Establishing Priorities

The first step in matching yourself with a college is figuring out what your priorities are:

www.myroad.com Students who took the PSAT in 2005 have free access to this program.

www.iub.edu/~nsse/html The National Survey of Student Engagement obtains information from colleges nationwide about student participation in program and activities that institutions provide for their learning and personal development.

College Searches:

College searches can help you establish your priorities for college. You are asked questions, or have to choose the categories that are important to you. Based on your answers, the program produces a list of appropriate colleges. Find the search program that works the best for you.

The College Board (www.collegeboard.com)

COLLEGEdata (www.collegedata.com) a search engine with detailed college profiles, including “tracker,” a national sampling of admission decisions

The Princeton Review (www.review.com)

Peterson’s College Quest (www.collegequest.com)

Collegenet (www.collegenet.com) A comprehensive source for information relating to all aspects of the college admissions process

Colleges that Change Lives (www.ctclonline.com)

British Council information about college choices in the UK
http://www.educationuk.org/

Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada
http://www.aucc.ca/index_e.html

Hillel (http://hillel.org/index) Information about Jewish populations/organizations at over 500 campuses.

Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design
www.aicad.org

National Association of Schools of Art and Design
www.nasad.arts-accredit.org

www.collegeresults.org Check graduation rates at colleges that interest you.

www.womenscolleges.org The Women’s College Coalition list of member institutions.

www.catholiccollegesonline.org The National Catholic College Admission Asc.

www.edonl.com/cq/hbcu Historically Black Colleges and Universities

www.lgbtcampus.org Use their directory for a listing of colleges that have staffed centers on campus

For Students with Learning Differences

www.ldaamerica.org Learning Disabilities Association of American site has information about learning disabilities, diagnosis and advocacy.

www.ldonline.org Learning Disabilities Online has information related to help and support for students with learning differences.

www.heath.gwu.edu This George Washington University Heath Resource Center website offers a step-by step approach to the college search and decision-making process for students with intellectual disabilities.

www.salt.arizona.edu The University of Arizona SALT Program: Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques Center. Check out this nationally recognized student services program and compare it with ones you’re considering.

Pre-College Testing, Test Prep:

Most students (and colleges) in the western states use the SATs. Test prep material can be found on the following sites:

The College Board (www.collegeboard.com) This site offers test prep, including the SAT word of the day. You can also register for the tests online.

The American College Test (www.act.org) The ACT is an alternate test (used predominately in the Mid-west), which some OES students consider taking in addition to the SAT

If you’re pretty good about organizing your time and structuring activities, there is a considerable amount of materials available to you with minimum expense that you can use to prepare yourself for the SATs. Check out the books (and CDs) available at local bookstores and libraries (Powell’s typically has dozens), the questions available on the College Board website (www.collegeboard.com), or create your own regimen, taking into consideration which skills you want to improve.

If you’re not good about structuring such activities, you might consider the following:

In house: Each spring, in the time between spring break and the beginning of May, Jeff Gadette and Anna Schatz offer a course that meets two nights a week in preparation for the May SAT Reasoning Test. They use the College Board book Ten Real SATS. Check with Jeff, ext. 317, for more information.

COMPARABLY PRICED ALTERNATIVES:

Portland Community College offers SAT prep classes at various high schools around town each quarter. They tend to meet in the evenings and cost about $105. Generally they are listed under the “Special Interest” category in the PCC catalog.

Saturday Academy: Test prep classes are offered periodically at various locations. Most involve five sessions and cost about $300. (www.saturdayacademy.org)

PRICIER ALTERNATIVES:

Stanley Kaplan: Perhaps the oldest test prep company, Kaplan offers a variety of services (both on-line and classroom) at various prices. The main office is downtown (503-222-5556) but they offer their classes, which tend to run about $1000, at various locations. Check out the options on their web-site (www.kaptest.com)

Princeton Review: Another national known prep company, they offer various courses at various locations. Costs run about $999. (www.princetonreview.com)

Beaverton Sylvan Learning Center: The tutoring organization with which you may already be familiar also offers test prep. 503-626-7466; sylvanlc100@aol.com

INDIVIDUAL TUTORS:

Although working with a tutor can be more expensive than a class, it allows you to focus on particular weaknesses. Some tutors will also organize small classes for a group of tutees.

OES teachers: Ann Sulzer and Anna Schatz, who work mainly in the Middle School, offer tutoring.

Miriam Feder (503-697-0683) puts together small groups that can emphasize either all skills or verbal in particular. Depending upon the size (and length of course), charges run from $130 to $255.

Libby Van Vleet (503-956-6000) recently returned to Portland. Libby taught English in California for five years and offers comprehensive tutoring services.

Douglas Bloch (503-284-2848 or dbloch@teleport.com). Although primarily a math tutor, Douglas Bloch has tutored for all/both sections of the SAT (I) Reasoning Test for eight years.

Pre-College Testing, Registration:

Register on-line for tests by using the following links:

SATs (www.collegeboard.com)

ACTs (www.actstudent.org)

Tests are optional at some colleges. Fair Test (www.fairtest.org/optinit.htm) keeps this list up-to-date list.

Colleges which require or recommend the SAT Subject Tests: The Edina (Minnesota) High School Website has a good, comprehensive listing (www.edina.k12.mn.us/edinahigh/counseling/testing/satsubject_college_list.htm)

Majors and Fields of Study

Major Opportunities (www.uncwil.edu/stuaff/career/Majors/) You don’t need to select a major before starting college, but if you’d like to find out what you can do with some, check out this site. If you click on a major, you’ll find descriptions of the major’s sub-fields and career paths, related careers, and titles of jobs found by graduates in the field.

