COLLEGE BOUND TIPS -

CHOOSING A COLLEGE:
Narrow the choices by finding schools that offer not only the major you want, but also campuses that have the culture and personality fit that feels right to you. If you haven't decided on a major yet, ask what the 'undeclared' student experience is like.

Find that fit by exploring multiple channels, including social network sites where you can find the good, bad and ugly. This will help you assess the messages colleges deliver through a different lens. It’s here that you can learn why a certain institution might meet your needs or fall short in meeting your expectations.

Aggressively manage college visits by asking to meet with faculty and students. Take control of all interactions. In the end, marketing has to be backed up by an engaged faculty and staff, and face-to-face conversations will help you verify claims being made by the institution about the product.

Question: To How Many Colleges Should I Apply?
Answer: There's no right answer to this question -- I've seen recommendations ranging from 3 to 12. If you talk to guidance counselors, you'll hear stories of students applying to 20 or more schools. The typical advice, and I agree with it, is to apply to 6 or 7 schools. But make sure you choose those schools carefully. This may sound obvious, but if you can't picture yourself being happy at a school, don't apply to it. Also, don't apply to a school simply because it has a great reputation or it's where your mom went or it's where all your friends are going.
Begin with 15 or so possible choices and narrow down your list after carefully researching schools, visiting their campuses and talking with students. Apply to those schools that are a good match for your personality, interests and career goals. Also, be sure to apply to a selection of schools that will maximize your chances of being accepted somewhere. Look at the school profiles, and compare the admissions data to your own academic record and test scores. A wise selection of schools might look something like this:
3 Reach Schools
These are schools with highly selective admissions. Your grades and scores are below the averages for these schools. When you study the admissions data, you find that there's a possibility you'll get in, but it's a bit of a long shot. Be realistic here. If you got a 450 on your SAT Math and you apply to a school where 99% of applicants got over a 600, you're almost guaranteed a rejection letter. On the other side of the spectrum, if you have remarkably strong scores, you should still identify schools like Harvard, Yale and Stanford as reach schools. These top schools are so competitive that no one has a good chance of being admitted (learn more about when a match school is actually a reach).

3 Match Schools
When you look at the profiles for these colleges, your academic record and test scores are right in line with the averages. You feel that you measure up favorably with typical applicants for the school and that you have a decent chance of being admitted. Be sure to keep in mind that identifying a school as a "match" does not mean you will be accepted. Many factors go into an admissions decision, and many qualified applicants get turned away. 2 Safety Schools
These are schools where your academic record and scores are measurably above the average of admitted students. Realize that highly selective schools are never safety schools, even if your scores are above the averages. But if I apply to 15 reach schools, I'm more likely to get in, right? Statistically, yes. But consider these factors:
- Cost: Most elite schools have application fees of $60 or more. You'll also need to pay for extra score reporting when you apply to a lot of schools: $15 for AP, $8.50 for ACT, and $9.50 for SAT.
- Match: Did you really visit 15 reach schools and find that each one felt right for you? A student who thrives in the urban environment of Columbia University would probably go batty in the rural location of Williams College. And a small liberal arts college is a very different academic environment than a large comprehensive university.
- Time: The applications, especially at competitive schools, take a lot of time to complete. Do you really have several hours to devote to each of those 15 applications?
- The Personal Touch: Most select schools have supplements to the application that ask questions about why you feel you are a good match for the school, or what specifically about the school you find appealing. To complete these essay questions well, you need to research the schools and be specific. A generic answer about the school's reputation and great faculty will not impress anyone. If you can cut and paste your supplemental essay from one application into the next, you haven't done the assignment well.
A Final Word
Be sure to look at the most current data available when determining which schools should be considered "match" and "safety." Because of a recent surge in the number of graduating high school students, schools that may have been a "match" a few years ago might be a "reach" today. By Allen Grove, About.com Guide

