The 21st Century Student's Guide to College SW

The 21st Century Student's Guide to College SW

STUDENT WORKBOOK

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Susan Mulcaire

PREVIEW

STUDENT WORKBOOK

PREVIEW

Susan Mulcaire

© 2016 Susan Mulcaire

All rights reserved. The content of this book and the teaching methods are protected by intellectual property laws. c21 Student Publishing, an imprint of Tween Publishing, grants permission to noncommercial users to provide instruction based on the content of this book. No other part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or in part, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, for any commercial or noncommercial use without the written permission of the publisher. For information regarding permission, write to c21 Student Publishing LLC, P.O. Box 8677, Newport Beach, CA 92625-8677, or contact c21 Student Publising by email at [email protected]. Grateful acknowledgement goes to the photographers and publishers who have permitted through Wikimedia Commons unrestricted use thereof, or in licensing the images under Creative Commons Attribution or the GNU Free Documentation License.

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN 978-0-9836906-2-7

TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIEW

Preface: What are Your Plans? ...........................................................

v

Chapter 1: College… What's In It For You? .................................................

1

Chapter 2: I Spy a College Campus ........................................................

11

Chapter 3: Let’s Go to College ............................................................

23

Chapter 4: Road Trip! ....................................................................

33

Chapter 5: Let’s Apply to College! .........................................................

43

Chapter 6: Move-In Day .................................................................

57

Chapter 7: Major Discovery ..............................................................

69

Chapter 8: Game On! College Sports ......................................................

81

Chapter 9: Opportunities, Unlimited… .....................................................

97

Chapter 10: Alternative Paths to Success ..................................................

109

Chapter 11: The College Investment (You) ..................................................

123

Chapter 12: Disaster on the Path! .........................................................

135

Chapter 13: The High School Years ........................................................

153

Chapter 14: Let’s Graduate! ..............................................................

163

Chapter 15: How to Ruin Your College Experience ..........................................

175

Glossary ..............................................................................

187

Answer Key ...........................................................................

192

iii

What are you doing after high school?

Check the box that best describes your education plan for after you graduate high school:

A. B. C. D.

I plan to go to college.

I don’t plan to go to college.

I have plans other than a traditional 4-year college.

I have no plan.

If you answered A , B , C or D , this book is for you.

OK, that was a trick question, because The 21st Century Student's Guide to College is for all students, regardless of whether they’re planning to go to college, not planning to go to college, don’t know if they’re going to college, or have other plans. Here’s why: If you checked Box A : Great decision. Do you know that the path to college begins long before your junior or senior year of high school? There’s a lot to know and a lot to do to prepare for college. In high school, you’ll be bombarded with information about college preparation, college applications, and college admission. Many of the terms and concepts will be unfamiliar to you. It can be intimidating. Teachers and counselors often assume students understand — but many don’t. The 21st Century Student's Guide to College is a fun introduction to college path terms and concepts, so you can con ! dently navigate your path to college — starting right now! PREVIEW

v

If you checked Box B :

Seriously?? You’re, like 15 or 16, and you’ve already made a decision that will negatively (really negatively) impact you for the rest of your life? Why? Let’s see...you don’t like school? You don’t think you’re college material? No one in your family has ever gone to college? Maybe you just can’t see yourself as a college student. You’ve given up on college before you know anything about it? One of the ! rst things you’ll learn in The 21st Century Student's Guide to College is that there’s a good college for every student. Another thing you’ll learn, is that college is very di " erent from middle school or high school. (Duh! It’s fun! ) OK, it’s also hard work, but the unlimited, lifelong bene ! ts of a college education (not to mention awesome opportunities and exciting sports) make college totally worth the e " ort. Go back and check box A. PREVIEW

If you checked Box C : Maybe you’ve set your sights are on an alternative path, such as a career program like a fashion design, ! lm and video production, or even the military. Maybe you plan to go directly from high school into the workforce. Stop. Go back. Check Box A. No, that doesn’t mean you’re giving up on your dream. Career programs and jobs can be very competitive. So reach for the highest bar: prepare for college! By preparing for college you will be be # er prepared for a good job or for admission to the career training program of your choice. If your plans or interests change, or you fall short of your goal, your e " orts will assure that you are well-quali ! ed for other options.

