Presented by Wendy Biggs and Scott Lilly

PRIVATE COLLEGES

SOUND FAMILIAR?

I just want my child to go to a

“good” college.What is the best college for (insert major here)?

I’ve never heard of that

school, so it can’t be any

good.

My boss’s niece’s best friend’s cousin went there and she said it was a good (or bad) school.

You’re not going to a

school with a direction in

its name. We can’t afford private schools

COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY

Why are some schools called “college” and others referred to as a “university”?

Universities are comprised of a group of colleges.

Colleges of…BusinessMediaEducationEngineeringGeneral StudiesFine and Applied ArtsApplied Health SciencesLiberal Arts and SciencesAgriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences

ONE OF THESE THINGS ISNOT 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) Though originally founded in the Wesleyan tradition, Illinois Wesleyan has moved away from its religious roots and adopted a more general Liberal Arts curriculum.

A. Illinois Wesleyan

B. Iowa Wesleyan

C. Indiana Wesleyan

D. Ohio Wesleyan

SO YOU SAY YOU ARE LOOKINGFOR 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

APPLICATIONSThe Holistic approach…

•Not just a mathematical equation, but still starts with strength of schedule, GPA, and ACT (but not always)

•Essays

•Resum of activities, involvements, and work experiences

•Letters of recommendation

•Interviews

•Visits

•Demonstrated interest

•Legacy

**REMEMBER**Colleges are looking for ways to get students IN,

not keep them OUT

SIZE• 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.

‹2500Augustana CollegeNorth Central CollegeIllinois Wesleyan UNorth Park UniversityKnox CollegeMonmouth CollegeBeloit CollegeLawrence University

2500-7500Bradley UniversityButler UniversityCreighton UniversityDrake UniversityMillikin UniversityCarthage College

›7500Marquette UniversityDepaul UniversityNorthewestern UniversityLoyola UniversityUniversity of ChicagoWashington University (St. Louis)

FINDING THE RIGHT PAIR OF PANTSWHAT SIZE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Small schools offer…

•More personal involvement

•Community atmosphere (including faculty)

•Smaller classes (from 5-50 students)

•Faculty focused on teaching undergraduates, not conducting research

•Direct instruction by faculty, not graduate students

•Usually a higher price tag.

*Do not discount small schools because ofprice when conducting your initial search.

Large schools offer…

•Class sizes anywhere from 20-350 students

•Tend to be more impersonal

•Allow more anonymity and learning of independent living skills

•Tend to be less expensive

•Offer the “college experience”

•Carry a bigger name

• 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

THE LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE

• 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 rangeHave the highest placement rates for graduate schoolMerit scholarships are typically not availableRecommend that students take the most rigorous coursework available to them while in high school

UNDERSTANDING YOUR VALUESWHY ARE WE SENDING OUR SON/DAUGHTER TO COLLEGE?

Go live anywhere but here!

Get a good job when s/he graduates

Become an educated

and well-rounded

person

Develop independence “The college experience”

(however you define that is up to

you)

Get into graduate or professio

nal school

FINAL CONSIDERATIONS

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?

StudentWill I feel closed in and trapped at a small school, or will I feel lost and overwhelmed at a large school?

ParentIs my student ready to “go away” to college (academically, emotionally, etc.), and am I ready for him/her to leave?