WCA Her Guide to America's Best Colleges 2016 Media Kit

Her Guide to

T S E B S ’ A C I R E M A

MEDIA KIT

2 s e g e l l o C 0 1 6 1 7

A STEP-BYSTEP GUIDE to chart your course for success!

THE BEST ADVICE

to help your application stand out.

TOP SCHOOLS

ranked by criteria women value most!

welcome

The Only College Guide for Women, by Women Delia Passi

cccccccccc cccccccccc cccccccccc c cHer c c Guide c c c cto cc ccc ccccccc America’s cccccccccc cBest c c cColleges c c c c cisc c ac trusted c c c c guide cccc cccccccccc inchelping ccc cccccc c college-bound ccccccccc cccccccccc cwomen c c c cmake c c c the cc cccccccccc decision that’s cccccccccc cc c cfor c cthem. cccc best cccccccccc

NOTE: Pages included in this media kit are samples. They are provided to display available advertising options only.

H

er Guide to America’s Best Colleges is the only comprehensive survey of higher-learning options compiled exclusively for women, using a ranking system based on criteria that women identify as most important to them.

Safety, in particular, is an important concern that the women we surveyed consistently ranked as a high priority in their college search. For this reason, Her Guide to America’s Best Colleges is the only college guide that considers a school’s safety history in addition to other important criteria such as reputation, student to faculty ratio, graduation rates, and quality education programs.

More than a collection of rankings and statistics, Her Guide to America’s Best Colleges also offers editorial insight and practical advice to serve as a trusted guide in helping college-bound women—and by extension their parents, guardians and counselors—arrive at the school choice that best meets their individual needs and priorities.

Those colleges and universities that ranked in the top 300 are distinguished with the Women’s Choice Award®, an extraordinary accolade that is highly regarded by women. Women’s Choice Award colleges and universities can take advantage of that distinction with a custom profile in the College Guide to highlight the accomplishment and how the school meets her needs for a higher education.

Best Wishes,

Delia Passi Editor-in-Chief Founder, Women’s Choice Award®

OUR MISSION The Women’s Choice Award® is a trusted referral source for women who are searching for the best colleges, hospitals, businesses and brands that are meeting the highest standards.

HER GUIDE TO AMERICA’S BEST COLLEGES

2016

methodology

OUR award methodology allows us to rank ALL COLLEGES using quantitative measures WHICH SUPPORT THE SAFETY AND REPUTATION ANALYSIS. Utilizing data from the US Dept. of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), as well as survey data we collected from over a thousand women on what is important to them in defining a quality college or university, we arrived at uniform measures for: • Reputation

and ranked schools according to the total points earned. Where ties existed, cost for out-of-state tuition determined precise ranking.

• Student to faculty ratios • Depth of education

Reputation is a function of female admission rates and enrollment rates, as well as out-of-state enrollments. Safety rankings were based on three years of campus crime rates, and weighed based on our women’s survey of the importance of different types of offens-

• Campus safety • 4 year graduation rates

Using weights derived from our survey of women, we assigned points to each of these measures

US RANK

1

INSTITUTION

CITY

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia

es (forcible sex offenses rated highest). Depth of education was primarily a function of post-graduate to undergraduate ratio and levels of degrees granted.

Data came from 2013 fall enrollment statistics. Safety data covered 2011-2013. We only considered schools offering at least a 4-year bachelor’s degree, that had a restrictive admissions policy (no open admissions).

STATE

REP INDEX

OOSTATE

STUD/ FAC

SAFETY

GRADRATE

TOTAL

IN-STATE $

OUTSTATE $

PA

30

10

24

5

31

148

$40,594

$40,594

OOSTATE In vs. Out of State mix

SAFETY Based on 3-year on-campus arrest records

GRAD-RATE Percentage of students who graduate in 4 years

REP INDEX Reputation Index based on applications to enrollments STUD/FAC Students to Faculty ratio

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contents

THE TOP

300

Colleges and Universities We polled thousands of collegebound women to find out what’s important to them in choosing the right college or university.

Here are the best of the best and more about each.

9

HER GUIDE TO AMERICA’S BEST COLLEGES

2016

contents

FEATURES

6 Safety in Numbers Evaluating a school’s safety record and policies are important considerations for college-bound women.

10 Your Future:

A Smart Investment Don’t leave money on the table when it comes to paying for college. Here’s what you need to know about financial aid, scholarships and other helpful resources.

14 Charting a Course

24 A Guide to Getting In

for Success

Here’s the only step-by-step guide you’ll need for preparing yourself for higher education and starting off strong.

30

Successfully navigating the admissions process can be daunting for any prospective students.

We’ve gathered the best advice and strategies from fellow women, admissions counselors and decision makers to help you stand out.

TRENDING NOW

STEM Careers

Get on the fast track and find your STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math) Career in our Special Report.

