I’m not a fan of college rankings. Most are bought and paid for by the colleges and always have the Ivies at the top of the lists. You should never judge a college solely on its ranking, but there is one non-profit organization that ranks colleges based on the economic value added as being the improvement in earnings and employability of graduates; measured against the total cost of the education. Quite simply, colleges are ranked on their ROI (return on investment) by the Nonprofit Educate to Career.
Of course, your student won’t base their college choice solely on this information, but these rankings can help you and your student determine the value of your educational investment.
ETC President and founder Michael R. Havis states:
“Transparency and value in higher education is paramount – parents are telling us. Accordingly, we rank colleges by the outcomes of their graduates – including jobs and salaries, graduation rates, student loan payback rates, and other factors. ETC uses sophisticated statistical techniques to control for the quality of the students (we calculate the earnings value of high SAT scores and correctively weight our model for that value). Other rankings show a correlation between the SAT/ACT scores that a school accepts and the rank of the schools. They’re really ranking the students accepted by the colleges – while we are truly ranking colleges. Also, unlike other rankings – we do not accept any data from the colleges themselves, choosing to compile our data from only publicly available sources for the sake of transparency and impartiality”.
Some of the metrics used in calculating the ETC College Rankings Index are:
Percentage of graduates employed in occupations which utilize their field of study
Average salary earned by recent graduates, by school for each major category (adjusted for region, occupation and other variables)
Percentage of persons employed within one year of graduation
Major, referenced against similarly situated students at other institutions
Graduation rate and the number of years to graduate
Tuition- in state, net cost
Loan default rates
Other proprietary input variables which norm students to a common standard for each school and major
The ETC College Rankings Index is the standard for ranking colleges based on factors that families actually care about – ROI. Click the link to view the 2020 ETC College Rankings Index!
If you’re going to rely on rankings to make your college choice, ETC rankings are the ones to use because they are solely based on statistical data and not information the colleges provide.
A few years ago I wrote this article for TeenLife online. With school starting and students beginning their college lists during junior year and finalizing the list at the start of senior year, this advice is particularly timely.
Most teens will tell you that making the college list is one of the most stressful times in their life. It’s a process that begins with a little bit of knowing what you like, what your goals are, and that intuition that every student takes to the table. Knowing yourself, your likes, and your dislikes will help you in the process.
There’s a theory among teens and many parents, which says, “The more colleges you apply to, the better your chances.” In theory it makes sense, but there are other things to consider besides hedging your bets with numbers.
Three Considerations When Applying to College
1. The Cost
College applications can be time-consuming and pricey, costing as much as $100 per application, unless you get the fees waived by the school or an organization. Ten schools at $100 each is $1,000. These application fees are non-refundable and aren’t applied toward your total cost of attendance. Although this should not be the only factor in determining the number of applications submitted, it should be considered.
2. The Time
Applying to college takes a tremendous amount of time, and each college has their own specific application criteria. The average college application usually takes about two hours to complete, not including writing the essay. Common sense dictates that the more applications you have to complete and collate, the less time you will spend on each individual application. The applications are your way of communicating who you are to a college—it’s not the time to spread yourself thin to rack up the numbers.
3. Quality vs. Quantity
Allen Grove, an admissions expert in the About.com College Admissions Guide, thinks it’s a little ridiculous when students apply to a dozen or more colleges. He can’t imagine how the student visited all those campuses, in addition to doing extensive research, and then decided that many schools were good matches.
“You see students who apply to every single Ivy League,” Grove says. “I just have to wonder if the student who is going to like Columbia (in New York City) is really going to like Dartmouth (located in a town of around 11,000 people). I find that unlikely, so I often think students who are sending out that many applications haven’t done their research.”
How Many is Too Many?
Most admissions officers generally advise students to apply to about five to seven colleges, but no more than 10. That includes a couple of safety schools (schools you’ll no doubt get into), a couple of match schools (schools you meet the requirements for), and a couple of reach schools (schools that are less likely to accept you).
