supersearch not cutting it- need college suggestions

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am going to be entering senor year- being totally undecided on any college. I have tried to use super search (I believe that is what it is called), and it is not cutting it. The tool is giving me colleges that are not ranked very high, and many times are no name schools. I am a resident of Arizona, and there are not many options in state. There is ASU which has a certain reputation, and North Arizona University- a school I believe many have not heard of outside of Arizona. The only likely option is University of Arizona, but I really do not want to stay in state if that is all possible.</p>

<p>A small sample of my background is that I am a full International Baccalaureate student. I procrastinated a great deal like many in the program at my school. After completion of Junior year my average High School unweighted GPA is 3.0 and weighted is around 3.5. (Dam you art and health classes that ruin gpa!). I can get a 5.0 senor year to raise it if need be. Act first time is 33, I can get that up as well. </p>

<p>Anyways,
these are the criteria for the schools that I am looking for:</p>

<p>good academics and possesses a fairly good reputation.</p>

<p>Size does not matter as much, but my ideal would be around 10,000-20,000</p>

<p>Prefer warm weather... I like in Phoenix and feel that 100 is ok weather- 90 is ideal.</p>

<p>School with no religious affiliation-or ones which do not require me to take any theology courses.</p>

<p>Not a total party school; I do not mind drinking in moderation but if 70% of the student population gravitate to hard liquor every weekend, then there is a problem.</p>

<p>social scene should not be dominated by the Greek scene- I want college to be an experience where I find myself, and a school that is Greek dominated would lessen my choices, I believe.</p>

<p>The school does not have to have all the criteria, but as many as possible would be nice.</p>

<p>Thank you in advance for your future help.</p>

2

<p>What is your budget?</p>

3

<p>I would suggest you go to your local library or bookstore and look through some college books-also the USNWR magazine is a handy reference no matter what people think of the rankings!</p>

<p>At least you know you want to be in the South, so that narrows things down a lot. You want a large school- I’d look into other state universities- some possibilities that come to mind: Clemson U, University of Alabama, University of Kansas, University of Tennesee…</p>

4

<p>Take a look at Clemson:</p>

<p>“good academics and possesses a fairly good reputation.”</p>

<p>23rd best public university in the US, voted #9 by college presidents on the “up and coming” schools list, #12 for committment to undergraduate teaching (more rankings here: [Academic</a> Rankings : Clemson University](<a href=“http://www.clemson.edu/academics/rankings.html]Academic”>About | Clemson University, South Carolina))</p>

<p>“Size does not matter as much, but my ideal would be around 10,000-20,000”</p>

<p>Clemson has a student population of about 19,000 total students (think it’s about 17,000 for undergrad)</p>

<p>“Prefer warm weather… I like in Phoenix and feel that 100 is ok weather- 90 is ideal.”</p>

<p>We get all four seasons in Clemson but get a short winter and extended spring and summer (it is hot in the summer). It snows like once a year in january/february about 2-4 inches but that’s about it.</p>

<p>“School with no religious affiliation-or ones which do not require me to take any theology courses.”</p>

<p>Clemson is a public state funded university, therefore it is not religiously affiliated or requires religious classes.</p>

<p>“Not a total party school; I do not mind drinking in moderation but if 70% of the student population gravitate to hard liquor every weekend, then there is a problem.”</p>

<p>I’m not exactly sure how to answer this question but I would say that the amount of people who party on the weekends is about the same as that on other state university campuses. I wouldn’t call Clemson a party school but I definitely wouldn’t say everyone is sober 24/7 either. But you’ll find people who drink (heavily or not) on most non-religious colleges you go to. If you choose not to drink (which I do 90% of the weekends), you’ll find stuff to do and people to hang out with.</p>

<p>“social scene should not be dominated by the Greek scene- I want college to be an experience where I find myself, and a school that is Greek dominated would lessen my choices, I believe.”</p>

<p>I’m going to be honest, greek life at Clemson does seem to be overwhelming but that’s because usually the most social people on campus join greek life. In fact however only like 20% of the student population is in greek life. I’m not in greek life and I’ve been able to have a social life. Join student organizations (great way to meet people to hang out with) and get involved, play intramurals etc…, if greek life isn’t for you, you can def still have fun.</p>

<p>Let me know if you have any more questions!</p>

5

<p>I will look into the cost after I have narrowed down the universities; I do not really have a budget, but of course I will want the best deal. University of Alabama has MUCHO racism!</p>

