College Application Workshop: The College Search and Finding the Right Fit

Wow.

Hello everyone, how are you all doing?

Really excited for you all to be joining us to this afternoon Eastern Standard Time.

So we're just allowing people to arrive.

How is everyone doing loved? Hello, can you all hear us now?

Sounds great, well great for you all to join us. Thank you. Yes, this is terrific to have you join us today for the first in the series of the College Application Workshop. Today's session is about college search and finding the right fit and then subsequently we're going to have three more sessions Tuesday through Thursday 1st 1:00 tomorrow will be about extracurricular activities and.

How to highlight those in your application on Wednesday, we'll delve into the college essay, always the the scariest part, maybe of college applications, and then the college application on Thursday will discuss what it means regarding a holistic review of the application. Just what are the factors involved in a holistic review? So we're excited to have you here. We hope to share some good information in the next 45 minutes about.

That college search, which can seem daunting but really can can go very smoothly if you know what you're looking for and we hope to to help you figure that out. Give you some suggestions that we hope will prove beneficial.

Thank you, introduce ourselves, my name is Eric Kim. I am an assistant director in the office. If you're from the southeast United States that includes the DC, Maryland, Virginia area and one of the counselors that represents that area as well as South Korea and Japan.

And I always have this year I'm senior associate director I, member of the tri-state team in the office, which covers Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois's been on the staff for many years and this is always fun. It's always fun to kick off a new year and get you all started as you go into the admissions process and cycle.

Yeah, I thought you mentioned one of the most exciting parts about our job is actually getting to converse with you all and getting you all started with this application process. We are admissions counselors and we're here to council as much as we want. As much as we can, and that's the love of this job is getting to meet you all. Answer your questions. Be there to support you all and we're really excited to be conducting this session. So today's session, when it comes to finding the best college fit and when you do your college.

Search here are some factors that we are going to explore with you all physical institutional attributes of institutions. Campus culture the academic experiential learning the cost of attending institutions and lastly the application requirements.

So starting off with the physical and institutional attributes, when you're conducting research on these colleges, I think it's important to think about if you see yourself at this institution, whether it's at Notre Dame or at another institution close to home, far from home, but it's important to consider you're spending the next four years. The next chapter of your life at this institution, so finding the best fit that best aligns with who you are best.

Your characteristics and your values is really important. As part of this college search. So First off we have location access to campus from home. Are you OK being far from home? Do you want to be in state? Do you want to explore other states? Do you want to explore another country? If you're an international student, location is a very important characteristic to keep in mind as you conduct your research on different institutions. Is it is the college campus?

An urban, suburban or rural area. Do you want to be in a more metropolitan area or do you wanna be in a suburban town when you consider college campus and it's not just a college campus itself, they should consider but also its surroundings. What restaurants are available? Do students go off campus to explore downtown of that camp of that city? So all these factors have location should be something you can keep in mind.

When you do, when you look up institutions and who they are.

Another characteristics to keep in mind is how the institution classified itself. There's different characteristics when it comes to each institution. An institution may say they are research institution. They're focused on research and have many different academic programs and offerings and loop in terms of research opportunities available to study.

Uh, they usually have masters programs or PhD programs affiliated with the research. A liberal arts institution mean but more focus on social science, arts or humanities interests. They're more focused on undergraduate educations. There's a question that asks what does it, what is meant by a Catholic research institution? So before I dive into that one more classification to talk about is.

Public, private and or religious affiliation. When it comes to public or private mainly depends on the funding that's available for the school. If a school is a public school, they typically dependent on funding that's available to them from the state from the federal government, but private has its own set of funding. So when Notre Dame is listed as a private Catholic research with a liberal arts foundation, that means that all things that we do at universities really focus on the Catholic school.

Teachings from our academics to our community to all things. Notre Dame is really founded on the Catholic mission. When we say we are at Catholic research, that means that we are a research institution that we do conduct research. Faculty here have research on the side. In addition to teaching undergraduate students. When we save a liberal arts foundation, we want students to explore all their academic passions that are available that are of interest to them. So, if.

They are interested in a stem field but also in arts and letters. We want students to explore the intellectual curiosities during their time at their game, so there are tons of flexibility to explore that, but that's what we mean by a Catholic research institution.

The last classification when it comes to physical institutional attributes is the student body. How big is the student body? Do you want to attend institution where there are 2000 students, 10,000 students or 30,000 students?

It's important to consider representation inclusion. How has the university advanced inclusion efforts? How inclusive is the environment? Will you feel both long at that institution? An average class size and faculty student ratio? How big are the classes when it comes to the classes? Take our classes big with intro, introductory levels or classes as big as you go up in elective classes. When it comes to a small to large faculty or student ratio.