SAT'S
Question: Are My SAT Scores Good Enough? What are good SAT scores? Do you have the SAT scores you need to get into your top choice schools? This article explains the relationship between college admissions and SAT scores. You can also check out these SAT links (or ACT links):

SAT Comparison Charts: the Ivy League | top universities (non-Ivy) | top liberal arts colleges | more top liberal arts | top public universities | top public liberal arts colleges | University of California campuses | Cal State campuses | SUNY campuses | Southeastern Conference | more SAT charts
Subject Test Score Information: Biology | Chemistry | Literature | Math | Physics
A to Z College Profiles (SAT score information for hundreds of colleges)
20 Great Colleges for Not-So-Great Scores
Test-Optional Colleges
Practice sentence completion questions

Answer: SAT scores are just one of many criteria used by colleges to make admissions decisions. Nevertheless, their importance shouldn’t be underestimated. As much as admissions officers say they take an open-minded and holistic approach to their decisions, SAT scores can make or break an application. And let’s face it -- it’s easier to compare numerical data than it is to decide whether a semester in France should be ranked higher than a state soccer championship. Also, schools usually make their SAT data public, and they know that their reputations depend upon high numbers. A college won’t be considered “highly selective” or “elite” if its students have an average SAT math score of 470. So what is a good SAT score? The exam consists of three parts: Critical Reading, Mathematics and Writing.
The scores from each section can range from 200 to 800, so the best possible total score is 2400. The average score for each section is roughly 500, so the average total score is about 1500. Very few students get a perfect SAT score, even those at the country’s top colleges. The list below shows the middle range of SAT scores for different schools. The middle 50% of admitted students fell within these numbers. Keep in mind that 25% of students who were admitted scored below the lower numbers listed here. Finally, you'll see that some of the school profiles include the critical reading and math scores, but not the writing scores. This is because the writing part of the exam is still new, and many schools do not yet use it in their admissions decisions. We're likely to see that change in the next couple years as colleges figure out the relationship between the writing score and academic success.

SMALL OR LARGE? 1. Name Recognition Large universities tend to have greater name recognition than small colleges. For example, once you leave the west coast, you'll find more people who have heard of Stanford University than Pomona College. Both are extremely competitive top-notch schools, but Stanford will always win the name game.

There are several reasons why universities tend to have greater name recognition than small colleges:

Larger schools have more alumni around the world
Larger schools are more likely to have NCAA Division I athletic teams with games on TV
At research-centered universities, the faculty often publish more and appear in the news more. . Professional ProgramsYou're more likely to find robust undergraduate professional programs in areas like business and engineering at a large university. 3. Class Size At a liberal arts college, you're more likely to have small classes, even if the <a href="/od/choosingacollege/ss/Choosing-The-Perfect-College_3.htm">student / faculty ratio</a> is higher than at a large research university. You’ll find far fewer giant freshmen lecture classes at a small college than a large university. In general, small colleges have a much more student-centered approach to education than large universities.