<p>wow, thanks Pierre! thats was very in-depth. I am going to look more into it.</p>

6

<p>University of Alabama has racial incidents, but so do a lot of colleges. Rght now U of Alabama is admitting a lot of OOS students, and you would probably find a much more tolerant bunch than you think.</p>

<p>Arizona, your home state, has a great deal of racist headlines as well, from MLK day to anti-immigration hostilities. Am I to assume from reading the paper that everyone in Arizona is racist? Please don’t do the same to Alabama. If you go on the U of Alabama forums, you will be able to get a more accurate picture of life there.</p>

7

<p>That was a hasty generalization on my part</p>

8

<p>Bama is not a racist school. That’s ridiculous. Universities all over this country have “racial incidents” but no one calls them racist schools. </p>

<p>If you visited Tuscaloosa, you would see that the overwhelming majority of races and ethnic groups live in loving harmony. If you think that African Americans hate Bama, you’d be in for a shock seeing so many AA’s running around with I <3 Bama Tshirts on.</p>

<p>Anyway…what is your budget? How much will your parents pay? That will largely determine where you should apply and what you can afford.</p>

<p>What is your cum weighted GPA at the end of junior year?</p>

9

<p>I had a lot of success with Princeton Reviews “Counselor O Matic”</p>

<p>princetonreview.com</p>

<p>…hit the college link, then school & majors, then “best fit college search”.</p>

10

<p>Schools are not racist. People are. And that is nearly everyone, including those who want to proclaim, “I’m not a racist.” </p>

<p>The notion that a U.Alabama is somehow more racist than say, SUNY @ Buffalo or Minnesota or USC is ridiculous. The culture simply identifies the phenomenon differently. This has been beaten to death, but it needs to be called out when people try and slip this one past others, implying it as fact or truth.</p>

11

<p>the princeton review counselor-o-matic thing is ridiculous, none of these “college search” things are going to give you a college list magically. You’re gonna have to do some research yourself, and produce a list based on the research you do</p>

12

<p>Amen! You get exactly what you pay for. And it’s free!</p>

13

<p>university of miami, florida fits many of these! they even consider for merit scholarships with a 31+ ACT i believe</p>

<p>good academics and possesses a fairly good reputation.: miami is ranked in the top 50 universities in the U.S.</p>

<p>Size does not matter as much, but my ideal would be around 10,000-20,000: miami has approx. 10,000 undergrads</p>

<p>Prefer warm weather… I like in Phoenix and feel that 100 is ok weather- 90 is ideal.; def. warm weather </p>

<p>School with no religious affiliation-or ones which do not require me to take any theology courses.; has no religious affiliation and general distrib. requirements so you wouldn’t have to take a religious course</p>

<p>Not a total party school; I do not mind drinking in moderation but if 70% of the student population gravitate to hard liquor every weekend, then there is a problem.; lots of students don’t party at UM, they have living and learning communities and special dorms with other focuses</p>

<p>social scene should not be dominated by the Greek scene- I want college to be an experience where I find myself, and a school that is Greek dominated would lessen my choices, I believe.; greek scene is under 20% of student pop.</p>

<p>let me know if you have any questions! i’ll be a freshman there in the fall! :)</p>

14

<p>“the princeton review counselor-o-matic thing is ridiculous, none of these “college search” things are going to give you a college list magically. You’re gonna have to do some research yourself, and produce a list based on the research you do”</p>

<p>…I beg to differ. I used this service for both of my daughters & found it very usefull. It requires you to fill out info in something like 7 different areas such as intended major, geographic region, your academic stats, size preference, etc. Gives you 20 reaches, 20 matches, & 20 safties. What category each school is in can sometimes be debated but it is usefull in helping you narrow choices.</p>

15

<p>“I will look into the cost after I have narrowed down the universities; I do not really have a budget, but of course I will want the best deal.”</p>

<p>Please, please, please do not approach your college search this way!</p>

<p>Sit your parents (or whoever it is who will be helping you pay for your education) down and ask them how much they can afford. Can they pay $60,000 each year? Can they pay $30,000? Can they pay $5,000? Can they not afford to help you at all?</p>

<p>How do they feel about you working during your vacations and during the school year? How do they feel about student loans?</p>

<p>You need this number. It will determine how deep you will have to dig to come up with your financial safeties. Don’t be the author of one of the “I found a perfect school that I can’t afford” threads next spring.</p>