How accessible are faculty members to students, faculty members? Have office hours. Are they able to meet with students on outside of class and how? How accessible are they when it comes to answering questions and providing guidance and making sure you're succeeding, classes? So with all of these factors, these are some of the important physical institutional attributes to keep in mind when you conduct your research.

And then we get into campus culture, which is all important as well. The student life where you're going to live, residence halls are you on campus? How long are you on campus to check out what the housing is all about at a particular university? Are you going to live off campus more years than on campus, or vice versa? So you do want to get a sense of size of residence halls? How many there are their availability and?

To the best, I certainly ideal way to figure that out is to certainly visit a campus and take a look at it. If you can't do that, certainly online. Most campuses and universities have very robust videos that can introduce you to the students who are attending and what they enjoy and how they enjoy their living experience. Clubs and activities, athletics, performing arts, service opportunities you want to know when you go to a campus that you'll be able to pursue.

What you've always loved, what you've participated in it during high school, and also that you can explore new possibilities for yourself that you're going to have adventure and maybe try some new activities or try some new opportunities. We also stress you know, checking out cultural organizations and can you explore in that realm? And are you supported? Are you supported by the university in learning and expanding?

The horizons are there people to go to that you can talk to. Say for example, student activities to develop a new activity that you don't see on the campus. Is that a possibility? So we really encourage really looking into what is the core culture of the campus that's that's most important school spirit, you know, traditions, the values of the university. I think 1 great way to get ready to prepare your applications.

Is to read the mission statement of every university that you're looking at because that university is looking for students who will embrace the mission and you are also looking to see does that mission match. What I'm interested in pursuing or having that type of undergraduate experience?

In addition to campus culture, one other components academics are going to an institution to learn in the major that you're pursuing in the academic interest that you want to pursue. And that includes curriculum and availability of the majors you're interested in, schools may offer a ton of different majors and minors that may interest you. School may have a limited number of majors for students, so those are some things to keep in mind as well. The school have the academic major or interest that you want to pursue.

And higher education after high school. If they do not, then that may not be the best school for you because there may be some schools that do offer that for you when it comes to those institutions. Some other things to keep in mind is requirements and flexibility. Will you have the option to explore other majors in addition to the major you start off with at the institution? What requirements are required?

You, in addition to general education requirements, will you be able to graduate on time if we change your major later on in the school year or in your career in college so that flexibility is important to keep in mind and the classroom experience? How engaging can you be? Classic is that important to you? Do you want a seminar style class or do you want a more lecture style class? But all these factors that academics really help shape your academic ability?

To learn and grow and develop your intellectual curiosity. So all of these questions are really important for the academic aspects.

Advising, advising, structure and access. Are you going to have those people in place who are going to help you achieve your goal in the time frame that you and your parents hope will occur so they provide guidance? Many of our students come in uncertain of what they particularly want to study, and there are these individuals that advise and component. They're a great resource for figuring out what you want to do.

And some students come in, you know, as I said, undecided, or thinking about a couple of areas. These individuals should be getting you to your goal of finding that pathway through the University of your choice tutoring. Do I have access to to academic support if I'm struggling in a course? And what does that entail? Do I have to pay for it, or is it available to me just by asking? We also, you should want to know the retention rate.

Of a school? How many first year students are freshmen? Come back for their sophomore year. How many transfer out and student success? How many finish on time and incorporated into that would be where are they going after they graduate? What are the outcomes of a university? So to explore? That's important too. Faculty access, whereas that quite frequently and and you should be asking that when you're visiting a campus.

What? What is the faculty access? Are they dedicated to undergraduates? Am I going to be able to see faculty and talk to them, and will they support me too to get through courses successfully?

Undergraduate research we talked just touched on that a little bit, but you want to have more opportunities than just the classroom. You certainly will have robust discussions and lots of fun in the classroom and learn from your from your fellow students. But we want you to be able to get out beyond the classroom so research opportunities and funding is what's available to you to help you make that happen. And is there are there individuals to go to to discuss what you'd like to do?

We we certainly also you should ask when, how early can I get going on doing some research and am I invited early on freshman and sophomore year to get going with what I hope to hope to investigate. We have entrepreneurship on campus innovation, bringing new ideas to fruition and are there places to do that can I? Can I make a new business? Can I work with faculty?