4. Classroom DiscussionThis is connected to class size -- at a small college you'll usually find lots of opportunities to speak out, ask questions, and engage the professors and students in debate. 5. Access to the FacultyAt a liberal arts college, teaching undergraduates is usually the top priority of the faculty. Tenure and promotion both depend upon quality teaching. At a large research university, research may rank higher than teaching. Also, at a school with master's and PhD programs, the faculty will have to devote a lot of time to graduate students and consequently have less time for undergraduates.
6. Graduate InstructorsSmall liberal arts colleges usually don't have graduate programs, so you won't be taught by graduate students. At the same time, having a graduate student as an instructor isn't always a bad thing. Some graduate students are excellent teachers, and some tenured professors are lousy.
7. AthleticsIf you want huge tailgate parties and packed stadiums, you'll want to be at a large university with Division I teams. The Division III games of a small school are often fun social outings, but the experience is entirely different. If you're interested in playing on a team but don't want to make a career of it, a small school may provide more low-stress opportunities.
8. Leadership OpportunitiesAt a small college, you'll have a lot less competition getting leadership positions in student government and student organizations. You'll also find it easier to make a difference on campus. Individual students with a lot of initiative can really stand out at a small school in a way they won't at a huge university. . Advising and GuidanceAt many large universities, advising is handled through a central advising office, and you may end up attending large group advising sessions. At small colleges, the advising is frequently handled by the professors. With small college advising, your advisor is more likely to know you well and provide meaningful, personalized guidance. Advising and GuidanceAt many large universities, advising is handled through a central advising office, and you may end up attending large group advising sessions. At small colleges, the advising is frequently handled by the professors. With small college advising, your advisor is more likely to know you well and provide meaningful, personalized guidance. 10. AnonymityDo you like being hidden in the crowd? Do you like being a silent observer in the classroom? It's much more easy to be anonymous at a large university. A Final Word Many schools fall within a gray area on the small/large spectrum. Dartmouth College, the smallest of the Ivies, provides a nice balance of college and university features. The University of Georgia has an Honors Program of 2,500 students that provides small, student-centered classes within a large state university. My own place of employment, Alfred University, has professional colleges of engineering, business, and art and design all within a school of about 2,000 undergraduates. By Allen Grove, About.com Guide

Develop a partnership with the college in which you learn what the institution offers, and the institution discovers what you want and need. Having candid conversations with members of the community should increase transparency and ensure that you and the institution can mutually benefit from the decision.

Cold Hard Facts (May 2008)

Just how accessible is the college scholarship many are pitching?

By Jay Martin

In this issue’s “In My Opinion” section, Frank Pace contributes an article about the college recruiting process – the good, the bad and the ugly. Meanwhile,

NSCAA President Al Albert dedicates his column to the everlasting contributions of collegiate soccer to the sport in this country. He suggests that college

soccer has been a positive force in this country in spite of the perception that college soccer actually retards soccer’s overall growth in America.

With reference to a four-part New York Times series by Bill Pennington about Division I athletics, my contribution to the discussion is a pragmatic look at

the dream held by many young American players of earning a collegiate soccer scholarship.

More and more players (and parents) believe it is worth investing several thousands of dollars a year on select clubs, uniforms, showcase tournaments,

elite camps, recruitment services and even private trainers to improve the odds of landing a soccer scholarship.

A recent survey of parents at the Jarosi Tournament in Columbus, Ohio, revealed that more than 60 percent of parents view soccer at a “select” level as

a means to a college athletic scholarship.

The father of a local U-12 player recently removed his son from a private school the child had attended for eight years. The father plans to use the money

he will save on tuition to pay for private trainers for his son with a goal of improving the chances of receiving a soccer scholarship.

Advertisements for elite clubs, camps and recruiting services give the impression that signing on with them will increase chances for a scholarship. They

seem to suggest that scholarships are there for the taking. A flyer from an elite club in Ohio, for instance, makes the claim that 80 percent of the club’s players receive soccer scholarships.

College recruiting services routinely advertise that their service will improve a player’s chance of securing a college soccer scholarship. Alan Yost of the recruiting service NCSA said, “Every high school player who signs on with us expects a scholarship offer…every player!”

A look at the facts paints a far different picture of soccer scholarships. Critics say that select clubs often inflate the number of players who receive scholarships. Many coaches throw away the information from recruiting services, preferring instead to use their own resources and go to many tournaments to watch players. Personal trainers have offered no data on the number of scholarship athletes they work with. So why do parents buy into the “scholarship sales pitch?”

While there is nothing wrong with using soccer to help a high school player get into one of the best schools – and perhaps get a scholarship – everyone involved should be realistic about the situation. A study in 1996 determined the following facts for the high school age soccer players:

• There were 8,182 boys and 6,500 girls soccer programs.

• There were more than 283,700 boys and 209,000 girls playing high school soccer.