If you checked Box D :

I'm going bacK to check box a

Go back. Check Box A.

Read on Î

vi

College… What’s In It For You?

CHAPTER 1

Read the question. Check yes or no.

Hmmm... Why go to college?

Yes No

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Do you like money? When you are an adult, will you prefer an interesting career over a dead end job? Do you prefer a comfortable lifestyle? Do you like friends, fun, and adventure? Do you prefer a life of stability over instability? Do you love America? Do you value self-improvement?

Learning Goals

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, read on...

When you ! nish this chapter you should be able to: De ! ne three college path vocabulary terms. List 6 bene ! ts of a college education.

Do you know that the quality of your life as an adult is directly linked to the education you get after high school? It’s true. These days, anyone who likes money, a comfortable lifestyle, opportunity for career advancement, job security, and all that other good stuff, needs more than a high school education. The bene ! ts of a college education extend beyond economics. There are plenty of social bene ! ts, including fun, adventure, lifelong friends, intellectual growth, and even a stronger nation. Come on, get on the path to college!

Summarize the economic and social bene ! ts of a college education.

1

What Does That Mean?

College and university are words used to describe an institution of higher education (a school). Although academically similar, there are some differences between a college and a university : t
Universities tend to be larger , in terms of the number of students. t A university is made up of multiple (internal) academic divisions referred to as colleges . t A university may be one of a system of universities within a state. (eg. UCLA is one of 10 universities within the University of California system .) Unless otherwise noted, the terms college and university are used interchangeably in this book. Any formal education after high school is referred to as postsecondary (post = after; secondary = high school). College is a form of postsecondary education . PREVIEW

Middle school and high school students taking this course can access vocabulary e- ! ashcards at www.middleschoolguide.com

2

Chapter 1 | College… What’s In It For You?

What are the Bene ! ts of a College Education?

Show Me the Money!

In 2016, the median earnings of young adults with a bachelor's degree ($50,000) were 57 percent higher than those of young adult high school completers ($31,800). The median earnings of young adult high school completers were 26 percent higher than those of young adults who did not complete high school ($25,400). Over a lifetime, a college graduate can out-earn a worker with only a high school diploma by more than a million dollars and the gap continues to widen. College graduates build more wealth and ! nancial security faster and more easily.

Better pay is one of the life-long benefits of a college education

*Source: IES National Center for Education Statistics

Who’s the Boss? (Hint: Probably not you, if you didn’t get a college education.)

Most jobs in the best paying industries now require a college education. Without one, it’s very hard to compete with other applicants. The better paying (and more interesting) jobs go to college graduates. A high school graduate faces at least 50 years in the workforce before retirement. Without a college education, or some formal postsecondary training, you are far more likely to be stuck in low level, low paying jobs . Imagine working a dead end job year after year, watching college graduates climb the career ladder ahead of you. That’s not an enjoyable prospect to face for a lifetime. If you think you

can get to the top of the career ladder without a college education —

you’d better think again.

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Unemployment s*cks!

College educated people have lower rates of joblessness than those with only a high school diploma. For example, at 3 percent, the unemployment rate was lowest for those who has gone to college and earned a bachelor's or higher degree. Young adults with some college education but no college degree had a 4 percent unemployment rate. Those who had completed high school had a 7 percent unemployment rate. Those who had not completed high school faced a whopping 13 percent unemployment rate!

Lower unemployment is a benefit of a college education

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THE 21 ST CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE

College is Chill

OK, here’s something you won’t hear much about from teachers and counselors: College is fun! Sure, it’s also hard work, but most everyone who went to college describes it as one of the best times of their life. A traditional college education takes four years. While at college, you’ll meet lifelong friends , (and possibly signi ! cant others), go to exciting sports events , study interesting subjects , and maybe even travel overseas . College graduates have a larger network of friends and acquaintances who can evolve into business colleagues and contacts . Go ahead – ask anyone who went to college: “Was your college education worth the effort? Did you enjoy your time in college?” You’ll hear plenty of happy memories! Have you ever heard anyone say “Gee, I wish I never went to college!”?

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America Needs You!