In a Huffington Post article, Maura Kastberg, Executive Director of Student Services of RSC Your College Prep Expert, concurs with that advice. “There may be 20 colleges you want to attend, or you could have your heart set on just one. When you are applying to college, be practical. Most students should apply to somewhere between five to seven colleges. There are no guarantees that you will be accepted to the school you desire, but you should have a good idea about your chances of admission to each school.”
What Are the Criteria?
If you’ve done a thoughtful job when compiling your list, you should be able to answer the following questions (provided by Carolyn Lawrence of AdmissionsAdvice.com and contributing author to the College Admission Book blog): (http://collegeadmissionbook.com/blog/how-many-colleges-should-students-apply)
1. Can I explain why all of the colleges on my list are right for me?
If your answers to this question are superficial—such as rankings, prestige, location, or a friend’s suggestion—it’s likely your list is too long. Before you add any college to your list, you should be able to explain how the college aligns with the things you personally need to be happy and successful in college.
2. Will I have enough time and energy to put my best effort into every application?
Even the simplest applications require time and effort. Can you really handle the work involved in completing 15 or 20 applications? Be honest with yourself. It’s better to do an outstanding job on fewer applications than to do a so-so job on too many.
3. Do I love my “safe bets” as much as I love my “reaches?”
Build your college list from the bottom up; fall in love with the schools that are most likely to love you in return before you add colleges that are less likely to admit you. If you do, you’re apt to find that you really don’t need to apply to as many colleges as you think you do. Finally, don’t let fear sway you into panic mode.If you’ve carefully thought about the reasons why every college is on your list, and do your best job with each application, you’ll end up with great choices!
Even with all the right information, facts, and figures in place, choosing a college is more than just a list on a piece of paper. Most students will tell you that they just “knew” when they set foot on campus they knew it was right for them.
In an article for The New York Times, Jordanna Suriani, an admissions counselor at Ramapo College of New Jersey, writes that students who apply to several colleges because they’re undecided are doing themselves a disfavor come April when it’s time to make a decision. Once you get that acceptance letter, you have even less time to make a choice.
Ms. Suriani advises, “Figure out what you need and want now, and apply to schools which offer you most, if not all of it. Forget about trying to get as many acceptances as possible to places that don’t speak to you. Trust me. Come April, you’ll be glad you did.”
This article was originally written for and published at TeenLife.com
The first semester of senior year is filled with anticipation. It’s your last year of high school and you have so much to look forward to, such as graduation and college. But in order for seniors to reach those goals, you have some high-priority things in the area of college admissions and creating the best college application that you can.
1. Get recommendation letters.
There’s no time to waste. Teachers and administrators and other mentors are busy people. With multiple students asking for recommendation letters, you want to be first in line. If you’ve done your homework, you have built relationships and now it’s time to ask for that college recommendation. Choose people who know you well and will be able to make the recommendations more personal.
2. Complete the college essays.
It’s time to put the finishing touches on that college essay you began working on over the summer. Remember the essay is your chance to demonstrate who you are. Be yourself and don’t try to write what you think admissions officers want to hear. Once your essay is completed, have someone proofread it before submitting with the application.
3. Finalize your college list.
It’s time to nail down your college choices. Review your notes and anything you learned during college interviews. Look at the entire picture for each college: Is it a fit academically, socially and financially? Are you at the top of the applicant pool and in the best position to receive merit aid? Make sure you have some colleges on your final list that are reach schools, some that are perfect fit schools, and some that are schools where you are pretty much ensured acceptance.
4. Visit the colleges on your list.
Fall is the perfect time for college visits. Not only will those visits help you finalize your list, but visiting a college demonstrates interest. Once the colleges receive your application, they will check to see how interested you are in attending and that will influence admissions officers. While you are on campus, schedule an interview and an appointment with the financial aid office. Ask questions that will help you finalize your college list.
