Research Colleges
http://going2college.org/stateresources/actPage.cfm
Click on “State List”—find Wisconsin
Go See Campus.com
Student Gateway to the U.S. Gov’t.
College Results Online Compare Colleges
http://www.privatecollegezone.org/Plan_and_Prepare/Test_Prep.aspx Planning and Test Prep
Virtual tours of colleges
College Confidential
IPEDS College Search
Search from College Board
www.collegeboard.com/finding
Find college websites
www.clas.ufl.edu/CLAS/american-universities.html
College View—good site to search for schools
Go College
Peterson’s Education and CareerCenter
Study Abroad
http://studyabroad.com
Click on “State List”—find Wisconsin
Go See Campus.com
Student Gateway to the U.S. Gov’t.
College Results Online Compare Colleges
http://www.privatecollegezone.org/Plan_and_Prepare/Test_Prep.aspx Planning and Test Prep
Virtual tours of colleges
College Confidential
IPEDS College Search
Search from College Board
www.collegeboard.com/finding
Find college websites
www.clas.ufl.edu/CLAS/american-universities.html
College View—good site to search for schools
Go College
Peterson’s Education and CareerCenter
Study Abroad
http://studyabroad.com
Local College Websites
UW-Milwaukee
Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)
Alverno College
Marquette University
I.T.T.Technical College
Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)
Cardinal Stritch University
Carroll University
Concordia University--Mequon
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Mount Mary College
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Carthage College
UW-Parkside
UW-Waukesha
Wisconsin Technical College System
University of Wisconsin System
Wisconsin Private Colleges and Universities
.
Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC)
Alverno College
Marquette University
I.T.T.Technical College
Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE)
Cardinal Stritch University
Carroll University
Concordia University--Mequon
Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design
Mount Mary College
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Carthage College
UW-Parkside
UW-Waukesha
Wisconsin Technical College System
University of Wisconsin System
Wisconsin Private Colleges and Universities
.
Where to Apply?
1. Identify Priorities – Ask yourself the following questions as you try to decide where to apply.
Location – region/state(s)
-How close to home do you want to stay?
-Is a four hour drive too much?
-How well do you adapt to new situations?
-Would you be lonely if you moved far away from family and friends?
-Is there an area of the country where you always wanted to go to school?
Setting – urban, suburban, rural
-Are you looking for the excitement of a big city?
-Would you like to live on a picturesque campus with easy access to the activities of a big city?
Size
-Have you always thought you would attend a big football school?
-Do you like the idea of a small school where it is easy to get to know everyone including the professors?
-Do you learn better in a small class environment or a larger classroom?
-Will a small school offer you the variety of courses and majors you need?
-Have you thought you would like to start at a small school and later transfer to a larger school?
-Are you looking for a college about the size of your high school?
Type of School
-Would you prefer a liberal arts college or a major university?
-Would you be interested in a more specialized school such as an art school or a service academy?
-Have you considered a single sex school?
-Would you be interested in a historically black college or a religiously affiliated school?
Majors
-Are you looking for a school with a particular major?
-Do you need a school that offers pre-professional programs such as pre-med, pre-law, and pre-vet?
Academic Reputation
-Are you looking for a school that has a reputation for being academically challenging?
-Do you think you will need a school that offers strong academic support?
Cost
-Have you and your family discussed how much you can afford to spend on college?
-Are you thinking of going to a community college the first two years to save money?
-Will you be living at home?
-Would you be willing to take a job on campus to help pay for college expenses?
Athletics
-Do you intend to play a sport in college?
-Are you competitive for Division I sports?
-If playing for a Division I team meant sitting on the bench all season,
would you rather play at a Division III school where you will play every game?
-Are you looking for an intramural team where you could play a sport just for fun?
Campus Facilities
-Are you looking for a school where most students live on campus or will you be commuting?
-As a freshman, will you want to have a car on campus?
-How important is the quality of the food?
-Will you require something special such as vegetarian or kosher meals?
-Do you require handicapped accessibility?
Special Programs
-Do you need a school with services or programs for the learning disabled?
-Are you interested in ROTC?
-Have you thought you would like to study abroad?
-Do you plan to continue your ESL studies in college?
-Are you looking for an honors program?
Campus Life
-Do you plan to join a fraternity or sorority?
-Do you participate in activities in high school that you would like to continue in college?
-Does the school offer opportunities for community service?
2. Gather Information – Research colleges using the sources listed below.
College Search Programs
Generate a computer list of colleges meeting your individual criteria using college search software on the internet.
Reference Materials
Gather more in-depth information from catalogs, videos, view books, and guides available on the internet.
Admissions Offices
Contact colleges for more detailed information and applications.
Guidance Department
Discuss individual colleges with your counselor
College Visits
Use this opportunity to gather information from admissions offices, academic departments, finance offices, athletic departments, residence halls, and dining facilities.
