THE COLLEGE SEARCH PROCESS A LONG VIEW

Dickinson College

A COMPLICATED LANDSCAPE

 More choices than ever before  New SAT, Coalition App  Outside pressures, including rankings and the national media  Significant demographic shifts

 Increased competition—more applications, same number of spots  Rising cost of higher education  Ever changing global market place—AACU study of occupation variation over the next two decades

COMMON APPLICATION TRENDS • Over 4.3 million applications submitted through the Common App last year (9% increase over 2016) • Almost 960,000 unique application submissions (7.3% increase over 2016) • Over 700 member institutions

ACADEMICS

STANDARDIZED TESTING

ACTIVITIES: GETTING INVOLVED AND EXPLORING YOUR INTERESTS

BUILDING A COMMUNITY

Well-Rounded Well-Angled

(UN)PLANNING YOUR SUMMER

STARTING THE SEARCH

WHERE TO BEGIN  College Search Timeline 

Starting Local

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Use some of your vacation each year

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Starting too early

 Using Your Resources  Give Yourself Plenty of Time for Self Reflection 

How to I learn best?

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Who are my favorite teachers and why?

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What does my academic voice sound like?

 Wide variety of higher education options  Design a Thoughtful Search 

Do your research

RESEARCH: ASKING DEEPER QUESTIONS • • • • • • • • •

Types of research opportunities, internships, community-based projects? When do they start? Percentage that study abroad? For how long? On which programs? Credit and financial aid transfer? Graduation and retention rates? Job and grad school placement? How is it calculated? Curricular initiatives? Strategic plan? College’s 5-10 year building plan? Percentage of the budget spent on instruction compared to student services? Percentage of students that graduate with debt? Average debt? (Perhaps ask about college’s debt—about bond rating?) Institutional priorities (diversity, curriculum, initiatives, etc.)?

EVIDENCE OF SELF-MANAGEMENT

TAKING THE LEAD

 Seek fit  Demonstrate your interest

 Take advantage of the opportunities presented to you here at

Freehold  Take ownership over your education  Take risks and make (reasonable) mistakes

 Be your most mature and most professional self  Open your mind

ROLE OF THE PARENT

Questions?