5. Complete the FAFSA.
The FAFSA – the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – is available online. You should make filing it out a priority and the sooner the better. Colleges will be awarding financial aid this year along with their admissions decisions. You want to be first in line for this merit aid, so file now. Students who complete the FAFSA are not only eligible for federal aid, but for college-based aid such as grants and scholarships.
6. One last task: Submit your college application ASAP.
Consider submitting your application early. Applying early decision or early action means you will hear from the colleges sooner and also get information on your financial aid award. If you apply EA (early action) you’re not bound to any one college and you can apply to more than one. If you know the college you want to attend and it’s your absolute first choice, you can apply ED (early decision). You are bound to accept the school’s offer of admission, however, and you cannot apply to other colleges.
The college search
is easily stressful for both parents and students. The amount of knowledge a
parent needs to help their student navigate through college prep can be overwhelming.
From choosing the college, to deciding how to pay for it, to making the final
decision, it’s hard not to become stressed and frustrated.
Both my children
attended college but took different paths. One entered college straight out of
high school and the other after four years of military service. Even though the
college search for each of them was different, during their individual searches
I learned some valuable lessons.
Expand your search
beyond the usual perimeters
When you begin the
college search, you should cast a wide net. Many students limit themselves to
state colleges, colleges with prestigious names and even nearby schools. There
are over 4000 institutions of higher learning in the United States and even
more if you expand your search beyond our borders—Canada and even
internationally. Canadian colleges offer excellent educations and are often a
better financial fit than many U.S. colleges.
Moving outside your
comfort zone might help you and your student find a better fit. My daughter had
her heart set on a large university and while doing a college search, we
unearthed a small private college in the same city that was a better academic,
social and financial fit for her. Keep an open mind and don’t discount a
college simply because of name, location, or lack of notoriety.
Do the leg work
Do your research
before narrowing down the final college list. Look at statistics. They will
tell you so much about a college. You should compare graduation rates,
financial aid award percentages, freshman retention rates, admissions
acceptance rates and more. Make your choices based on your research statistics
and whether or not the college fits your student’s academic and social needs.
College visits for
you are fact-finding missions. College visits for your teen are highly
emotional. You can expect to hear words like “I’m just not feeling it”, “I won’t
get out of the car”, “I don’t like the look for the campus/buildings”, and
other irrational comments. Just remember that feelings are a part of the final
college choice. You can’t expect your student to make their new home at a
college they don’t like, for whatever reason.
I experienced this
with my daughter. She received an offer of admission and a full-ride
scholarship from a college we applied to but never visited. Based on the website,
location and academic offerings she felt it would be a good fit. When we
arrived on campus in early April for our first visit, she refused to get out of
the car. She didn’t like the look or the size of the campus. Of course, I was
completely frustrated with her, but she just instinctively knew it was not the
college for her. Looking back, even though it seemed emotional, she knew what
she wanted and ultimately chose the perfect college she felt was a good fit.
Organization is critical
You will be bombarded
with information during your college search. The key to keeping track of it all
and staying on top of all the deadlines is to stay organized. Your teen should
set up an email purely for college information and correspondence. Make it
official by using firstname_lastname @gmail.com. All college correspondence will
come to this address and your teen can set up folders to help organize it.
You should also
maintain a filing system for organizing paper. This might be anything from
college brochures to scholarship materials and applications, to keeping track
of accomplishments for the resume. Keep all college-related materials in one
place—a college landing zone.
Ask for help if
necessary
Some parents like me choose to work alone and guide their student through the college process, while others choose to hire a professional college consultant. Choose what is best for your family and its own financial resources. If you choose to work alone, there is a wealth of information online from blogs and social media. If you have a question, leave a post on a Facebook page, comment on a blog or DM someone on Twitter. Most professionals are happy to help with anything that might stump you.
You can also seek advice from your high school counselor, teachers or even college admissions staff. You don’t have to flounder around hoping you have the right information. Approach the college search with knowledge and determination and your student will succeed!