3. List 15-20 Colleges to Research
College search programs on the internet can help you develop the list of colleges that match your priorities.
4. Evaluate Your Choices
Evaluate colleges in terms of what criteria are most important to you. List the advantages and disadvantages of each college. Do the pluses outweigh the minuses?
5. Decide Where You Want To Apply
Most students make application to at least three colleges; five or six would give you all the options you need. As you narrow your choices your selections may fall into three categories:
Possible schools – those which are a reach for you either academically or financially.
Probable schools – those which will meet all your needs and will likely accept you.
Safe schools – those which will make you happy and will be sure to accept you.
6. Start Completing and Submitting College Applications
Location – region/state(s)
-How close to home do you want to stay?
-Is a four hour drive too much?
-How well do you adapt to new situations?
-Would you be lonely if you moved far away from family and friends?
-Is there an area of the country where you always wanted to go to school?
Setting – urban, suburban, rural
-Are you looking for the excitement of a big city?
-Would you like to live on a picturesque campus with easy access to the activities of a big city?
Size
-Have you always thought you would attend a big football school?
-Do you like the idea of a small school where it is easy to get to know everyone including the professors?
-Do you learn better in a small class environment or a larger classroom?
-Will a small school offer you the variety of courses and majors you need?
-Have you thought you would like to start at a small school and later transfer to a larger school?
-Are you looking for a college about the size of your high school?
Type of School
-Would you prefer a liberal arts college or a major university?
-Would you be interested in a more specialized school such as an art school or a service academy?
-Have you considered a single sex school?
-Would you be interested in a historically black college or a religiously affiliated school?
Majors
-Are you looking for a school with a particular major?
-Do you need a school that offers pre-professional programs such as pre-med, pre-law, and pre-vet?
Academic Reputation
-Are you looking for a school that has a reputation for being academically challenging?
-Do you think you will need a school that offers strong academic support?
Cost
-Have you and your family discussed how much you can afford to spend on college?
-Are you thinking of going to a community college the first two years to save money?
-Will you be living at home?
-Would you be willing to take a job on campus to help pay for college expenses?
Athletics
-Do you intend to play a sport in college?
-Are you competitive for Division I sports?
-If playing for a Division I team meant sitting on the bench all season,
would you rather play at a Division III school where you will play every game?
-Are you looking for an intramural team where you could play a sport just for fun?
Campus Facilities
-Are you looking for a school where most students live on campus or will you be commuting?
-As a freshman, will you want to have a car on campus?
-How important is the quality of the food?
-Will you require something special such as vegetarian or kosher meals?
-Do you require handicapped accessibility?
Special Programs
-Do you need a school with services or programs for the learning disabled?
-Are you interested in ROTC?
-Have you thought you would like to study abroad?
-Do you plan to continue your ESL studies in college?
-Are you looking for an honors program?
Campus Life
-Do you plan to join a fraternity or sorority?
-Do you participate in activities in high school that you would like to continue in college?
-Does the school offer opportunities for community service?
2. Gather Information – Research colleges using the sources listed below.
College Search Programs
Generate a computer list of colleges meeting your individual criteria using college search software on the internet.
Reference Materials
Gather more in-depth information from catalogs, videos, view books, and guides available on the internet.
Admissions Offices
Contact colleges for more detailed information and applications.
Guidance Department
Discuss individual colleges with your counselor
College Visits
Use this opportunity to gather information from admissions offices, academic departments, finance offices, athletic departments, residence halls, and dining facilities.
3. List 15-20 Colleges to Research
College search programs on the internet can help you develop the list of colleges that match your priorities.
4. Evaluate Your Choices
Evaluate colleges in terms of what criteria are most important to you. List the advantages and disadvantages of each college. Do the pluses outweigh the minuses?
5. Decide Where You Want To Apply
Most students make application to at least three colleges; five or six would give you all the options you need. As you narrow your choices your selections may fall into three categories:
Possible schools – those which are a reach for you either academically or financially.
Probable schools – those which will meet all your needs and will likely accept you.
Safe schools – those which will make you happy and will be sure to accept you.
6. Start Completing and Submitting College Applications
The College Visit
Would you spend thousands of dollars to buy a new car without taking a test drive? Probably not. Since a college education costs considerably more than a new car, it makes sense to test the college with a visit to the campus. Once you have narrowed your choices to a manageable number, consider this step of the selection process a MUST.
Following are a few hints that may make your college visit more productive:
Following are a few hints that may make your college visit more productive:
- Plan to visit no more than two colleges in one day.
- Plan your visit when school is in session.
- Make prior arrangements to speak to someone in the admissions office and to take a tour of the campus.
- Stay overnight in a residence hall whenever possible.
- Allow enough time to see everything that is of interest to you (e.g. residence hall, libraries, laboratories, student center, cafeteria, athletic facilities).
- Talk with students, faculty, and admissions personnel.
- Have a list of questions and take a notebook to record the answers and your impressions.