Advice From Sallie Mae on Selecting a College
July 13 2006 - 6:06AM
PR Newswire (US)
RESTON, Va., July 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Choosing the right college can
set a student on a path to educational and professional success.
But, with thousands of schools from which to choose, careful
planning is the key for students to start their higher education
journey off on the right foot. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030617/SLMLOGO-a ) The first
step in the planning process is to develop a checklist of
objectives. Remember, the school a student ultimately chooses will
have lasting effects, influencing his or her personal and
professional life for years to come. While individual priorities
may differ, there are some characteristics all students and
families should consider. Sallie Mae, the nation's leading provider
of education funding, suggests the following items and questions
for inclusion on a student's selecting-a-college checklist: *
Curriculum --- Decide on the fields of study that you plan to
tackle. Is there a specific subject in mind, like art or music, or
do you want a more general, liberal arts education? Do you want a
range of potential majors and study programs? Are you interested in
a career that requires professional certification, and does the
school provide the necessary training? * Cost --- First and
foremost, how much can you and your family afford? What types of
financial aid are available? * Quality of education --- How much
contact do you want with your professors? How much does it matter
to you whether professors or graduate students teach your courses?
How involved do you want to be in research and in learning outside
of the classroom? * Size --- How large or small a school do you
want? Do you prefer large lectures with hundreds of students or
small classes with lots of student participation? Do you want to be
on a big campus with many majors, an impressive library, and lots
to do? Or would you prefer a small college where you know
everyone's name? * Admission requirements --- What does the school
require for admission? What does the school look for in prospective
students? And what are your chances of being accepted? * Facilities
--- What would you like to see on or near your college campus? Are
restaurants, shops, and health clubs important to you? What about
laundry rooms? The computer lab? The library and research
facilities? Is transportation on and around the campus available? *
Campus life --- Consider life outside the college classroom. What
special-interest groups, activities, fraternities/sororities do you
want to be involved in? * Location --- Which part of the country
would you like to experience? Do you want an urban or small-town
setting? Do you want to stay close to home so you can visit
frequently? * Housing and resources --- If you plan to live
on-campus, make sure to investigate the quality of dormitory life.
Find out if housing is guaranteed for returning students. And don't
forget to check on the meal plan --- can the school provide for
special diet needs? * Retention and graduation rates --- Retention
rate is the percentage of students who stay for four years.
Graduation rate is the percentage of students who graduate within
four years. Both rates can provide insight as to whether students
are satisfied with their experience at the school and receive the
support they need. Once students have created a big-picture idea of
what they're looking for in a college, they can more easily narrow
their choices. To help students and families make the most of their
college decisions, Sallie Mae's free planning and
paying-for-college Web site offers a host of information, resources
and college-selection checklists at http://www.collegeanswer.com/.
"In the end, it is important for students to choose a college where
they will feel comfortable and have the opportunity to excel
academically and personally," says Martha Holler, a Sallie Mae
spokesperson. "Above all, this is a decision that will have a
lasting impact, so students and families should do their homework
thoroughly." For more information on choosing a college, visit
http://www.collegeanswer.com/.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030617/SLMLOGO-a
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Sallie Mae CONTACT: Erin
Korsvall of Sallie Mae, +1-703-984-5136 Web site:
http://www.salliemae.com/ Company News On-Call:
http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/827187.html
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