PRIVATE COLLEGES

Presented by Wendy Biggs and Daniel Cekay SOUND FAMILIAR?

We can’t afford private schools My boss’s niece’s best friend’s cousin went there and she said it was a good (or bad) school. COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY

Why are some schools called “college” and others referred to as a “university”? Colleges of… Business Universities are comprised Media of a group of colleges and Education have graduate programs. Engineering General Studies Fine and Applied Arts Applied Health Sciences Liberal Arts and Sciences Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences ONE OF THESE THINGS IS NOT LIKE THE OTHERS

Though all have similar names, which of the following schools has a very different philosophy from its counterparts on the religious component to its educational requirements?

A. Wesleyan B. Wesleyan C. Indiana Wesleyan D. Ohio Wesleyan

A) Though originally founded in the Wesleyan tradition, Illinois Wesleyan has moved away from its religious roots and adopted a more general Liberal Arts curriculum. SO YOU SAY YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE…

Colorado College (not University of…) and Cornell College (also, not University) are the only two institutions that require that you do this when choosing your classes?

Answer: Only pick one

According to Cornell students,

“You can do anything for 18 days! PRIVATE SCHOOLS MOST OFTEN APPLIED TO BY WHEATON NORTH STUDENTS

Marquette University DePaul University Indiana Wheaton College Illinois Wesleyan University North Elmhurst College Calvin College Augustana College Washington University (St. Louis) Bradley University North Park University Loyola University University of Butler University APPLICATIONS

The Holistic approach… **REMEMBER** • Not just a mathematical equation, but still starts with strength of schedule, GPA, Colleges are and ACT (but not always) looking for • Essays ways to get • Resume of activities, involvements, and work experiences students IN , • Letters of recommendation • Interviews not • Visits keep • Demonstrated interest them • Legacy OUT SIZE MATTERS • Colleges range in size from 20 students to 50,000 students. • Big difference between attending a small school (under 3,000), usually referred to as a college. • And attending a large school (3,000-50,000) usually referred to as a university.

‹2500 2500-7500 ›7500 Augustana College Bradley University Marquette University Butler University Depaul University Illinois Wesleyan U Creighton University Northewestern University North Park University Loyola University Washington University Carthage College (St. Louis) FINDING THE RIGHT PAIR OF PANTS WHAT SIZE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Small schools offer… Large schools offer… • More personal involvement • Class sizes anywhere from 20-350 students • Community atmosphere (including faculty) • Tend to be more • Smaller classes (from 5-50 students) impersonal • Faculty focused on teaching undergraduates, not • Allow more anonymity and conducting research learning of independent • Direct instruction by faculty, not graduate students living skills • Usually a higher price tag. • Tend to be less expensive *Do not discount small schools because of • Offer the “college price when conducting your initial search. experience” • Carry a bigger name THE LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE • Focuses on creating a “well-rounded” student • Broad education – study literature, languages, and the natural and social sciences • Requires a more complex list of general education requirements which may include religious study • Smaller number of requirements in each major with a lot of overlap allows for multiple majors and/or minors

• Unique schedule of academic terms (trimesters with J-terms, etc.) • Higher rates for admission to graduate and professional school programs

What do you want your student to be able to do when s/he graduates? • Get a job in a specific field • Have a diverse array of options including going on to graduate school CHRISTIAN COLLEGES

• CCCU – Council for Christian Colleges and Universities • College fair at Calvary Church in Naperville offered every October • What does “Christian” mean on campus? • Class requirements • Chapel attendance • Pledge or code of conduct SELECTIVE COLLEGES IN THE MIDWEST

“Selective” Colleges…

° require elite credentials and may only admit 20-30% of their applicants. ° ACT Averages are typically in the 28-32 range ° Have the highest placement rates for graduate school ° Merit scholarships are typically not available ° Recommend that students take the most rigorous coursework available to them while in high school

Knox College Notre Dame University University of Chicago Lawrence University Washington University Northwestern University Illinois Institute of Technology Hillsdale College Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology McAllister College HIGHLY SELECTIVE COLLEGE NIGHT- DEC 11 TH IVY LEAGUE SCHOOLS • Accepted students are primarily from the top10% of the class. Test scores are also in the top 10% range.

• Typically admit fewer than 20% of applicants; can be even below 10% • Harvard 5.8%, Yale 6.7%, MIT 8.2%, Stanford 5.69%

• 80% of applicants meet the admission requirements but only 20% are accepted. The difference between being lucky and unlucky. UNDERSTANDING YOUR VALUES WHY ARE WE SENDING OUR SON/DAUGHTER TO COLLEGE?

Get a good job when s/he graduates

Go live anywhere but here! FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

Student Parent Will I feel closed in and trapped Is my student ready to “go at a small school, or will I feel away” to college (academically, lost and overwhelmed at a large emotionally, etc.), and am I school? ready for him/her to leave?

Family • How far from home is too far (or too close)? • What is our backup plan if the financial aid does not work out the way we had hoped? • What do we get for the extra cost of a private or out of state school, and is it worth it?