• There were 51,066 boys and 37,620 girls who were seniors, played soccer and graduated.

• There were 721 college programs for boys and 736 for girls.

• There were 4,326 spots available on college teams for boys; and there were 4416 spots available for the girls.

• There were playing opportunities for fewer than 8 percent of graduating seniors.

• There were 433 scholarships for boys and 806 for girls.

• Less than 1 percent of the graduating boys and around 2 percent of the girls received soccer scholarships.

How’s that for a dose of reality? But the good news is that in 2008 the situation is much better, right? Not really.

There are more scholarships available for both men and women. But there are many more players playing the game in high school.

In Pennington’s New York Times series, he discussed the scholarship situation for all NCAA sports. According to him, “Excluding the glamour sports of football and basketball, the average NCAA athletic scholarship is nowhere near full tuition, amounting to $8,707. In sports like baseball and track and field, the number is routinely as low as $2,000. Even when football and basketball are included, the average is only $10,409. Tuition and room and board for

NCAA institutions often cost between $20,000 and $50,000.”

While the data compiled by the NCAA for the 2003-2004 academic year dealt with all sports, let’s focus on men’s and women’s soccer. The article determined the following:

• Only about 2 percent of all NCAA Division I athletes receive a scholarship.

• There is no such thing as a four-year scholarship. All scholarships are renewable annually.

• There were 330,044 boys and 270,273 girls playing high school soccer.

• There were 2,357 scholarships for boys and 3,964 for girls.

• Those scholarships were awarded to 6,047 boys and 9,310 girls.

• The average award was $8,533 for boys and $8,404 for girls – that means the men’s scholarship covered only 39 percent of costs and the women’s

scholarships covered only 43 percent of costs.

• Only 1.8 percent of high school soccer playing boys received a soccer scholarship; only 3.4 percent of the women received a soccer scholarship.

Inseries, Pennington quotes NCAA President Miles Brand as saying, “The youth culture is overly aggressive and while the opportunity for an athletic scholarship is not trivial, it’s easy for the opportunity to be exaggerated by parents and advisors. That can skew behavior and, based on numbers,lead to unrealistic expectations.”

The statistics above suggest that there is one NCAA scholarship for every 145 men who played soccer in college. Joe Taylor, a scholarship soccer player from Villanova, said, “It is a huge dogfight to get whatever you can. Everyone is scrambling. There are so many good players, nobody understands how few get to keep playing after high school! If I had to do it over again, I would have skipped a practice every now and then to go to a concert or a movie with my friends. I missed out on a lot of things because of soccer. I wish I could have some of that time back.”

National Soccer Coaches Association of America 4/6/10 2:11 PM

http://www.nscaa.com/print2.php?id=931 Page 2 of 2

It is important that parents and coaches know these statistics and realize how difficult it is to receive a soccer scholarship. Although getting a soccer

scholarship is a long shot, there is some good news. Being a good soccer player may give an athlete an edge when colleges award academic

scholarships and need-based aid. In fact, there is much more money available to soccer players for academic excellence than athletic prowess. An increased focus on academics will pay greater dividends than soccer excellence in the long run – it may also pay off on the short run.

A recent study by the College Board Association of Princeton, N.J., determined that independent colleges in the United States award more than $10 billion in financial aid each year. This includes awards from institutional funds for scholarships, fellowships and trainee stipends. Add state and federal financial aid funding and there is in excess of $50 billion available for academic and need-based aid each year.

The numbers say that soccer scholarships are relatively scarce. Should your players stop cracking shots and spend Saturdays cracking the books in a library instead? Of course not. We know that soccer is a great game. It has an important place in the lives of your players, whether or not there is a soccer scholarship in the future. Everyone involved with soccer should just keep the scholarship issue in perspective. Your players should be playing for
fun, fitness and the challenge of the game. If your players (and parents) are playing only to earn a soccer scholarship – maybe they should spend more time in the library!