Who this is their expertise to take opportunities and make them reality. Study abroad access and funding to that as well. What are my opportunities? When can I go? Is it a year program? Is it a semester program? May I go during the summer? Notre Dame offers all of those, but to ask, ask the choices that you have on your list. When is the timing for this and does it? Does it also?

Make my graduation a date change. You want to be certain that that won't be the case. Career development. What's the Career Center like? When can I go there? How fast can you know? You just arrive and you've unpacked and we're we are sending our students over to the Career Center to attend the job fairs that we have. And I think that's important that you are asking about internships and job placement. And what's the success rates there?

Need based financial aid OK, how to how to pay for all of this? The cost and the funding you want to ask questions and get those answers from the Office of Financial aid and any institution required information. What do I need to produce the FAFSA? The CSS profile? What are the documents I need to complete or my parents need to complete and how can I go about getting that done readily and easily? What will be in my aid?

Package what are the components loan versus grant versus scholarship jobs on campus? What's what's going to make up that package that I can know that I'm this isn't? I'm not taking on too much. This is a reasonable package for my family to look at other ways of attending a university through ROTC. We mentioned study abroad and and can I have that opportunity if it may not come easily to me?

To to fund it. Am I going to have some opportunities to go and study abroad and that will be a possibility for me. Change in circumstances. Everyone. And certainly these last two years with COVID we know that circumstances change for families. And what does that mean in terms of my completing my degree? How will the university help me assist me to make that a reality? Merit scholarships?

Universities vary in how many merits dollars ships they offer to investigate that and how to apply. What are my? What are my opportunities for merit awards and to have a very clear picture of that as you're selecting a university and then what do I need to do and what's going to be asked of me if I'm selected as a nominee?

And knowing all of this and the funding of it, you also want to take a look at the value of a college education and determining that is by looking at the retention rates. We've mentioned that how many students remain at the university and are successful within the time frame. The graduation rate of of of the students in the in the population, and how are they successful when they start and when they finish their college.

Experience postgraduate outcomes employment salary ranges admissions rates to medical school and law school to earn a graduate degree what what percentage go on and are successful after their undergraduate experience to go on for additional education and then just as a as a site for you to to consider education pays which is put out by College Board, that's.

An opportunity to compare universities and just take a look at the facts about each university in terms of their value and the value of their college education.

So as we giving you a lot of information of things to consider, these are some good questions to ask yourself as you proceed on the next steps of the college search process. How do you apply? What applications are accepted as at least I mentioned the marriage to each institution through different policies. Each institution has their own way of applying own policies, their own applications, possibly so it's important to conduct that research on what steps do you need to do and stay on tape organized.

Because there may be very specific instructions with some institutions that you are applying to, so you need to make sure that you hit those instructions so that you don't disqualify yourself. So how do you apply? What information will you need to provide some general information that could be helpful? Start a list of extracurricular activities that are important to you. What values are experience, values or experience are important in your application that you need to mention for us to understand who you are.

What are the deadlines? Each school has different and very specific instructions on when you should apply and who should apply. When. I know some of you may have heard the phrase early decision versus early action. If a school says save an early decision deadline, that means that if you apply at school and are admitted, you are blinded to attend that institution. It is a contract. If you are admitted to attend that institution. If a school says they have an early action deadline.

That means that generally if you are admitting that school and it's a non binding commitment, you have the flexibility to choose other institutions from an addition to the school you applied to. So each school has their own policies and restrictions that may affect when you want to apply and when, which deadlines you should apply through.

How do you best share information in your application?

What is the best way to communicate to us your extracurriculars, your values, your experiences? Should I talk about my extracurriculars and the extracurricular activity section? Or should I talk about it in my essay section, should I? Those are all really, really big things to consider as you craft this application. And last question, how will admissions review your application? Well, the admissions office that you are applying to conduct your review based on a holistic review.

As in all things they provide to us are important. All these criterias are questions are important for institutions you are applying to, and you want to apply to and so it's as we stress, the four state organized, I started a spreadsheet. If you like if that's who you are of all the colleges you're applying to and be able to answer these questions for each of the institutions you are applying through.

So that wraps up this workshop information section. We're now gonna open up for questions, but before we start, I just want to give you a reminder on this coming week. We have a more in depth analysis of what it means to input infrastructure conductivities in your application tomorrow, college essays on Wednesday and Holistic review in the college application on Thursday.

With that, we'll now open it up for question and the first question I have would be when it comes to interacting with students that you've interacted with. Elisa. What has been the biggest concern students have when fighting the best fit for them?

