hundreds of hours of admissions staff time, June through December. From December through March, during our long admissions committee deliberations, there exists no SAT cutoff to sort applications, no standardized test crutch to speed along the deliberation. Each applicant is evaluated as a multifaceted individual and each application is scrutinized.

Even though we are test optional, most of our applicants continue to submit high standardized test scores.

Many fine students are also excellent test takers. SATs, ACTs, SAT II Subject Tests, AP exam scores, and IB scores are considered in the >>

evaluation process if they are submitted. It is however, for the student who is at the top of her class, who has excelled in the most demanding curriculum in her high school, who is talented and hard- working but whose standardized test scores do not reflect her excellence that test optional is designed.

Wake Forest is not alone.

According to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing (www.fairtest.org) more than 850 four- year institutions in the United States now have flexible standardized test policies. At the urging

of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling, universities and colleges throughout the country are examining their test policies and determining how they fit with institutional mission and goals. National conferences such as “Rethinking Admissions” held on the Wake Forest campus and “The Case for Change in College Admissions” at the University of Southern California are contributing to a growing national conversation on the democracy of access to higher education, the future of college

admissions and the role of standardized testing.

greater educational quality and opportunity.”

Shortly after Wake Forest announced its decision to become test optional, President Nathan O. Hatch in a guest column in The Washington Post stated, “Our decision to reevaluate our admissions policy grew out of a close look at the state of higher education and some long, hard thinking about the kind of university we want Wake Forest to be… This step away from standardized tests will help us and other institutions of higher education move closer to the goals of

We at Wake Forest are pleased to be in the midst of this national conversation and the effort to “rethink admissions.”

C O L L E G E

Martha Blevins Allman is Dean of Admissions at Wake Forest University and a contributor to the recently released SAT Wars: The Case for Test Optional College Admissions edited by Joseph A. Soares

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SAT or ACT: Which test should you take?

To help you zero in on the right exam, here are seven key differences:

reading and reasoning skills, based upon a given set of facts.

But if you’re a true science-phobe, the SAT might be a better fit.

ACT questions tend to be more straightforward.

ACT questions are often easier to understand on a first read.

On the SAT, you may need to spend time figuring out what you’re being asked before you can start solving the problem.

For example, here are sample questions from the SAT essay and the ACT Writing Test (their name for the essay):

The ACT tests more advanced math concepts.

The ACT requires you to know a little trigonometry, in addition to the algebra and geometry you’ll find on the SAT. That said, the ACT Math section is not necessarily harder, since many students find the questions to be more straightforward than those on the SAT.

SAT: What is your view of the claim that something unsuccessful can still have some value?

The ACT Writing Test is not required.

The 25-minute SAT essay is required, and is factored into your Writing score. The 30-minute ACT Writing Test is optional. If you choose to take it, it is not included in your composite score— schools will see it listed separately.

ACT: In your view, should high schools become more tolerant of cheating?

The SAT has a stronger emphasis on vocabulary.

If you’re an ardent wordsmith, you’ll love the SAT. If words aren’t your thing, you may do better on the ACT. The ACT has a Science section, while the SAT does not.

You don’t need to know anything about amoebas or chemical reactions for the ACT Science section. It is meant to test your

The SAT is broken up into more sections.

On the ACT, you tackle each content area (English, Math, Reading, and Science Reasoning) in one big chunk, with the optional Writing Test at the end. On the SAT, the content areas (Critical Reading, Math, and Writing) are broken up into ten sections, with the required essay at the beginning. >>

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You do a little math, a little writing, a little critical reading, a little more math, etc. Will it distract or refresh you to move back and forth between different content areas?

Our ACT or SAT? book has additional information about both tests (including plenty of practice questions), as well as a complete assessment exam to help you make the right choice.

The ACT is more of a “big picture” exam.

College admissions officers care about how you did on each section of the SAT. On the ACT, they’re most concerned with your composite score. So if you’re weak in one content area but strong in others, you could still end up with a very good ACT score.

It’s all about the numbers. Some students end up scoring substantially higher on the SAT; others do better on the ACT.

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College Admission

for the Student-Athlete

by Mr. Brand R. Stille, Vice President for Enrollment at Wofford College Choosing a college is a big decision. For most high school seniors, this choice is the biggest decision they’ll make at this stage of their life. For those who plan to play sports in college this decision can be more complicated because there are more factors to consider. Timelines can be influenced by signing dates that don’t match admission or application deadlines.