(Yes, you!) Educated people are innovators and inventors. America must have a college-educated workforce to compete in the global (world) economy . Educated citizens are also better able to process the complex information that faces them every day. They make informed political decisions and better economic choices. They are innovators and leaders. College is important, not just because of a career and money, but because of the economic and political strength that educated people bring to a society. Get on the path to college!

i want you to go to college!

Self-Improvement. (No, you are not perfect the way you are.)

College is not just about taking classes. In college, you will experience an unmatched opportunity for personal intellectual growth. Studies have shown that intellectual growth and stimulation can lead to a richer, fuller and more enjoyable life. In college, you’ll be exposed to new ideas. You’ll meet new people, and encounter some whose opinions and beliefs will challenge, and even change yours. You’ll experience different cultures and ways of thinking that will expand your world to show you life’s abundant possibilities. The ability to engage in and appreciate personal intellectual PREVIE PREVIEW growth is a lifelong bene ! t of a college education.

Chapter 1 Learning Goals Check

Can you: De ! ne college/university, postsecondary? List 6 bene ! ts of a college education? Summarize the economic and social bene ! ts of a college education?

4

Chapter 1 | College… What’s In It For You?

Blog/Debate/Discuss

1. In your opinion, what is the most important bene¿t of a college education? 2. How do college educated people encourage innovation and invention in America? 3. Imagine your future as a college graduate. Imagine your future without a college education. How are they different?

PREVIEW

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THE 21 ST CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE

CHAPTER 1

TERMS & CONCEPTS

Name: _____________________________________________________________________________

1. A traditional college education is _____ years. a. 10

b. 4 c. 2 d. 1

2. The bene ! ts of a college education include: a. Better pay and signi ! cantly more earnings over a lifetime b. Increased job security & career opportunities c. Friends, adventure, better health, fun and personal intellectual improvement. d. All of the above.

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3. “Postsecondary” means: a. after college

b. after middle school c. after second grade d. after high school

4. In 2016, young adults with a college degree earned ____% more than those without a high school credential and___ % more than young adult high school completers.

a. 103; 62 b. 100; 16 c. 20; 20 d. 75; 40

5. The U.S. needs well-educated, college graduates in order to: a. compete in the global economy b. maintain a strong, innovative workforce c. be a society that makes informed political and economic decisions d. all of the above

6. Which of these statements is generally correct: a. In terms of the number of students enrolled, universities tend to be larger than colleges. b. Universities are made up of clusters of academic divisions referred to as “colleges.” c. A university can be one of a system of several universities within a state. d. All of the above.

PREVIEW

6

Chapter 1 | College… What’s In It For You?

CHAPTER 1

TERMS & CONCEPTS

Name: _____________________________________________________________________________

True or False:

___________ 7. All high school students should take college prep classes. Preparing for college is the best way to prepare for any postsecondary educational opportunity.

___________ 8. In the U.S., postsecondary education is mandatory for all people over the age of 18.

___________ 9. For the most part, there are few academic differences between a “college” and “university.”

___________ 10. A bene ! t of college is being among a large group of people who think just like you.

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___________ 11. Most people who went to college regret it.

___________ 12. A high school graduate faces at least 50 years in the workforce.

___________ 13. Unemployment statistics indicate no signi ! cant advantage to a college education.

___________ 14. Intellectually, you are not perfect the way you are since intellectual growth and self- improvement should be a lifelong pursuit.

Do the Math:

15. Angela graduated from college and is making $50,000 per year. Her friend Dinesh didn’t think a college education was important, and never went to college. Based on U.S. 2016 statistics, approximately how much more money does Angela make per year than Dinesh? ___________________________.

 Bonus: Over the next 50 years, approximately how much more money will Angela make than Dinesh based on these ! gures? $ ______________.

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THE 21 ST CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE

ESSAY QUESTION

What are the economic and social bene ! ts of a college education? How can these bene ! ts create a stronger nation? PREVIEW

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Chapter 1 | College… What’s In It For You?

WORKSHEET

Name: _____________________________________________________________________________

PREVIEW

WHEN WILL YOU GO TO COLLEGE?

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THE 21 ST CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE

NOTES

10

Chapter 1 | College… What’s In It For You?

I Spy a College Campus

CHAPTER 2

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Do you see college in your future?

