1) College Search

2) Mission and Process – how they are related?

3) Admissions Criteria at Selective Colleges

Finding yourself before finding a college

How can you find a college where you'll thrive?

Think about yourself first: who am I and where do I want to live, work and play for four years; what are your comfort factors? Some students mistakenly believe they want city life because they have lived in small, rural areas, but end up having trouble adjusting to the challenges and differences of urban living

Start by taking a careful look at yourself–your interests, abilities, and attitudes.

Do you learn best in classes with lots of discussion, like those found at small liberal arts colleges?

Would you be happier as part of a larger college community with bigger classes?

Examine your own:

Learning style: enjoy colleges with discussion oriented classes or more lecture style?

College orientation – liberal arts or career-oriented; college as a time to explore

Academic/social balance & amount of academic challenge with which you are comfortable

Academic support needs – know in what academic areas you will need assistance

Enthusiasm for knowledge

Independence: how likely are you to be homesick if far from home?

Eagerness for college

Take the College Personality Quiz, a structured in-depth look at yourself, adapted from College Match: A Blueprint for Choosing the Best School for You! by Steven R. Antonoff, Ph.D., and Marie A. Friedemann, Ph.D. (Octameron Associates, 1999). This is on:

http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/cpq/coquiz.htm

When students leave a college, it usually isn’t because they don’t have the major they want (would know this ahead of time), but because the personality of the college and that of the student don’t match; spend time on campuses to get a feel; NEVER enroll at a college you have never visited.

REMEMBER: THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT COLLEGE BEGINS WITH SELF-KNOWLEDGE

Mission as it Relates to the Admissions Process

There is a wide range of private colleges with regard to their missions: all private colleges not the same in terms of how they make their admissions decisions and the types of students they serve.

At more competitive colleges, there are many qualified students who are not admitted; at Bowdoin, we receive applications from 4500 students, ¾ of whom could be admitted, come and do fine; our task and the task of schools like us in the highly selective private group is to decide who is going to make the most of our resources and for us to construct a community which will be exciting, interesting, get along; this is definitely an art, not a science

Mission of more competitive colleges is to be a decidedly small, residential undergraduate community. Within that mission, we’re not going to double or triple our size by accepting all who can do the work, as we would lose the benefits of size & focus.

Suggest parents and kids ask when they are looking at a range of colleges – ask what is the mission and the history of this institution and does that meet with your needs

There are colleges roughly the size of Bowdoin, but different setting and different mission: ex. Trinity in Hartford in an urban community and reaches out to the area; also has engineering program

Moderately to less competitive small colleges to work with underachievers; those who have not reached their full potential; schools such as Green Mountain, Southern Vermont College, Nichols College, Dean, Mitchell, Curry in suburban Boston. Colleges such as Boston College, Boston University, Northeastern: all private, but very different in terms of mission and personality (BC – Roman Catholic; NE - Coop program; BU – large student population, small campus, graduate programs)

Different missions – different qualifications: Factors in the admission decision: essay, recommendations and personal qualities factors in the decision as well as grades and courses taken

UMO and many public universities have a small honors program: college within a college; great opportunity not to be overlooked

Admissions Criteria at Selective Colleges

· Receive many more qualified applicants than have spaces for; college aims for 435 freshmen; recvd over 4500 apps this year, most qualified; accepted 23%.

· Use Common App + supplemental essay on teacher who has had a significant, positive influence on you

· ED 1 and 2; 1 deadline 11/15, hear mid Dec; 2 deadline 1/1, hear mid Feb – approx. 35% of entering class

Regular Decision: deadline 1/1, hear 3/31

· Criteria

· Transcript – expect very rigorous courses taken + performance to match

(if asked: first year students typically have taken 4 years each of English, math, social studies, foreign language & 3-4 years of lab sciences)

· School profile – grading system, courses offered (# of AP-s, honors), average test scores of seniors; helps us understand what applicant took in terms of what was available to take

· Rank - ¾ of enrolled students who submitted ranks were in the top 5-10% of their high school class

· Essay – look at content and form; great deal of writing at Bowdoin, so need to see strength in that area

· Recs – 2 teacher; 1 junior, 1 senior year; choose these teachers carefully, as what we are really looking for here is a sense that the teacher has a very strong sense of you as a learner and scholar and can speak to this; what is less helpful is when teachers list your many activities as this information we can get from your application, itself.

· Interview – recommended, not required; over 100 alumni interviewers nationwide whose interviews carry equal weight with ours

Ø Offers students yet another opportunity to present themselves and their strengths

Ø No reason not to interview

· Optional SAT policy: Why? Academic program taken, achieved best indicator of college success

· not required, but if you submit, we will look at; submit if you think they are reflective of you academically

· does not hurt you if you do not send them in; will, however look at other factors more closely

· if Bowdoin is listed as a school to receive scores (when filling out SAT registration form) and now do not want us to look at, write letter telling us; if SAT 2s come from ETS, will see SAT 1s

· Optional arts & athletic supplements: submit tapes, videos, for faculty to review, contact coaches; help us get to know you better through your special talents

· Looking for passionate learners - students who will be involved in class and out, continue to challenge themselves

FA

· Many private colleges require the PROFILE; asks additional questions and gives students access to college’s funds; not just federal; PROFILE available on-line

· Apply for aid up front; do not assume adm chances inc if not aid applicant; no $ left later

· Ask if aid package (combination of grants, loans, work-study) is guaranteed all 4 years with appropriate changes as family situation changes (more if another in college, less if win lottery)

· Ask how colleges treat outside scholarships (Rotary, local, clubs, etc.) - are they applied to loan portion or do they reduce grant?

· Never rule out any college based on cost; go through entire process