Coaches may call with new opportunities at any time and they can apply pressure on students to commit. This is why studentathletes need to get organized, get to work and get moving on their college decision.

Get Organized Armin Kinigadner arrived in Greenville with his family from Munich, Germany in 2005.

He enrolled at Christ Church Episcopal School. He had experienced much success in soccer in his home country so he was a welcome addition to an outstanding Christ Church team that had accumulated several state championships already. During his senior year Armin was an All-State selection and his team notched another state championship. He was recruited by 20 colleges, but was able to focus on his top five choices because he knew what factors were most important to him.

Academic reputation was Armin’s number one concern. Beyond that, he wanted a close knit campus environment with a low student to faculty ratio. Athletic facilities, the coach and the social atmosphere all played a part in his college decision, too.

So, what advice would Armin give a high school student-athlete looking for a college?

“Academics should always come first,” Armin advises. “Don’t make your college decision based on athletics alone. Athletic success isn’t worth much if you don’t get a good education or feel like you fit at an institution.”

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There are many factors to consider when choosing a college. The most common include distance from home, academic reputation, student body size, course offerings, cost, financial aid and scholarships. For every student it is important to find a college that is a good fit.

To find a good fit, you need to know what factors are most important to you.

Get to Work Rachel Woodlee moved to Mauldin with her family from New Hampshire in the summer before her 9th grade year. At 14 years old she was already 6’1” tall and a high school coach’s dream. Tall, agile and smart, she played both basketball and volleyball before deciding to devote her full attention to volleyball. As a senior captain of the Mauldin High School team and an All-State selection that year, Rachel was recruited by more than 25 colleges ranging from NCAA Division I to Division III schools.

Her choices seemed endless, but what was most important to Rachel in selecting a college? “My dad always told me that you play college sports for four years, but you’ll have that diploma for the rest of your life! I really looked for institutions that were strong academically and had good programs in the majors I was interested in, as well as a place that had a good feel around campus,” she said.

and your search. For example, if academic reputation is an important factor for you, check out the faculty in the majors you’re considering and a profile of the freshmen to see how you compare to competition in the classroom.

In addition, learn more about the athletic programs. Is this college a member of the NCAA? What Division? What conference?

Which schools do they play? Where do their athletes come from? How long has the coach been there? What’s their record?

Most college websites include athletic questionnaires that you can complete and send to a coach. This is a good way to let a coach know you’re interested. Coaches are limited as to when and how often they can contact prospective students so you may not hear from the coach right away.

Also, some coaches are inundated with YouTube highlights, athletic vitas and questionnaires. Target your college search appropriately. If you’re second string on your high school football team don’t expect Coach Spurrier or Coach Swinney to come calling anytime soon.

Get Moving Ryan Hurst’s senior season was what every high school athlete dreams about.

He captained his J. L. Mann team to the state championship and was named the AAA State Player of the Year. Nine colleges courted Ryan and offered scholarships for soccer. No doubt about it, soccer had opened some college doors, but here’s what he has to say about his college decision.

“Sports won’t last forever. If you get injured it could To learn more about academic programs be career ending so and campus life, Rachel spent lots of academics is key. time on college websites and with college Make sure you guides. She visited many colleges with choose a school her family before the recruiting process that you will enjoy. officially started in her senior year. By this If a school fits your time she had reduced her list to her top academic and social goals, four. She didn’t wait to see which colleges then look at the athletics. Does might recruit her. She determined what her the team play the way you are goals where and set out to find the college comfortable playing? Do you that was the best match. like the coach? Can College guides, rankings and websites you play at that are the most common places to start level, or will your college search. You can learn about you sit the admission requirements and majors bench? There offered, as well as your favorite sport. Use are many factors a your list of priorities to guide your questions student-athlete must T Y C O L L E G E FA I R 2 0 1 1

look at when choosing a school. Always remember, student comes before athlete.”

The best way to learn about a particular college is to visit campus. When you visit, be sure to take part in the regular admission presentation and campus tour.

Don’t rely on a coach to arrange your entire campus visit. When making arrangements with the Admission Office request to meet with a coach while on campus.

When you meet with the coach here are some questions to ask: What’s the graduation rate of the team? How do you balance academics and athletics?

What academic support services does the college offer? How do you support and encourage the academic interests of your players? How much time is required for athletics in season and out of season? What are my chances of getting a scholarship? What are my prospects for playing time?