Learning Goals

Colleges are busy, exciting places. Many people, often thousands, live, study, work, or teach on a college campus every day. Have you ever imagined yourself as a college student on a college campus? Where would you live? Where would you eat? Study? Hang out? What does a college campus look like? Does it look like a high school? Colleges around the country can have vastly different looks and styles. But all colleges have certain buildings and features in common. In this chapter you’ll explore a typical college campus to learn which buildings and features are common to most college campuses, and discover where college students go to live, learn, study, eat and hang out. Check it out!

When you ! nish this chapter you should be able to: De ! ne nine college path vocabulary terms. List 10 features common to most college campuses, and their purpose. List ! ve ways a college campus is different than a high school campus.

PREVIEW

11

What Does That Mean?

College and university students are referred to as undergraduates .

The entire population of undergraduates at a college or university is collectively referred to as the student body . (ie. "The college has a student body of 7000.” ) The teacher is called a professor . There are several levels of professorship:
t
An assistant professor is an introductory level professor;
t
An associate professor is a mid-level professor.
t
A tenured professor is a senior professor with a lifetime appointment to teach at the college or university.
t
A professor emeritus is a retired professor. A Teaching Assistant (T.A.) is a student who assists the professor with instructional responsibilities.

Collectively, the professors are referred to as the faculty .

Go to www.middleschoolguide.com for vocab e- ! ashcards. PREVIEW

12

Chapter 2 | I Spy a College Campus

What’s a College Campus Like?

A college campus refers to the area that encompasses a college or university's educational and administrative buildings, student residences, athletic facilities and more . Usually, it’s a fairly large area of land with many buildings and lots of open space. There are thousands of colleges all over the United States. Whether located in a big city, small town or rural area, colleges have many similar features. On page 21 is a map of a college campus. Your job: Read about the building or feature below, ! nd it on the map, and 9 the box. Libraries, libraries, libraries. Every college campus has a library . Many colleges have several, such as a main library, where undergraduates often go to study, and several small libraries containing resources for a particular ! eld of study, such as engineering, chemistry, or art. PREVIEW

College libraries are not like middle school or high school libraries. They are large and comfortable, and usually open until very late at night. College libraries are staffed with librarians and research specialists who help students with all aspects of papers, reports, and research projects. College libraries often have hundreds of thousands of volumes and access to many more. Some have rare and very valuable manuscripts and original historical records. Some college libraries are world-famous examples of epic architecture. Go ahead – Google “most beautiful college libraries” and take a tour of some famous college libraries where people like President John F. Kennedy, or Bill Gates studied.

Harper Library, University of Chicago is one of America’s most beautiful college libraries.

Lecture halls and classrooms: When many undergraduates are enrolled in a class, instruction may take place in a lecture hall . A lecture hall can hold hundreds of students. Other instruction takes place in a classroom, much like a high school classroom. Lectures usually include plenty of instructional aids like videos and slides. Most lectures are given by the professor , associate professor or assistant professor . Occasionally a teaching assistant (T.A.) or professor emeritus will instruct a class. PREVIEW

Found it on the map!

Lecture halls can hold hundreds of students

Found it on the map!

Science labs: Most colleges have science labs with state-of-the-art (that means the best and newest) equipment like DNA sequencers, spectrophotometers, and incubators. Some colleges even have wind tunnels for students studying climatology, anti-gravity chambers for students of astrophysics, and electron microscopes

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THE 21 ST CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE

for biology students. Students get involved in all sorts of awesome research projects and experiments.

Found it on the map!

Theater: Drama, music, dance and video productions make the campus theater a busy place. Students rehearse plays, work on set and lighting design, watch student produced ! lms, listen to student bands, and guest lecturers at the campus theater.

College Science Labs have state-of-the-art equipment.

Found it on the map!

Dining Commons: There are many hungry students to feed on a college campus. Undergraduates eat cafeteria style in the campus dining commons . Most dining commons offer a variety of food from burgers and fries, to pizza, pasta, salad, juice bars, vegan, and all kinds of world culture foods. Food is available 24/7 on most college campuses.

Found it on the map!

Dining Commons offer a variety of good food.