THE RANKINGS Top Schools by Region

36

Top Schools By State

39

The Country’s Safest Schools

42

Top Schools by Reputation

51

Top in the NCAA Conference

70

Complete Rankings

90

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Safety in Evaluating a school’s safety record and policies are important considerations for college-bound women. Here are a few resources and key questions to help in the process.

A

s college-bound students narrow down their list of schools, prepare applications and investigate which college or university is right for them, there’s another important aspect that should factor into the decision—campus safety.

Woman to Woman

Rebecca Samuelson

Female students, in particular, should vet a school’s safety performance, statistics and policies prior to applying for admission.

Studies show that one in 10 female under graduates may find their personal safety compromised at one point, whether at social events, inside dorm rooms or even

“

I always felt confident on campus knowing that specific safety programs were in place.

”

just walking home at night from the library.

In response, colleges are trying to arm students with self-defense strategies, as well as raise their overall awareness about violence and sexual assault.

School: Georgetown University Graduated: 2015

Under a federal law known as the Jeanne Clery Act, brick-and-mortar schools that receive federal student aid are required to share information about crime on and around their campuses. Under the law, schools must submit an annual security report, maintain a crime log, share statistics for

HER GUIDE TO AMERICA’S BEST COLLEGES

2016

a variety of crimes that happen on campus and in some off-campus facilities, issue timely campus alerts, maintain a fire log and create policies to handle reports of missing students.

Families should first check the annual security report, which schools must submit

by Oct. 1 each year, says Abigail Boyer, assistant executive director of programs at the Clery Center for Security On Campus.

The Department of Education has a site that allows users to research statistics by institution.

The Clery Act provides basic rules, but colleges have flexibility in how they implement certain sections, including how they handle campus alerts about safety issues.

Parents and prospective students can look at an institution’s annual security report, which should be available on the school’s website, to find statistics on crime, disciplinary actions and campus safety policies.

Here are a few key questions to ask:

What is the college doing to cultivate a safe campus?

How does the school communicate with students in an emergency?

What prevention programs do you have to educate students about safety?

How do you protect students who live off campus?

Numbers

Essential Info

Parents and proUnder the Jeanne Studies show that The Department spective students Clery Act, schools one in 10 female of Education has can look at an instituthat receive federal undergraduates may a site that allows users tion's annual security student aid are required find their personal to research statistics report, which should to share information safety compromised by institution. be available on the about crime on and at one point. school's website. around their campuses. ccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccccc 866.455.7408

info@womenschoiceaward.com

tips

7

Dorm Room Decorating Tips

Ahh, dorm living. For many college students, sharing a 15 x 15 space with one window is a reality of the higher learning experience. But your room does not have to be a dull, lifeless crash pad! It can be a warm and inviting space where everyone wants to hang out. Make your dorm room your own little spot of heaven on earth. Here are 7 dorm room decorating tips we’ve culled just for students.

1

Fill your walls with pictures of friends, family, idols and your pet. Having pictures of the people (and animals) you care about the most is really uplifting!

2

Get a snazzy comforter that will last. You won’t want to buy a new one every year, so spending some money on a comforter is ok. Colorful comforters will allow you to expand your rooms color range.

3

HER GUIDE TO AMERICA’S BEST COLLEGES

2016

Stepping stools prevent leaps into beds. A stepping stool can be vital when you have a loft bed! No more running jumps!

4

Temporary wallpaper can transform your white walls.

If your school allows it, try spicing up your drab dorm room with self-adhesive, repositionable, temporary wallpaper.

5

A headboard can add style to your room. Check out Pinterest for awesome DIY headboards!

6

Posters are key! Invest in some great posters, because they will travel with you throughout college.

7

Decals come to life on tired walls. Wall decals are another option for decorating.

checklist

Getting Ready For College:

A Checklist For High School Teens

G

etting accepted to some colleges can be quite competitive, so high school

students should take every opportunity to make themselves stand out from

the crowd. Starting in your freshman year, your efforts should focus on academics, with a healthy dose of extracurricular pursuits and college and career planning.

The high school years can be a busy time, and it’s easy to lose track of the many steps involved in the college search and application process. To help you stay on track, we’ve compiled a list of what you should be doing each year.

Checklist for High School Teens FRESHMEN SHOULD PLAN TO:

SOPHOMORES SHOULD:

✓✓ Take challenging classes in core academic courses. ✓✓ Work with their school counselor to create a yearly

✓✓ Attend college and career information events. ✓✓ Research funding for college, including

schedule for meeting graduation requirements.

✓✓ Talk to an advisor or school counselor about taking AP and honors courses.

✓✓ Get involved with community-based and leadership-oriented activities.

✓✓ Explore and identify career fields of interest through online research and by attending career fairs and other events.