16

<p>

I have seen variations on this stated many times and it is still one of the most silly things I have seen. What good is it to consider attending a school you can’t afford?? Too often students find “the perfect school” and can’t afford it, getting their hearts (or wallets and futures) broken.</p>

17

<p>haha csdad, it may just be different experiences. The choices that I got were completely off based with the schools I was looking for but maybe that was just me. </p>

<p>Either way, don’t trust it 100% to get you a suggested college list.</p>

<p>It’s ok to look at school’s you can’t afford but at least have 2 or 3 financial safeties!</p>

18

<p>*I will look into the cost after I have narrowed down the universities</p>

<p>=================================================</p>

<p>Erin’s Dad’s quote: I have seen variations on this stated many times and it is still one of the most silly things I have seen. What good is it to consider attending a school you can’t afford?? Too often students find “the perfect school” and can’t afford it, getting their hearts (or wallets and futures) broken. *</p>

<p>Erin’s Dad is very right. It is crazy to consider cost after you’ve narrowed down your list. Do you have any idea how many kids narrow down their lists and then find out that they can’t afford any of them? Or, worse, they find out in the spring when they have a handful of acceptances but their family can’t afford any of them.</p>

<p>Do NOT be one of those short-sighted kids. Use a strategy!!</p>

<p>1) Find out how much your parents will pay each year. If they are vague about the amount, assume that paying for college may be a problem. Parents are sometimes vague if they have some fears about how they will pay for college. If they say that they will pay for college, make SURE that they understand that many privates are now costing up to $60k per YEAR. Many parents have no idea that some popular colleges cost that much now.</p>

<p>2) Identify 2-3 financial safety schools that you like…AND…you know FOR SURE that you will have all costs covered thru ASSURED merit scholarships, small federal student loans, and/or family funds. Pay attention to any merit scholarship deadlines!!! </p>

<p>Even if your parents say that they will pay for college, find 2-3 of these financial safety schools. Family finances can change over the next year…a parent can lose a job, a parent can become ill, or parents can wrongly say that they can pay for college, but then determine that they can’t (that happens a lot!). </p>

<p>The reason that I think a student needs 2-3 financial safety schools is because if none of the top choices work out, then the student won’t feel rail-roaded into one school. Having a choice is always good for morale. Plus, if a student only has one safety, he may decide he doesn’t like that safety in the spring. </p>

<p>3) Once you have your financial safety schools identified, feel free to apply to any schools that you like. :)</p>

19

<p>Gotta agree and chuckle w/ Erin’sDad! I love looking at Beemers and Mercedes … but I don’t invest much real time gawking at that which I cannot afford. </p>

<p>Ok, for many this college search thing is a one-time, or at least rare life event. With 5,000 colleges and universities, it can seem daunting, especially to the novice. But brain surgery, it’s not. Like courting, there are many viable suitors … and campuses available for most students. But rarely does Eliza Doolittle’s foray into the land of the lucrative result in lasting love. There are parameters that lead to efficiencies. Real estate agents have a term for house-hunters who have no intention of buying. They just wanna see how Mrs. FitsRitz decorates her mansion. A hobby of sorts.</p>

<p>Still, there is some value in looking @ that BMW I cannot afford. I value the lonely bells and whistle my clunker has, and even more so, the reality that I can get to work just like I had that Mercedes absent the 2nd mortgage payment required if my dream were reality. </p>

<p>Figuring value in this morass can be monumental.</p>

20

<p>*Still, there is some value in looking @ that BMW I cannot afford. I value the lonely bells and whistle my clunker has, and even more so, the reality that I can get to work just like I had that Mercedes absent the 2nd mortgage payment required if my dream were reality. *</p>

<p>While there may be some value in looking at the unaffordable, it can really negatively affect your ability to accept what you can afford.</p>

<p>After seeing all the bells and whistles at top schools, a more affordable school that is NICE, but doesn’t have it all will look like “chopped liver”. </p>

<p>When I’m shopping for a home, I may look at homes that are slightly above affordability just to see what might be possible…but I don’t waste time looking at mansions. Those are ok to look at when I’m not shopping for homes…but just wanting to see decorating ideas.</p>

<p>The same problem occurs when kids look at schools that they don’t have the stats have. One of my friends took her D on campus visits when her D was a soph. The schools were all very good schools. However, now that she’s a rising senior, and her test scores are rather low, so none of those schools will work…and the D is very upset because she loved them. The schools that she will get into are going to look “bad” compared to what she’s already seen…even tho those schools are nice schools.</p>