Small restaurants, coffee bars and snack carts: Students, professors and campus employees have a selection of places to eat, snack or enjoy a coffee with friends. Small cafes, coffee bars, and snack carts may be located all around campus.

Found it on the map!

Residence Halls (Student Housing): Many students come from far away to go to the college, so they live on campus in the residence hall . The residence hall has dorm rooms where a student may have one or several roommates. It has a common area where students hang out and watch TV or socialize. Residence halls also have laundry facilities, tech, and study rooms. Most residence halls are coed , meaning they house both men and women, usually on separate " oors or wings, although some colleges now have coed " oors and even coed rooms. Some residence halls have

A typical dorm room…

a theme option bringing together students with similar interests, such as a “green” hall or " oor or wing for students interested in global sustainability, or a language immersion hall, " oor, or wing for students who want to become " uent in a foreignlanguage. World culture, performing arts, and politics are a few common residence hall themes.

Found it on the map!

14

Chapter 2 | I Spy a College Campus

Bookstore: All colleges have a bookstore where students buy textbooks, school supplies, and necessities, like toothpaste, shampoo and snacks. Most college bookstores sell tee shirts, hats, and sweatshirts with the college logo.

Found it on the map!

Student health center: It’s not a hospital, but the student health center is staffed by medical professionals who provide students with wellness, illness and injury care when needed.

PREVIEW

Found it on the map!

The Quad : A Quad is an outdoor space surrounded by buildings. Quads are popular places. Outside of class time and when the weather is nice, students hang out, study, socialize, eat or pick up a soccer or frisbee game at the Quad . Sometimes a student band plays in the Quad.

Hanging out in the quad is a popular college pastime.

Found it on the map!

Athletic/Fitness Center: Most colleges have awesome athletic and ! tness centers with indoor and outdoor tracks, tennis courts, baseball, soccer and football ! elds, basketball and volleyball courts, gyms, saunas, steam, pool… Undergraduates are encouraged to use the athletic center for ! tness and fun. Some colleges even have a football stadium for the college’s football team. To see some cool facilities, go to Sports Illustrated — Top Ten College Sports Venues at www.sportsillustrated.cnn.com.

Texas A & M University Student Recreation Center

Found it on the map!

Student Union: The student union building is like a campus community center. Located at the heart of campus, the student union building has many purposes. It may have business of ! ces, a bank window or ATM, a career center, tutoring services, a gaming and video room, a gallery for student art work, snack bar, meeting facilities and administrative of ! ces. It’s a busy place.

Found it on the map!

Student Union building at Texas Tech University

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THE 21 ST CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE

Chapter 2 Learning Goals Check

Can you:

De ! ne undergraduate, student body, professor (assistant, associate, tenured and emeritus), faculty, teaching assistant?

List 12 buildings or features common to most college campuses, and their purpose?

List ! ve ways a college campus is different than a high school campus.

PREVIEW

16

Chapter 2 | I Spy a College Campus

PREVIEW

Blog/Debate/Discuss

1. Library? Quad? Dining hall? Coffee Bar? Where would you hang out on a college campus? Why? 2. Google “most beautiful college libraries.” Which do you like best? Would any of these libraries inspire you to study more? 3. What type of food could you not live without in college?

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THE 21 ST CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE

CHAPTER 2

TERMS & CONCEPTS

Name: _____________________________________________________________________________

1. What or who is an undergraduate? _____________________________________________________

2. Sarita walked into her college class and said “Hello, Teacher!” What mistake did she make?

_______________________________________________________________________________

3. List twelve buildings or features you would ! nd on a typical college campus, and their purpose:

Building:

Purpose:

_____________________________ ________________________________________________

_____________________________ ________________________________________________

_____________________________ ________________________________________________

_____________________________ ________________________________________________

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_____________________________ ________________________________________________

_____________________________ ________________________________________________

_____________________________ ________________________________________________

_____________________________ ________________________________________________

_____________________________ ________________________________________________

_____________________________ ________________________________________________

_____________________________ ________________________________________________

_____________________________ ________________________________________________

4. “Student body” is the term used to describe: a. a hot college student b. the buffed look a college student gets from working out at the University Athletic Center c. the professors, students and employees of the college d. the entire population of students at the college