✓✓ Explore The Four Steps to College. ✓✓ Keep a running list of accomplishments, awards, and recognitions to use in preparing a resume and college applications.

✓✓ Keep in mind that many of these freshman-year activities should continue through all four years of high school. Career planning, in particular, will merit careful, ongoing research; students may need help refining their goals as they learn new information.

scholarships, grants, loans, etc.

✓✓ Reach out to mentors in the fields of interest. ✓✓ Continue exploring college and career options. ✓✓ Consider taking a practice test to prepare for the PSAT.

IN FALL SEMESTER, JUNIORS NEED TO:

✓✓ Take the PSAT. Students must take the test in 11th grade to qualify for National Merit scholarships and programs.

✓✓ Attend in-person or online college fairs and college-prep presentations.

✓✓ Explore careers and their earning potentials in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

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A Welcome Message from the President

O

Mary E. Lyons

ur editors sat down with Dr. Lyons to discuss the impact her leadership has made on the university and it’s students as well as her impressive legacy for future female leaders.

A fifth generation Californian, Dr. Lyons spent her childhood traveling with her military family, living throughout the United States and in Eritrea, Africa. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Sonoma State University; her Master of Arts degree in English from San Jose State University, and her PhD in Rhetoric from the University of California, Berkeley.

Dr. Lyons has been recognized for leadership and service by numerous associations, including the Educator Distinguished Service Award from the National Defense Transportation Association, the University of San Francisco Medallion for scholarly achievement and community service, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Sonoma State University. She is also the recipient of a Doctorate of Humane Letters from The College of New Rochelle.

we embrace the diversity of our community and pride ourselves in providing a unique experience for our students. Our values of academic freedom, social responsibility, high level education and safety are deeply rooted in the founding principles of our university. We look forward to meeting you and hope you will take the time to learn more about our vast opportunities and breathtaking campus.

OUR ANNOUNCEMENT I’m pleased to report that the Women’s Choice Award® has just ranked the University of San Diego as an America’s Best College. This ranking helps provide you with a trusted referral source and guide when choosing the college of your choice.

DEAR STUDENTS I encourage you to learn more about University of San Diego. You are now at a place in our life that is quite incredible and the experiences you will acquire on your path to choosing a college will be so valuable. The University of San Diego is a dynamic and vibrant community of nearly 100,000 students, faculty and staff. Located in the heart of a fast growing, multi-cultural city,

HER GUIDE TO AMERICA’S BEST COLLEGES

2016

*This material has been obtained from the University of San Diego website as a sample template for potential advertisers.

The University of San Diego is not a participant in this guide.

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info@womenschoiceaward.com

universities

University of Pennsylvania

Penn has a proud tradition of intellectual rigor and boundary-breaking innovation that dates back to founder Benjamin Franklin. That tradition lives today through the creativity, entrepreneurship, and engagement of faculty, students, and staff.

G

rounded in the liberal arts and sciences and enriched by the integrated resources of four undergraduate and 12 graduate schools, Penn offers students an unparalleled education informed by inclusivity, intellectual rigor, research, and the impetus to create new knowledge to the benefit of individuals and communities around the world.

OPEN LEARNING AT PENN Open Learning is an integral part of Penn’s mission to increase global access to educational resources that can change people’s lives. The University of Pennsylvania is committed to providing access to exceptional resources while fostering the highest possible level of inclusion. Open Learning at Penn helps ensure the global reach of Penn’s high-quality online education. “Our goals as early adopters of massively open online courses are to create and disseminate knowledge, drive teaching innovation, and expand Penn’s global presence,” said Dr. Tim Jobs, Director of Admissions.“ We invite you to learn more about our open online courses and the outstanding Penn faculty members who teach them,” added Jobs.

HER GUIDE TO AMERICA’S BEST COLLEGES

2016

ONLINE LEARNING A leader in online learning, Penn provides people around the world with opportunities to build professional skills, acquire college credit, and immerse themselves in the life of the mind. Students can learn about Penn’s online student communities, as well as credit, non-credit, and executive development courses. Penn faculty can find support for “flipping” classrooms and tailoring lectures to the online environment. To learn more visit http://www.upenn. edu/programs/distance

Location: Philadelphia Website: www.upenn.edu Admissions: 215-898-7507 Total Enrollment: 19,875 Male/Female: 50/50 Applicants: 31,218 Accepted: 13% *This material has been obtained from the University of Pennsylvania website as a sample template for potential advertisers.

The University of Pennsylvania is not a participant in this guide.

THE TOP US RANK

300

the ranking

NATIONAL COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES NOTE: The information displayed is a sample. The final list will be included in our 2016 Guide.