For DI, DII and DIII schools, student-athletes are allowed to visit a college as often as they choose. This type of visit, initiated and paid for by the student, is an “unofficial” visit. An unofficial visit can include a meeting with a coach.

An “official” visit is one in which a DI or DII college invites the prospective studentathlete to campus and pays for any part of the experience. The NCAA limits the number of official visits a student can take to five. Expenses covered for official visits may include airfare, reimbursement >>

for mileage, hotel accommodations and meals. Because student-athletes are allowed only five official visits, it is important to use these wisely.

FIRST THINGS FIRST The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is the largest and most recognized organization of its type with the large majority of colleges and universities as Most official visits include an overnight stay members. The NCAA includes Divisions I, on campus with a member of the team, a II and III. Colleges choose the division that class visit and a meeting with the coach. It suits them best. The difference between is customary during an official visit for the these divisions is the number of sports coach to make an offer of a scholarship and scholarships offered by participating (full or partial) at the end of the visit. Once schools. Generally speaking, Division an offer is made the coach will usually I schools (Clemson, USC, Furman and request a verbal commitment from the Wofford for example) offer more sports student. According to the NCAA, a verbal and more scholarships. Members of NCAA commitment is meaningless. However, Division II offer fewer sports and fewer you’re only as good as your word. Don’t scholarships (North Greenville, Erskine and Converse). NCAA Division III members do get pressured into making a decision not offer athletic scholarships (Emory and you’re not ready to make. If you’re invited to an official campus visit at the college’s Rhodes, for example). expense, be prepared to respond to the Every student athlete who plans to coach’s offer. It is perfectly acceptable to participate in athletics at an NCAA ask for more time or to explain that you member institution must register with need to visit more colleges. However, a the NCAA Eligibility Center by visiting coach may not be willing to offer as much www.NCAAEligibilityCenter.org no time as you might like. earlier than the end of their junior year of high school. Student-athletes submit Most coaches expect a student to take standardized test scores (SAT or ACT) some time in making this decision. through test agencies (by entering code However, coaches usually put time limits 9999 in the Score Reporting section of on an offer of scholarship. If you’re not the test registration) and request to have ready to commit or are unsure about this their high school guidance counselor college, the coach may feel the need to send their official transcript to the NCAA move on to another prospect. This is why Eligibility Center. Initial eligibility is reviewed it is so important for student-athletes to by the Eligibility Center and, for Division I, begin this process early. You may be invited operates on a sliding scale that considers to an official visit early in your high school GPA in 16 core courses and senior year.

SAT or ACT scores. The higher your GPA, the lower the test score necessary to be eligible and vice versa. For more information about Initial Eligibility, core courses and the sliding scale visit www.NCAA.org.

SIGNING DAY Signing Day is a big event in the life of any high school athlete.

After all, how often do you have the chance to host your own press conference? Signing dates vary by sport and it’s important to know when yours will occur.

For a list of signing dates, by sport, visit www.NCAA.org.

The NCAA allows colleges and studentathletes a period of time to sign a National Letter of Intent to participate in athletics.

This is a binding contract between the college and the student. It usually includes information about the amount of scholarship offered. The large majority of athletic scholarships are partial and do not cover the full cost of attendance.

You should be absolutely certain about what you and your family are expected to pay before signing with a college. As mandated by the NCAA, all letters of intent and athletic scholarships are good for only one year. In addition, all letters of intent are contingent on admission at the college.

THIS IS HOW WE DO IT It is highly unlikely that a student-athlete would sign a National Letter of Intent and not be admitted to a college. The reason this rarely happens is that coaches are very sophisticated in their recruiting practices. By the time a student begins his or her senior year of high school many coaches know who their top prospects are and how likely they are to be admitted to their college. Prior to signing a player,

the coach has reviewed the student’s transcript and forwarded a copy to the admission office for review. Admission offices often review transcripts for prospective student athletes and give the coach a preliminary indication regarding the probability for admission. Official decisions on admission cannot be made until the student-athlete has completed all requirements for admission. The NCAA requires that student-athletes complete the same process for admission required of all students.

This process works best when coaches and admission officers work together in recruiting student-athletes and when the students keep athletics in the proper perspective during their college search.