18

Chapter 2 | I Spy a College Campus

CHAPTER 2

TERMS & CONCEPTS

Name: _____________________________________________________________________________

5. On a college campus, where might you ! nd business of ! ces, meeting rooms, an ATM or a display of student artwork? _________________________________________

6. On a college campus, where would you go for medical care if you sprained your ankle at the Athletic Center? _________________________________________

7. On a college campus, where would you go to watch a student directed play, student produced

lm, or to

listen to a student band? _____________________________________

8. State-of -the-art means: ______________________________________________________

True or False:

___________ 9. A tenured professor has little experience teaching at the college level.

___________ 10. A professor emeritus is a retired professor.

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11. What or who is a T.A.?

_______________________________________________________________________________

12. In terms of residence halls, what is a theme?

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

BONUS: List at least ! ve ways a college campus is different than a typical high school campus.

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

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THE 21 ST CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE

ESSAY QUESTION

Some colleges offer residence halls with a theme where students with similar interests live together in a learning community . Themes can include language immersion, music, world cultures, global issues, science, performing arts, etc. Would you like to live in a theme residence hall? Research college residence hall theme living programs. Tell if theme living appeals to you and, if so, why?

PREVIEW

20

Chapter 2 | I Spy a College Campus

WORKSHEET

PREVIEW

21

THE 21 ST CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE

NOTES

22

Chapter 2 | I Spy a College Campus

Let’s Go to College

CHAPTER 3

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With so many choices, how would you go about selecting a college?

Here in America, there are excellent colleges and universities everywhere. In fact, there are about 4,400 colleges, universities, and junior colleges in the U.S. Colleges, like students, come in all shapes and sizes. In your sophomore or junior year of high school, you will begin the process of researching colleges to ! nd a good match for your educational needs, talents and goals. With so many choices, how would you go about selecting a college? How do high school students even begin to ! lter through the mountains of information and thousands of options to select a college? Many factors go into a student’s choice of college. In this chapter, you will learn six of the most important selection criteria: region , academics , setting , size , personality and af ! liation . You will also learn that there is a good college match for every student!

Learning Goals

When you ! nish this chapter you should be able to: De ! ne seven college path vocabulary terms. List basic college selection criteria. Understand that there is a good college match for every student — including you!

23

What Does That Mean?

Region refers to the U.S. Department of Education’s geographic divisions of colleges. Academic/Selective refers to the level of scholarly studies. (ie. “That college is highly academic .” or “That university is highly selective .”) Colleges are located in many different settings , meaning location and surroundings such as urban or rural. The size of a college refers to the number of undergraduates enrolled at the college. College campuses have different personalities or “vibes.” A college may have an afÀliation , which means it was started by, or for the purpose of educating a particular group of people, or is associated with a group of colleges promoting educational opportunities for a group of people. G.P.A. means Grade Point Average , which is the conversion of a student’s letter grades into a numerical equivalent used to compare students’ academic abilities. Go to www.middleschoolguide.com for vocab e- ! ashcards. PREVIEW

24

Chapter 3 | Let’s Go to College

College Selection With so many choices (over 4,000), how do high school students decide which college to go to? Many factors go into a student’s choice of college. Here are six of the most important college selection criterion :

With so many choices, how do students select a college?

Region

When choosing a college, location is an important factor for many students. Some students want to stay close to home — within a couple of hours drive. Others want to go farther away from

home, to experience what it’s like to live in a different climate or culture. For example, a student from Tuscon, Arizona, who selects a college in Rhode Island will experience a very different lifestyle. The U.S. Department of Education separates colleges into eight distinct regions : Far West, Southeast, Rocky Mountains, Great Lakes, Southwest, Mideast, Plains and New England. There are excellent colleges and universities in every region. (See the map of College Regions of the United States on page 31) Which region do you live in? Would you prefer a college far from your home region? Would you rather stay close to home, or is region not an important factor for you?

WA

ME

MT

ND

VT

MN

OR

NH

ID

MA

NY

WI

SD

MI

RI

WY

CT

PA

IA

NE

OH

NU

NV

IN

IL

DE

UT

WV

CO

MD

VA

CA

KS

MO

DC

KY

NC

TN

OK

AZ

SC

AR

NM

GA

AL

MS

AK

LA

TX

FL

HI

Location is an important selection factor for many students.