If you have a high school student, especially one who is
focused on the goal of attending college, your summers aren’t just vacations.
Gone are the days when you took the kids to the pool, the library and the park.
Gone are the days when your time was consumed with planning the summer family
vacation and creating a chore chart for the kids to complete chores before play
time.
You (and your teen) have other goals in mind. You’re thinking about using the summer to take care of some college prep tasks to get ahead of the game. Searching for scholarships, doing some test prep, visiting colleges, and having some serious talks about money will consume your summer days. How do you survive?
Share the tasks
It’s unthinkable in this competitive college market to
expect a young teen to handle it on their own. Times have changed since we
applied to college and there is much more to do than simply apply. You can help
them make decisions, help with scheduling, even do some detective work
searching for scholarships they are eligible for. This will ease the burden on
them and alleviate the overwhelming stress that most teens feel about college.
Schedule and plan
We all know that we don’t ever have the time for a task if
we don’t make the time and schedule it. Use any planning tool that works best
for your family: an online calendar, an app for your smartphones, a huge wall
calendar or a Google doc. Everyone knows—without a plan, you plan to fail!
Stay organized
I’m a huge fan of a college landing zone—everything in one
place. Colleges still send information through the mail, registration forms and
receipts need to be printed and saved, and flyers about scholarships need to be
catalogued and filed. With everything in one place, it’s easy to find anything
related to your student’s college preparation.
Make time to talk…and listen
Conversations are crucial to staying on the same page with
your teenager. Make the time to talk, even if it’s driving to sports practice
or shopping together at the mall. These small conversations are key moments for
you to gauge their temperature and share some encouragement. If stress is
present, you can help relieve it. If they feel overwhelmed and need help, you’re
there for them. Talking about their future and truly listening prepares you
both for senior year when things will proceed at the speed of light.
Of course, you want to have fun this summer; but a little work and some focused preparation will make the next school year seem doable. Use the summer time wisely.
When you have children, you know that you always have to play the right kind of role in their lives. And that can feel quite overwhelming. You need to keep them safe, you need to ensure that they’re healthy, and until their old enough to make the best decisions for themselves, you also need to guide their futures too.
This is why we’re often so interested and invested in the college process. When it comes to college prep, you’ll often know that you need to be actively involved. But sometimes, you won’t know what that looks like, or what you should be doing in order to help them prepare. So let’s take a look at some of the things that will help.
Grades
To start with, you’re going to want to make sure that the basics are covered – grades. Because your kids will need to have good grades to get into the best colleges. Or, at the very least, you need to know what the grade requirements are, and ensure they can keep up. This needs to be seen as the base.
Extracurriculars
But you do have to remember that college is about more than just grades. So many kids have fantastic grades, so it’s important to standout in other ways. This is where extracurriculars come in. There are lots of impressive extracurriculars that your kid could try. Think about their interests and where their strengths lie, and then sign them up as early as you can to see where they flourish.
Tutoring
Now, it’s also a good idea to think about tutoring. When it comes to getting in, a college prep tutor could be great. Your child many not necessary need tutoring academically, but it can often help to work with someone that knows the process, and can help you get in!
Summer Camp Prep
From here, you’ve then also got camp to be thinking about. Summer camp can be so rewarding for your kids, alongside tutoring. So why not think about enrolling them in a camp that can help? You could look into something specialist, such as CT STEM classes, or just a general camp that covers off a wealth of different areas. Either way, this experience can help them develop for the future.
That Je Ne Sais Quoi
Finally, you may also want to think about the little things that will help your child get into their dream college too. Now, not everyone will want to go Ivy League – but even other top schools can be competitive to get into. And it’s nice for you to think about ways for them to stand out. Do they have special interests? Any experiences that they can press? Having that little special something, or je ne sais quoi, can really help when it comes to applications. So pinpoint their special qualities and run with it.