If you have your priorities for selecting a college organized, you do your homework in researching some college options and then visit the colleges at the top of your list, it is highly likely you’ll have a full and successful college experience. If you get to play sports along the way this can be the icing on your cake.

go.cofc.edu/admissions

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Why You Should Find Yourself in an Honors College

by John H. Newell Dean of the Honors College at the College of Charleston

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s you make the transition from high school to college, many of you should give close and serious consideration to applying to an honors college or honors program at a state college or university. Honors colleges and programs frequently provide you with by far the most bang for the buck – a superb education at a fraction of the price you would pay for comparable opportunities elsewhere. You will graduate with a liberal arts foundation, a range of enhanced experiences, and personalized advising that will enable you to differentiate yourself when you apply for graduate and professional schools, nationally competitive awards, or your first real job. As the Honors Program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill puts it, “Come here, go anywhere!”

that would challenge and engage them in an education that would prepare them for both a career and life-long learning. As Dr. Virginia McCombs, President of the National Collegiate Honors Council, said in 2005, “Honors Programs and Colleges pride themselves in cultivating just the right balance of stimulation and excitement, nurturing and community that allows students to stretch and grow. “ Honors colleges and programs provide a living-learning community within the framework of the larger college or university as well as a network

Honors programs spread widely in the 1950’s and 1960’s as state universities moved to offer special academic opportunities to keep students in state rather than losing them to private schools out of state. It was clear that highly motivated, academically gifted students were looking for colleges 26

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of scholars both students and faculty – who will help you to make the most of your undergraduate education and to discover who you really are – to find yourself and your calling.

One cliché about honors programs and colleges is that they give you the best of both worlds – the best of a midsized to large public university and the best of a small liberal arts college. You will find the range of majors, classes, and extracurricular activities that you would expect at a large or midsized public university, and you will also find the tuition and overall cost to be far lower than

what you will encounter at most private schools. Simultaneously, an honors college or program can provide you with a core group of similarly motivated students, small class sizes, engaged faculty, personalized advising, and the intense intellectual experiences that you would experience at the best small liberal arts college.

In most honors programs and colleges you take only a portion of your classes at the honors level, typically between 20 to 35%; the rest you take in the regular curriculum. >>

Usually your honors classes will be taught by some of the best professors on campus who have been specifically selected to teach that class; those classes will generally be smaller, more seminar style and more discussion oriented than your other college classes. Many, though not all, honors colleges and programs will have at the core of their requirements a strong liberal arts and sciences foundation to prepare you for more than just a job. Most honors colleges and programs will also give you the opportunity to gain practical and in-depth experience in your major or another discipline by participating in an independent study, research, or by writing a senior thesis. You also frequently get added tangible benefits by being in an honors college or program, such as special honors housing, individualized honors advising, honors study areas, and priority registration for classes. Perhaps most importantly, as a graduate of an honors college or program, you are significantly more likely to graduate in four years, to study abroad, to get into the graduate or professional school of your choice, and to win a nationally competitive award.

Let me use my institution- the College of Charleston- as an example of benefits typical in honors colleges and programs.

Students in the Honors College at the College of Charleston have: • Smaller classes with specially selected faculty • Honors classes with other highly motivated students • Special Honors residence halls

in Buist-Rivers and RutledgeRivers • Priority registration • Sense of community in a larger student body (650 Honors students compared to 10,000 College of Charleston undergraduate students) • Experiential learning through internships, research, and involvement in the student’s field • Engagement with the local community through service learning activities • Special advising for all 4 years of college • Cohort of students that stays together for 4 years • Student life activities through the Honors Student Association • Enrichment via Faculty Lecture series and Honors speakers • Assistance in applying for nationally competitive awards • Extremely high success rate in applying to graduate, medical, and law schools In the past 5 years, graduates of the Honors College at the College of Charleston have stayed locally as well as looked internationally for graduate and professional schools. We have students attending law school programs at the University of Maryland, University of Miami, USC-Columbia, Tulane Law, the Charleston School of Law, Duke University, University of California-Davis, University of Mississippi, and the University of Richmond. Our pre-health students from last year are pursuing medical degrees locally at MUSC, at George Washington University, UNC-Chapel Hill, Johns Hopkins University, Georgetown University, and Louisiana State University, as

well as going to dental school, pharmacy school, veterinary school, physical therapy programs, and PA (physician’s assistant) schools across the country and in Charleston.

Additionally, our students are in graduate programs all across the country and beyond, including DePaul University, Duke University, Emory University, George Washington University, Harvard University, New York University, the University of Florida, the University of Georgia, the University of Minnesota, the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Washington, and McGill University.