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Academics

There are colleges for students of all academic abilities — from the high achieving to the not-so-high achieving. There are even colleges with programs for students with learning disabilities. The level of academics offered at a college is an important factor to be considered by students when selecting a college. Some colleges are considered highly selective or highly academic . That means that they are geared toward the very high achieving student. A group of eight famous and highly selective schools is referred to as the Ivy League : They are Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.

Princeton University is an Ivy League college

Regardless of region, academic or selectivity level, all colleges want students who have worked hard to maintain a strong high school Grade Point Average (GPA) . GPA is a conversion of a student’s letter grades (such as A,B,C) into a numerical equivalent such as 3.3 or 4.0. Whether highly selective, or only moderately selective,

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THE 21 ST CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE

all colleges review a student’s high school GPA prior to admission because it is a strong indicator of whether he or she is likely to be successful at the college. The more selective the college, the higher a student’s GPA must be in order to qualify for admission. In addition to a high GPA, the admissions committee of a highly selective college expects high test scores , Advanced Placement classes , and meaningful extracurricular activities , which you'll learn more about in a later chapter.

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Setting

Some students want to go to college in a big city setting, like New York City. Others may prefer a small town or a rural area. Some like mountains, some prefer coastal areas, others like the open plains of the Midwest. There are colleges in all types of settings . What kinds of settings can you think of? What kind of setting do you prefer? When you go to college, will you want to experience what it’s like to live in a setting that is different from your home town?

New York University is in a large city (urban) setting

Size

College size does not refer to how big the campus is. It refers to how many undergraduates are enrolled at the college . Colleges come in small , medium and large . A small college has about 5000 or fewer undergraduates. Classes tend to be smaller and students are more likely to have an opportunity to get to know their professors. A medium size college will have between 5000 and 10,000 undergraduates. A large college will have a student body of over 10,000. Combined with the people who work on, or visit the campus every day, it’s like a small city! At a large college or university, your classes may have many students and your T.A. (Teaching Assistant) will be active in your education. The size of a college is an important selection factor for many students.

PREVIEW

Personality

Colleges have distinct personalities . A personality can be best described as how the campus feels — the vibe. What are the students like? Are they driven and competitive? Laid back? Artsy? Politically active? Boho? Are sports a big part of the vibe? What does the campus look like? Is the architecture old and traditional, or sleek, contemporary or high tech? Some colleges attract students with similar interests, like science and technology, performing arts, environmental issues, etc. Some college campuses are noisy, and crowded with students and faculty, rushing to and from class. Some campuses are calm, quiet corners away from the bustle of the

Some colleges attract students with similar interests—like social activism.

everyday world. Most colleges are coeducational or “coed” (meaning that it admits both men and women.) But there are a few colleges that admit only men, including Morehouse, Hampton-Sydney, St. Johns University and Wabash. There are also colleges that admit only women, including Barnard College, Bryn Mawr College, Mills College, Mount Holyoke College, Simmons College, Scripps College, and Smith College.

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Chapter 3 | Let’s Go to College

Af ! liation

Most colleges or universities are public , meaning that they are sponsored and supported by their state’s taxpayers. Other colleges are private , which means that the college does not rely on taxpayer support. Some colleges have ethnic or religious af ! liations . That doesn’t mean a student must be of a certain race or religion to go there. It means that the college was started by, or for the purpose of educating a particular group of people, or is a member of an association promoting educational opportunities for certain people. Many students are attracted to colleges with an af ! liation. Check out the chart below. Review the college af ! liations. Do any of these appeal to you?

Af ! liation

Informative Website

African American Colleges

www.blackcollegesearch.com hbcuconnect.com

Hispanic Association of Colleges

www.hacu.net

Jesuit (Catholic) Colleges

www.ajcunet.edu

Christian Colleges

www.christiancolleges.com www.christiancollegeguide.net www.aihec.org www.tribalcollegejournal.org

Tribal Colleges and Universities

Jewish Colleges and Universities

www.hillel.org www.koach.org

Lutheran Universities

www.lutherancolleges.org

Women’s Colleges

www.womenscolleges.org

Military Colleges

www.amcsus.org

Baptist Colleges

www.sbc.net/colleges.asp www.baptistschools.org

Quaker Colleges

www.quaker.org/colleges.html

Learning Disabled

www.college-scholarships.com/learning_disabilities.htm www.ahead.org/sigs

Chapter 3 Learning Goals Check

Can you:

De ! ne region, academic, setting, size, personality, af ! liation, Grade Point Average (GPA)?