When my daughter applied to college, she knew she wanted to make
the move from Texas to an eastern college. She wanted to live in or near a
large city and she applied and was accepted to colleges in New York City and
Boston. Coming from a small city, I feared New York might be overwhelming since
she was traveling thousands of miles from home and was barely 18. But Boston
offered the next best things—a suburban college near an urban environment.
Bentley College (now Bentley University) was the perfect option. It was nestled in a small community, Waltham, Massachusetts; but it was close enough to Boston to make it feel like she was attending an urban college. The mass transportation available made it easy for her to take advantage of all the culture and entertainment available without feeling swallowed up by the big city.
Suburban colleges offer some qualities of both urban and
rural schools, and might be the best choice for your student.
What is a suburban college environment?
Suburban colleges give students more options for activities
off campus in the surrounding rural and urban areas. They often give students
the freedom to choose between outdoor activities similar to those at rural
colleges and urban offerings such as museums, concerts, plays and other
cultural events.
Colleges often provide local transportation to and from the local
community and the urban areas surrounding the college. Local venues surrounding
the college often offer student discounts for access to eating, shopping and
entertainment in the area.
What are the benefits of attending a suburban college?
If your student is looking, as mine was, for the benefits of
an urban college in a suburban environment, this would be an excellent choice.
In a suburban college you can enjoy the benefits of an urban college experience
but escape to the comfort of a college that feels more like home, usually
surrounded by nature and part of a local community. Essentially, you get the
best of both experiences.
For my daughter, her small college in a suburban area was
the perfect fit. Coming from a small high school in a midsize city, the large population
in New York City and the overwhelming size of the colleges she applied to would
have swallowed her up. When homesickness set in, as it always does, her tight knit
community rallied around her and helped her through.
If your student needs more support or feels a smaller,
suburban environment would suit them better, this type of college might be the
perfect fit.
I just returned from a visit to New York City and am always
amazed by the college
opportunities available in such a small space. Manhattan is a mere 23
square miles and there are hundreds of colleges for any interest beckoning for
the adventurous student. From focused studies in film, acting, music and
fashion, to the traditional four-year college, Manhattan offers a wide variety
of secondary education choices.
Is your student craving for an urban experience at college?
If so, there are a few things to consider.
What is an urban
college environment like?
In New York City, the colleges have become part of the city
itself. They are mingled within the skyscrapers and citywide neighborhoods. In
other cities, the college is more self-contained in in their own little
neighborhoods. Since this type of environment can be overwhelming, especially
for students who come from small towns or rural areas. Don’t fool yourself into
thinking just because you want to escape the small-town mentality, that an
urban environment will be easy to navigate.
It takes some tenacity and fortitude to navigate the subway
system in New York, along with the millions of people who live on Manhattan.
The same is true for colleges in Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago and other large
metropolitan areas.
What are the benefits
of attending an urban college?
Urban colleges, like those in New York, offer a wide range of cultural off-campus experiences and a variety of entertainment like museums, concerts, plays and more. In addition, urban colleges offer students a larger pool of possible internship opportunities since many companies operate within these large cities. For instance, if your student is studying film, acting, fashion or music, a college on Manhattan will put them in close proximity to many opportunities to hon their craft and get advice from those currently working in these areas.
For example, in New York City, there is a restaurant called
Ellen’s Stardust Diner
that offers budding Broadway hopefuls the opportunity to perform each day live
in front of an audience of diners while earning wages as servers. In addition,
the establishment pays for additional acting, singing and dancing classes for
its employees. This year alone, 17 of its employees have joined Broadway
productions.
Is an urban college the right choice for your student?
Urban colleges are good environments for outgoing students
who have a spirit of adventure and who like to interact with people of
different cultures and backgrounds. There will always be something going on in
the city and it will be easy to access any activity that interests you.
It’s easy to get around an urban college because you will
have access to a large public transportation system. It likely won’t be
necessary to have a car while attending college because of the easy accessibility
of transportation.
If a certain city is a hot sport for your student’s chosen
career field, like Broadway theater is in New York, they might consider
attending a college within the city. It will be easier to do networking and
make connections while attending school.
