College
Planning
DCS 2013
Why Go to College?
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/video-transcription/why-is-college-an-important-next-step
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/video-transcription/i-didnt-know-what-i-wanted-to-do-with-my-life
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/video-transcription/whats-the-best-thing-about-college
More
job opportunities
Meet new people
Learn to be independent
New opportunities to explore
your interests, and
experiencing success.
Why College? continued
A
4-year college
graduate (with
Bachelor’s
degree) earns
almost $1 million
more over
his/her lifetime
than a high
school
graduate.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Why College? continued
A
4-year
college
graduate earns
about $52,200
annually on
average,
compared to
$30,400 for a
high school
graduate.
- Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Published by Federal Student Aid
Why College? continued
Increased
education is also
associated with:
 Better
working conditions;
 Longer job tenure;
 More on-the-job training
opportunities;
 More promotion opportunities.
Degrees
High School – 4 years
Diploma
Community College – varied
Certification/License
Community College – 2 years (Optional)
Associate’s Degree
University - 4 years
Bachelor’s Degree
Degrees after the B.A./B.S.
University-2 years or more
Master’s Degree
University –3 years or more
Doctorate Degrees-Ph.D, Ed.D,
M.D., J.D.
What is a Certificate?
 Diploma
Shortest course of study
 Least expensive
 Career competency
 Three to twelve courses
 12 or 18 months of study
 State or national licensing
requirements

What is an Associate’s
Degree?





Associate’s of Arts or Associate’s of Science
Minimum of 60 semester credits
General education requirements, major
requirements, and electives
Awarded by community, junior or technical
colleges
Degree may be in an occupational area such
as Accounting or in Liberal Arts & Science with
a concentration such as Science &
Mathematics
What is a Bachelor’s Degree?
 Bachelor
of Arts or Bachelor of Science
 Four years of full-time study
 120 semester credits or about 40 college
courses
 30 to 36 credits—10 to 12 courses—will be
in your major area of study
What is a Master’s Degree?
 Must
have an undergraduate
(bachelor’s) degree
 Requires a year and one-half to two years
of full-time study
 36 to 54 semester credits of study (this
equals 12 to 18 college courses)

What is a Doctorate Degree?
 highest
level of academic degree
 takes four years to complete
 90 to 120 semester credits or 30 to 40
college courses
Systems of Higher Education
North Carolina University
System
North Carolina Community
Colleges
North Carolina Private
Colleges/Universities
North Carolina Community
Colleges
58 Community Colleges in NC
 Prepares students to transfer to a 4 year institution
Associate’s degree
Offers technical training in specific occupations
(bookkeeping, culinary arts)
Most are nonresidential; students live off-campus
Students can attend part-time or full-time
North Carolina State
Universities
17 North Carolina State Universities
Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate’s, and Professional
degrees
Accepts high school Seniors and Community College
transfers
Provides broad liberal education and prepares students
for professional goals
Professional Schools-Law, Medicine, Education,
Engineering, Journalism, Social Welfare
North Carolina Independent/Private
Universities and Colleges
36 Private Universities and Colleges in NC
Vary in size, prestige, and cost
 Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate’s, and Professional
degrees
Accepts high school graduates and Community College
Transfers
Professional Schools-Law, Medicine, Education, Engineering,
Journalism, Social Welfare
You can
organize
the college planning
process in
simple steps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Px8fNdTpk
STEP
Know
yourself
and
your reasons for attending college
Take responsibility
for your future
STEP
Consider college
characteristics
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search/
STEP
List, compare, and
visit colleges
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/compare-colleges
23
STEP
Discuss your
chances for success
 Admission
 Graduation
 Placement
Apply for admission
and meet all deadlines
24
STEP
plan
Develop a
to
pay for your education
$
Don’t eliminate any college because
of costs before
receiving financial assistance
information!
Remember
…
check with college officials for the
most current costs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEuTHrmaY3U
25
STEP
Review and
finalize your plans
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/student-profile/meet-jonathan-o
26
Colleges want
all kinds of students
Important!
Keep your communication lines open.
Test scores and high school
grades are important.
However, they measure
ONLY PART of your
POTENTIAL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87f2QxDReC8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WBu8Q-_lz4&noredirect=1
How is College Different from
High School
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdIIP6lNi1w
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/video-transcription/how-is-college-different-from-high-school
Make a Plan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8Px8fNdTpk