STATE

REP INDEX

OOSTATE

STUD/ FAC

SAFETY

GRADRATE

TOTAL

IN-STATE $

OUTSTATE $

Philadelphia

PA

30

10

24

5

31

148

$40,594

$40,594

University of Chicago

Chicago

IL

30

10

24

5

31

148

$45,324

$45,324

Columbia University in the City of New York

New York

NY

30

10

24

5

31

148

$46,846

$46,846

Yale University

New Haven

CT

30

10

24

0

31

143

$44,000

$44,000

Georgetown University

Washington

DC

30

10

18

5

31

142

$44,280

$44,280

Northwestern University

Evanston

IL

30

_

23

10

31

142

$45,120

$45,120

Yeshiva University

New York

NY

20

_

24

20

29

141

$36,600

$36,600

8

New York University

New York

NY

20

10

19

20

30

139

$42,472

$42,472

9

Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore

MD

30

_

19

10

31

138

$45,470

$45,470

10

Duke University

Durham

NC

30

_

23

5

31

137

$44,020

$44,020

11

Tufts University

Medford

MA

30

10

21

5

31

137

$45,190

$45,190

12

California Institute of Technology

Pasadena

CA

30

10

25

5

30

136

$39,990

$39,990

13

Stanford University

Stanford

CA

30

10

18

0

30

136

$42,690

$42,690

14

Washington University in St. Louis

St. Louis

MO

30

10

22

0

31

133

$44,100

$44,100

15

Brown University

Providence

RI

30

10

22

0

31

133

$44,608

$44,608

16

Dartmouth College

Hanover

NH

30

10

22

0

31

133

$45,444

$45,444

17

Harvard University

Cambridge

MA

30

_

23

0

31

132

$38,891

$38,891

Cornell University

Ithaca

NY

30

10

16

5

31

132

$45,130

$45,130

19

University of Southern California

Los Angeles

CA

30

5

21

5

30

131

$45,602

$45,602

20

University of Notre Dame

Notre Dame

IN

30

10

19

0

31

130

$44,098

$44,098

21

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge

MA

30

10

22

0

31

129

$43,210

$43,210

Rice University

Houston

TX

30

5

24

5

31

125

$38,260

$38,260

Princeton University

Princeton

NJ

30

10

24

0

31

125

$40,170

$40,170

Hardin-Simmons University

Abilene

TX

30

_

16

25

21

124

$22,350

$22,350

Tulane University of Louisiana

New Orleans

LA

20

10

21

5

28

124

$43,150

$43,150

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

INSTITUTION

CITY

University of Pennsylvania

Sample College Spotlight

18

22

23

24

25

WINNER Women’s Choice Award America’s Best Colleges, www.Duke.edu, (919) 668-1661

866.455.7408

info@womenschoiceaward.com

Her Guide to

T S E B S ’ A C I R AME

s e g e Coll A DV

ING S & PRIC N A L P G E RT I S I N

A unique opportunity

to engage prospective female students with rankings based on the criteria women value most!

Advertising & Custom Editorial 2-page spread $7,500 • [1] Full page ad + [1] Content page in the 2016 issue

Women voted!

3We polled thousands of American, female, college-bound graduates and inquired about their top considerations.

Checked it twice!

3We measured, weighted and compiled key factors for women attending college, to help them make the best decision.

Why is your college an America’s Best for Women?

3Highlight your school’s most pertinent factors from a female perspective: notable female graduates, safety, reputation, faculty credentials, message from the President, …

A message of Welcome from the President

O

Mary E. Lyons

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AMERICA’S BEST COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

2016

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content page in the 2016 issue or • Full page ad in the 2016 issue

Important Dates

universities

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E

Space Reservation Deadline

3December 4, 2015 Materials Deadline

3January 15, 2016

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ur editors sat down with Dr. Lyons to discuss the impact her leadership has made on the university and it’s students as well as her impressive legacy for future female leaders.

A fifth generation Californian, Dr. Lyons spent her childhood traveling with her military family, living throughout the United States and in Eritrea, Africa. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Sonoma State University; her Master of Arts degree in English from San Jose State University, and her PhD in Rhetoric from the University of California, Berkeley.

Dr. Lyons has been recognized for leadership and service by numerous associations, including the Educator Distinguished Service Award from the National Defense Transportation Association, the University of San Francisco Medallion for scholarly achievement and community service, and the Distinguished Alumni Award from Sonoma State University, and the recipient of a Doctorate of Humane Letters from The College of New Rochelle.

AMERICA’S BEST COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

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Full Page

Location: Philadelphia

Website: www.upenn.edu

Admissions: 215-898-7507 Total Enrollment: 19,875 Male/Female: 50/50 Applicants: 31,218 Accepted: 13%

2016

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HER GUIDE TO AMERICA’S BEST COLLEGES will be distributed through integrated media programs as well as digital outreach, print on demand, web placement and via a direct mailing to high school counselors.

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