Tomorrow, I will explore the advantages of attending a
suburban college. Stay tuned!
Have you ever heard someone say, “College is a waste of time and money”? Or, “There’s no way I could afford to go to college”? These are some common college myths that many people believe to be true. But the reality is that neither of these statements is true.
Following are some common myths about college, examining the
reality of each of them:
Myth #1: College is a waste of time and money.
College is only a waste of time and money if you waste your time
and your money. Choose the right college at the right price and you will recoup
your investment ten-fold. Choose the wrong college and incur a tremendous
amount of debt and the myth could become a reality. Waste your time drinking
and partying without devoting time to academics and that tuition money could
fly out the window.
Myth #2: There’s no way I could afford to go to college.
Many students and parents believe that financial aid is only for the extremely poor or highly gifted students. That’s simply not true. Everyone qualifies for some form of financial aid and there is an affordable college solution for everyone. Community college is an affordable option. Winning scholarships can decrease your college costs as well. Working during college can also help defer some of the costs. If college is your dream, there is a way to finance it.
Myth #3: The college with the lowest price is the most affordable.
This is not necessarily true. Colleges with high sticker prices
often give the most financial aid based on alumni contributions and generous
donors. After taking financial aid into consideration, a seemingly more
expensive college may be more affordable than one with a lower sticker price.
Myth #4: The only good degree comes from a 4-year college.
Nothing could be further from the truth. There are many satisfying
and good paying jobs that require 2-year or technical degrees. If those type of
careers interest you, then you should not discount that type of education.
Getting the degree you need for the career you want is more important than
graduating from a 4-year college.
Myth #5: Small colleges offer limited opportunities.
The size of a college isn’t enough to make a complete judgment. Small colleges and large universities all offer unique opportunities for the students who are looking for that perfect fit. The philosophy and vision of the college and its leadership is much more important that the size of the student body or campus.
Don’t believe everything people say about college. Do your own
research and evaluate using the information you gather. Separate the myths from
the realities.
The increase in college costs and fears about the inability to secure employment after graduation causes many students to consider delaying college or even skipping college altogether.
While college costs can be high, consider that the majority who delay college regret not going and a high percentage continue within the workforce without a college degree. In this competitive job market, a college degree is necessary to compete with other degreed applicants and increase your lifetime earning potential.
If you take AP classes during high school, you can take AP tests
and many colleges will give you college credit based on your test score. Dual
credit classes allow you to attend college while attending high school, giving
you college credit when you graduate. Securing credit before starting to
college can reduce your costs dramatically and many times allow you to complete
your degree in three years.
Begin your college career at a community college
According to the study, 41 percent of adults and 35 percent of
teens said schools like Harvard or Princeton are important, but not necessary
to get ahead. Only 17 percent of teens though going to a top tier school would
give them a better chance of finding a job. Start your college career at the
local community college and save some big bucks. Just make sure that those
credits will transfer to a 4-year college after completion.
Pay as you go
The most effective way to offset high college costs is to adopt
the “pay-as-you-go” method. Many colleges allow you to break the tuition
payments up into affordable monthly installments. If you choose this method,
you can work during college and pay the tuition while you attend. Of course,
you will need to choose an affordable college option, such as a state
university.
Live at home and work during college
While living at home and working might not be your optimum choice,
it’s a viable option. It’s possible to arrange your classes around your work schedule.
Your income from your job can offset tuition costs. Living at home will save
you money on room and board, reducing your college costs significantly and
allowing you to apply that money toward tuition.
Take some classes online
Taking classes online can be less expensive and also cost effective. But before you drop some of your hard earned money check with your college and verify that they will accept those courses as credit. Many students take some courses over the summer and/or winter breaks, saving higher credit costs for those classes that are only offered at their respective colleges.
Delaying college might seem like the best choice when faced with
the high cost; but if you think creatively and work hard, you should be able to
attend college and pursue the degree of your choice.