JobStar (www.jobsmart.org) Career Guides Index - Includes a career test

Specific Colleges

Google’s listing of college homepages (http://groups.google.com/options/universities.html)

www.campustours.com gives virtual tours of college campuses

Specific Fields of Study

AAMC Information for Students and Applicants to Medical Schools (www.aamc.org/students/start.htm)

ASEE Engineering colleges and career (www.asee.org) Explains the field of engineering

Assoc. of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (www.aavmc.org)

Career Development Manual (www.cdm.uwaterloo.ca)
A thorough guide that includes detailed self-evaluation

Cornell Veterinary School Newsletters (www.vet.cornell.edu/admissions/hsinfo.htm)
Useful for applicants to any veterinary school

Cornell Biomedical Engineering Program (www.cheme.cornell.edu/) Excellent overview of the field for applicants to any college

GMAC MBA Explorer Homepage (www.gmac.com) All about business schools

LSAT Admissions Council (www.lsac.org) All about applying to law schools

National Portfolio Day Associations (www.portfolioday.net/) Arts Colleges and when/where they will review your portfolio

NCAA (www.ncaa.org) Eligibility and recruiting rules

NAIA (www.naia.org) Information about athletic offerings at small colleges.

On-Line Applications

These sites offer on-line applications, which then can be printed in the college’s format. Each site has a list of participating colleges. You need only keyboard your particulars in once to produce multiple applications. OES encourages the mailing of printed applications. If you do transmit your applications electronically, we recommend that you call the college to make sure the application was received.

The College Board (www.collegeboard.com) Look under Next Stop College. This site will use pre-filed information based on your SAT registration.

Collegenet (www.collegenet.com)

College Link (www.collegelink.com)

The Common Application (www.commonapp.org)

Princeton Review Apply (www.review.com)

Saving for college (www.savingforcollege.com) Coverdell (Education IRAs) and 529 Accounts

Finaid (www.finaid.org) The amazing creation of Mark Kantrowitz, with links to every financial site under the sun. Selections from finaid.org follow:

Calculators: (www.finaid.org/calculators) Interactive calculators for the Estimated Family Contribution, Loan Repayment Schedule, etc.

COLLEGEdata (www.collegedata.com) includes a scholarship finder, a calculator for the Estimated Family Contribution, and a personalized indication of what each college will cost.

In addition to investigating financial aid and scholarships, cost conscious applicants might check out the Western Undergraduate Exchange (www.wiche.edu/sep/wue) a program whereby students in western states may enroll in many public college programs at a reduced tuition level.

International Student Guidance (www.edupass.org)

FAFSA on the web. (www.fafsa.ed.gov) You can download the basic application for all federal grants and loans. This is the essential first step for financial aid.

Profile (www.collegeboard.com) In addition to the FAFSA, some private colleges require the Profile form. Check to see if your colleges are on the list. Download the questions.

Oregon Student Assistance Commission (www.GetCollegeFunds.org) List the more than 150 private award and business scholarships and includes an online application.

SCHOLARSHIPS (SEARCH SERVICES)

There are a variety of databases which can be used for scholarship searches. You’ll undoubtedly find that you like some better than others.

www.ScholarshipCoach.com
This site includes tips on how to use scholarship databases, some evaluations of the same, and links to the databases.

www.collegeboard.org/fundfinder
This site is only updated annually.

www.fastaid.com
This site is known for listing some of the more quirky or esoteric scholarships.

www.fastweb.com
One of the better known websites, fastweb is probably also the most “commercial” of the databases. Warning: They may sell your name to vendors.

www.collegeanswer.com
The Sallie Mae/College Answers website.

Scholarships Scams (www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/scholarship/index.html) You should never have to pay money for a scholarship. Check this one out.

Global Quest (www.gquest.org) One-semester international program specifically for students between high school and college.

Up With People (www.upwithpeople.org) Organization takes teens on tour around the world giving singing performances, living with host families, and doing community service.

Interim Year (www.andover.edu) List of resources with Andover students’ evaluations of them

British American Education Foundation (www.baef.org) PG year at a British boarding school

Dynamy Internship Year (www.dynamy.org) Choose a series of residential internships

City Year Boston (www.cityyear.org) Demanding year of full-time community service

The Experiment in International Living (www.worldlearning.org) Education and training for global effectiveness

American Field Service (www.afs.org/AFSI/) Live abroad with a host family and take classes at the university

Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat.org)

Earthwatch (www.earthwatch.org) Participate in scientific expeditions

Outward Bound (www.outwardbound.org) Wilderness trips designed to teach survival and leadership

The Parents' Corner
Anxious about the process that lies ahead? Get some perspective through these articles:

College Recruitment Night
An article by Lewis & Clark College writing instructor Kim Stafford gives a parent's view of a visit to a college recruitment event. It was originally published in the Journal of College Admission in Spring 2000, and it was republished in the book, College Unranked—Affirming Educational Values in College Admissions, edited by Lloyd Thacker. It is republished on the OES website by permission of Lloyd Thacker and Kim Stafford.

www.educationconservancy.org Offers practical suggestions as to how to limit the college admissions frenzy.

Once a year The Atlantic Monthly has an issue with a section on college admissions. Check out the October, 2004, and November, 2005, issues.

The inspiration for the links on this page came from Susan Rexford, Career Center Specialist, at West Springfield High School in suburban Washington, D.C., who created that school’s homepage. We are in her debt.