As cliché as it may sound, a liberal arts education like one that you will receive at the College of Charleston and in many other Honors programs and college doesn’t prepare you for anything; it prepares you for everything. When you get to college, you will select a major and maybe even a double or triple major. That major or majors will prepare you for something specific – graduate or professional school, or a job. However, what is even more important is the liberal arts component of your education that will prepare you for everything. That honors liberal arts education will help you find yourself, your strengths and weaknesses, and your passions. It will prepare you to study abroad, to spend time in the Peace Corps or Teach for America, to change careers.

In short it will prepare you for life-long learning and for life itself. So next year, find yourself in an honors college or honors program.

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A Testing Calendar Every year there are questions from students and parents about which tests to take – SAT and/or ACT – and when to take them and how many times. Though there is no perfect answer, there are some good guidelines to keep in mind to answer these questions.

First, a few facts to keep in mind about the tests and college admission: • All colleges will accept either SAT or ACT equally.

• Almost all colleges will take your best sub-score from all sittings of the SAT and a number will do the same for ACT; this is called “superscoring”.

• SAT Subject Tests (offered for most high school courses) are required by only a handful of the most selective colleges.

Guidelines: • Initially, take one of each test – either a real test or a real practice test – and choose to focus on the one that is best for you. Colleges accept either test equally and will almost always use the score from the test that is the strongest, and they often will “superscore”.

• Plan your testing calendar for your junior and senior year ahead of time – you can get the dates from the testing agency websites.

• Prepare for whichever test is selected, whether it is studying on your own or taking a prep course. Approach each test as if it is going to count; be serious about your preparation and efforts.

This thing counts and you can improve your score!

• Take the test earlier enough in the junior year (DecemberFebruary is best) to allow time to take it again if the first set of scores is not as strong as hoped.

• Take again the senior year. Since most colleges “superscore”, it is a potential advantage to try once more because there is no downside.

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• Complete all testing and make sure to send the scores directly from the testing agency by the deadlines. These deadlines are important to know because some colleges will not accept scores after a certain date.

• Know clearly if the Writing portion is required and/or if SAT Subject tests are required.

Recommended Testing Timeline: Sophomore Year: • Take PSAT (or PLAN) as practice.

• May/June – take SAT Subject Test(s) in those subjects where you have done well and will not take another course in that sequence (i.e. World History).

Junior Year: • Take PSAT, especially if you scored very well in sophomore year) or PLAN • By December-February take your first SAT or ACT “for real” (meaning this one counts).

• April-June – retake SAT/ACT if necessary and/or take SAT Subject Test(s) as above.

Senior Year: • September-December – take SAT/ACT once more; take SAT Subject Test(s) if required by your colleges.

Tips on Writing Your College Application Essay

by Lee Ann Afton, Dean of Admissions & Financial Aid, Sewanee: The University of the South As high school seniors are finalizing their college application lists and completing applications, most find the process fairly straightforward until it is time to write the essay or personal statement. For many students, the essay is the last hurdle and causes more procrastination and bewilderment even for the best writers. The essay is not designed to be a hurdle or block, but it is designed to give students the opportunity to “talk” to college admission counselors and provide more insight into the person beyond the numbers. In addition to getting to know you, the applicant, better, colleges are interested in how you communicate and how clearly you your opportunity to share your thoughts or highlight an accomplishment that is important to you.

To help you get started, here is a list of Do’s and Don’ts:

• Don’t confuse applying online with sending an e-mail. It is important that you’re writing is clear and that you use correct grammar.

• Don’t let careless flaws take away from your essay topic.

We want to notice you, not the grammatical errors or misspelled words.

Remember that the essay is only one part of the application.

While the essay is only one piece of the application process, it is important to know that colleges that require essays or personal statements read these essays.

The essay is a great vehicle for showcasing something that is important to you or about you.

An essay won’t compensate for a weak record, but an essay may sway a decision in a close case. So, be yourself and select a topic that you are comfortable writing about and that is important to you. View the essay as an opportunity to “tell” us more about the person behind the application and the numbers.

. f l e s r u o y Be

Do’s • Be yourself. Use words that are natural to you. Write in your own “voice” and style.

• Find a topic that excites you or that you have a keen interest in – if you bring a genuine interest to your writing, then the admission counselors reading your essay will find it interesting.

• Write about something you know!

• Show your topic – don’t just tell us about it but use vivid examples – describe the scene, the person, use details.

• Use active verbs instead of passive verbs.

• Draft, edit, and re-write. Once you write the final draft, read it aloud and ask yourself if it conveys the topic and message you are trying to convey. Ask a teacher, a parent or a friend to read your essay. It is okay to ask others to provide you feedback.