Explain basic college selection criteria?

Understand that with so many college choices in the U.S., there is a good college ! t for every student?

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THE 21 ST CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE

Blog/Debate/Discuss

1. Region? Size? Setting? Academics? Which college selection criterion is most important to you and why? Rank college selection criteria in order of importance to you. 2. What’s your personality/vibe? Would you be attracted to a college with a similar personality or vibe, or to one that is different than yours? What would it be? 3. 5esearch the college af¿liation websites on page 3. :hat are the bene¿ts of attending a college with an af¿liation? :hat are the drawbacNs? :ould you consider going to an af¿liated college or university?

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Chapter 3 | Let’s Go to College

CHAPTER 3

TERMS & CONCEPTS

Name: _____________________________________________________________________________

True or False:

___________ 1. No dudes allowed! A college that describes itself as coeducational is for women only.

___________2. A private college or university relies entirely on taxpayer support.

___________3. The size of a college refers to how many undergraduates are enrolled there.

___________4. The Ivy League refers to a group of eight highly academic and highly selective colleges.

___________ 5. Alana is Hispanic. She is interested in going to Bowie State University, the oldest historically black college in Maryland. She can never be admitted because she is not African American.

___________ 6. G.P.A. is a numerical measurement of student’s letter grades used to assess the student’s academic ability, to compare the student with other students.

PREVIEW

Fill in the blanks:

7. A small college has about _____________ or fewer undergraduates.

8. A large college has about _____________ or more, undergraduates.

9. There are approximately _____________ colleges/universities in the United States.

10. A _____________ college or university receives taxpayer support.

11. _____________ refers to the geographic location of a colleges such as the Far West, Southeast, Rocky Mountains, Great Lakes, Southwest, Mideast, Plains and New England.

12. With so many colleges in America, there is a good academic ! t for _____________ student.

13. Which of these things combine to create the college’s personality or vibe? a. the architecture and look of campus b. the level of academics/selectivity c. the interests of the students d. all of the above

14. List 5 college af ! liations:

___________________________________

____________________________________

___________________________________

____________________________________

___________________________________

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THE 21 ST CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE

ESSAY QUESTION

ARE YOU QUOTABLE?

Below are some quotes about education. Read them, and in 25-50 words, write your own quote about the importance of education. Share with your class. t
“If you don’t have the right education ... then you’re not gonna last in my business,” Ludacris t
“The future belongs to those who prepare for it.” Ralph Waldo Emerson t
“Education is the source that enables a person to grow in life, and for society to better itself. Learning is the best aspect of my life.” Common t
“At the desk where I sit, I have learned one great truth. The answer for all our national problems - the answer for all the problems of the world – comes to a single word. That word is ‘education’” Lyndon B. Johnson, 36th President of the United States t
“Education helps one cease being intimidated by strange situations.” Maya Angelou t
“The only thing more costly than education is ignorance.” Source Unknown t
“Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president...” Nelson Mandela

“

PREVIEW

” Name: ______________________

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Chapter 3 | Let’s Go to College

WORKSHEET

Name: _____________________________________________________________________________ PREVIEW

WA

ME

MT

ND

VT

MN

OR

NH

ID

MA

NY

WI

SD

MI

RI

WY

CT

PA

IA

NE

OH

NU

NV

IN

IL

DE

UT

WV

CO

MD

VA

CA

KS

MO

DC

KY

NC

TN

OK

AZ

SC

AR

NM

GA

AL

MS

AK

LA

TX

FL

HI

Far West Southeast

Rocky Mountains Great Lakes

Southwest Mid East

Plains New England

COLLEGE REGIONS OF THE UNITED STATES Source: U.S. Department of Education

PREVIEW

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THE 21 ST CENTURY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO COLLEGE

NOTES

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Chapter 3 | Let’s Go to College