Well, I I think when they're looking it can seem daunting. I mean, the process can seem daunting and I think that breaking it down into small pieces and realizing there are a lot of people who are going to want to influence you, parents and friends. And I think you need to listen to your own voice as you're judging a campus or assessing it when you visit or when you're looking at its its website.

It's your your experience and this is going to be your opportunity, so I think to hold fast, I think students are sometimes afraid that they're being pushed and pulled in a lot of different directions. I think just hold fast to to your to yourself and to make sure you're asking a lot of questions. That doesn't mean individuals don't have good advice to give and good intentions, but I think knowing I think students are sometimes concerned about that. I would also say.

Don't discount, I'm sure at your ages you're getting lots of mail and lots of contacts. I wouldn't just simply. I'm not going to even think about this school. I would take a look at some information sent your way. Just a quick browse because you never know what may change along the way. You could absolutely change direction thinking out of a flagship public school, huge and then suddenly you end up in a liberal arts.

School because of.

You know, maybe the visit. Maybe the students you encountered, or the faculty. But just to keep that open mind and to take a breath about the whole process and and go with it and take advice. But also keep keep your heart at the at the center at least say you talked about being able to visit campus to understand the campus culture. Understand that this is the right fit for you. There was a question that was submitted saying I just moved back to the US from overseas. If I cannot visit a campus in person, does that.

We had a disadvantage in the application pool. There is a phrase that we've also been getting the question that you should keep in mind. It's called demonstrated interest. Each school has a different policy when it comes to demonstrated interest. Notre Dame does not track demonstrated interest and when we when the phrase demonstrated interest comes up, that means to your question if have you visited campus before, have you interacted with the office before and that will.

The office is know that you are interested in that institution. Notre Dame does not do that, so when it comes to understanding and weighing options and weighing your time on which schools you should visit, that is 11 factor to keep in mind is, is there a school that you are really interested in going to, and do? They track demonstrated interest?

There's a question saying how can I find a school where I'll be able to surround myself with people smarter than me?

Well, I think what you know what can happen when you arrive on campus, which is what happened to me when I arrived here is they asked for a show of hands of how many valedictorians there were in in the classroom and almost every hand went up. So I think just by setting yourself and looking at just the statistics of who's admitted that will give you a sense of in terms of academics, what universities?

Are seeing there is also the component, the intangibles to not only do you want smart people around you, but I think you you want people who are kind people who are going to care about your experience along with their own. So smart you will have smart. I think wherever you go, uh, in a in a higher education setting but also to determine what kind of smart are they.

And the individuals who are wanting to learn and be experts in their field but also are they caring individuals who want the entire community to succeed.

There's a question that says my major is electrical engineering. There are some electronic devices that I created. How can I share to universities? Should I create website website portfolios or upload my video to YouTube and share the link? I think it's up to you if schools have their own portals to upload information to, you can do that. You can also put that additional additional information section of the application, but it's really up to you and how you present it to us. We there is no particular.

Rule for our institution. But once again you should look up each of the institutions you apply through and see if they have their own portal to submit that information to that university or college, because every every institution will have its different ways of accepting things or they don't want this so you do need to have a final for every college and university you're looking at to just keep things straight because we are all looking for terrific, talented.

Wonderful kind people, but the way we do it and the deadlines we have and the procedures you follow can differ from school to school. So you you do definitely want to read, read the websites and or call and ask the questions that you have before proceeding.

There's a question that asked does this size of your family impact financial aid from university in their name?

For us, we'll ask for the free application for federal student aid and the CSS profile, and it will ask the size of your family. But if you have any specific questions or concerns about your financial aid application, I recommend reaching out to the financial aid office and they'll be able to best help you with that question or any other questions you may have.

There's a question asking can international students apply to the US units with good portfolio can get full ride rather than showing his score. Reset T This is a great question because as you would hear us throughout this entire session and depends on the institution. If institution says they are test optional, that means that you have the choice to submit that score to us and they'll have different ways of evaluating your academic performance.

When it comes to learning specifically, we do a holistic review and that will be discussed more completely on Thursday. But that means that all things that you give to us will be evaluated if you choose to submit a score to us that will be looked at. But that doesn't mean that if you do not submit a score that will disqualifying, there are many other ways for us to understand your academic performance, and that includes our merit scholarship process when it comes to an underlying specifically. If you are applying to university, you will be automatically.

Considered for mayor scholarship only a few percentage of students will receive there, but generally that's all you need to do, regardless of what you submit that score or not, your application will be used to evaluate and be considered, but once again, it really depends on the institution, whether they are test, optional, what their merit scholarship processes are. So I understand that may not be the best answer you may be looking for, but it really does depend on the institution.