• Proof, proof and proof again.

Don’ts • Don’t write what you think others want to read.

• Don’t wait until the last minute and send in your first draft.

• Don’t write about broad topics and generalizations.

• Don’t overwrite and pull out the thesaurus to use big words.

• Don’t neglect the technical parts – grammar, spelling and structure.

• Don’t ramble. Say what you want to say, and conclude.

Begin your journey at

Lander University

Your state university with about 3,000 students in Greenwood, S.C.

Visit Lander to learn more: Find Open House schedules or register for a visit at

www.lander.edu/admissions/visit 1-888-4-LANDER | www.lander.edu C O L L E G E

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College Fairs

fill out a registration card (that’s important), tell them you hope they come by your school to visit, and move on.

BIG Advice

Before you hit college campuses for visits, you should do some homework at a local college fair. College visits cost time and money, and you’ll need to make the most of both during your junior year. College fairs help you do that – held in the fall and spring, a fair can have representatives from up to 400 colleges, all eager to talk with to you about their college and your life. Many fairs feature information on choosing and applying to college and financial aid, and most fairs are free.

With so many colleges at a fair, it’s easy to get intimidated – so plan ahead. Take a pen, a highlighter, an unofficial copy of your transcript, and five questions committed to memory that will help you learn more about a college. What you ask is up to you – majors, food, chances for research, cost, social life – just make sure the answers will help you decide if this place is worth a closer look.

At the fair, get a map of where booths of the colleges are located. BEFORE you go onto the floor, highlight the colleges you’re interested in. (This same list might be on the website – even better, since you can research the colleges ahead of time.) Once at the booth, you might have to wait to ask questions – this is good! Use this time to listen to what the representative is saying to other students – since many will likely be discussing general questions, you can use your time to ask more detailed stuff.

Once it’s your turn, get busy! “Hi, my name is (NO student does this, but you should; it shows confidence, and gives the rep the chance to remember you), and I go to Captain Jack High School.” From here, you want to ask your questions; make eye contact as they answer, and don’t rush them.

If you feel you are hitting a good vibe, pull out your transcript and say, “Just one more question. Here’s the courses I’ve taken so far; how does this look for an applicant to your college? Is there anything else that would be important to know?” ABSOLUTELY, POSITIVELY, NOBODY does this at a college fair, which is why you should. Most of the time, you’ll actually get some great advice (or even a scholarship offer), but don’t be surprised if they don’t know what to say – either way, you’ll be remembered by reps in a very positive way. Thank them for their time, 30

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Make quick notes on this college before you visit the next booth. You can use your “waiting time” at the next booth to do this, but write at least something down – you don’t want to confuse your colleges.

If you can do about seven to ten colleges and spend time at an afternoon information session of interest to you, call it a victory with an after-fair pizza. (This is why you bring your parents along – to pay!) You now have solid information on which colleges are road-trip worthy, and solid information about yourself as well – truly a dynamic duo.

Patrick J. O’Connor, PhD., former President of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), is Director of College Counseling at The Roeper School in Detroit, MI. His recent book, College is Yours in 600 Words or Less, is available from OutskirtsPress.com.

Educating Physicians.

Developing Leaders.

T

he Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) has chosen to focus on medically underserved communities in

VCOM FACTS: The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) – Carolinas Campus: ■

Is a four-year osteopathic medical school offering the degree of D.O.

■

Has made VCOM the largest medical school in the south since its addition as a new branch.

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Is a collaborative partner with Wofford College and Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

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Is fully accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

order to fill the gaps of physician shortage in our society. VCOM’s unique real-world approach to medical education better serves our country and positions its graduates toward a successful career in today’s healthcare system. This approach involves recruiting students from rural and medically underserved areas, training students in small communities, and returning physicians to those areas of greatest need.

VCOM serves as an advocate for osteopathic medicine, for rural health and for affordable and accessible healthcare for the medically underserved.

350 Howard Street • Spartanburg, SC 29303 • 864-327-9800 • www.vcom.edu ©2011 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. All rights reserved.

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People TALK about changing the world.

North Greenville University students actually DO. Year-round International Mission Opportunities.

Study Abroad programs.

More than 40 majors.

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see for yourself! sign up for our next encounter day: november 12, 2011

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Distinguish Yourself at NGU admissions@ngu.edu www.ngu.edu

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10/10/11 6:36:58 PM