UNIVERSITIES INFORMATION
EVENING
DR. DEREK M. BLEYBERG
UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS ADVISOR
collegehelp@gohillel.com
925 1980 ext. 249
College Guidance Services
• Advice to students, parents, guardians about
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subject choice bearing in mind future college
aspirations.
Centigrade Interest and Ability Questionnaire.
Advice about examination requirements – PSAT,
SAT, SAT Subject Tests, BMAT, UKCAT, LNAT.
PSAT and SAT preparation classes.
Advice on college choice.
College visits to Hillel Academy.
Information about College Fairs in Jamaica
College Guidance Services 2
• Help with applications:
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– Completion of application forms;
– Help with writing of personal statements or
application essays;
– Help with writing the resume;
– Provision of Hillel Transcripts;
– Counsellor letters of recommendation;
– Mediation regarding teacher letters of
recommendation;
– Completion of financial aid forms, financial eligibility
forms, bank guarantee letter etc.
Advice on finance and scholaships
Centigrade
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Provided by Cambridge Occupational Analysts
Interest questionnaire
150 Questions
Report based on student’s responses
Overall match – interest compared to related skills /
subjects needed to be successful in an area of interest
Looks for inconsistencies / contradictions
Can be taken on line
Cost: US$ 50.
Student can take Centigrade again without additional
costs
COLLEGE VS. UNIVERSITY
• COLLEGE = Undergraduate courses only
 In
UK and some other countries, a college refers to a
unit within a university e.g. King’s College,
Cambridge, or St. Anne’s College, Oxford. In UK
colleges of further education and some schools are
named colleges e.g. Uxbridge College (FE college),
Marlborough College (secondary school)
• UNIVERSITY = Undergraduate and
postgraduate courses
 In
UK university status indicates that the institution
has a charter and can award its own degrees
CHOOSING A COLLEGE
• Liberal arts vs. specialist college
( business, engineering, art and design)
• Am I absolutely sure I know what I want
to study? That I understand what the
course involves?
• That I have the prerequisite skills /
knowledge?
CHOOSING A COLLEGE
• REPUTATION:
– Not for profit vs. for profit
– Public vs. private:
• % of students out-of-state
• State admissions requirements
– ACCREDITATION
• Only regional accreditation counts for university accreditation
although certain departments may also receive national
accreditation (e.g. business school)
• Transfer of credits
CHOOSING A COLLEGE
• Can I meet the entrance requirements?
What are the expected SAT scores?
What % of applicants are offered places?
What is the % of international students?
What % of freshmen return as sophomores?
What % of students graduate in 4 years, 5 years, 6 years?
• Location: What part of the country?
• Location: Urban, suburban, rural?
• Campus vs. city centre: horizontal vs. vertical
campus
CHOOSING A COLLEGE
• PROGRAMME OF STUDY:
– Which majors are offered
• Double major? Triple major?
• Strengths of the department in which you want to
major
• SIZE:
– Number of undergraduate students
– Number of international students
CHOOSING A COLLEGE
• TEACHING METHODS:
– Lecture
– Seminar
– Tutorial
• INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
– Compulsory?
– For how long? When?
• STUDY-ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES
• RELATIONSHIP WITH FACULTY
– Ask current students
CHOOSING A COLLEGE
• Accommodation facilities and policies:
– All first year
– All final year
– All international students
• SOCIAL FACILITIES:
• Community spirit
• Social life. How much depends or revolves around fraternities
and sororities?
• Sports. Which NCAA division?
Intercollegiate
Intramural
CHOOSING A COLLEGE
• Know thyself
• Study the published materials (can be
found in the school library)
• Do not just rely on alumni, or parents,
friends etc. Many people tend to
romantize their experiences.
• Open days / visits / virtual tours
• Talk to students studying there
CHOOSING A COLLEGE
• COST:
– Can vary greatly
– Tuition and fees
– Room and board
– Books and supplies
– Transportation
– Personal expenses
– Bank guarantee needed in order to get a US
visa
UK costs for international students
• A person must have lived in the UK for the
three years prior to beginning a university
course to be considered a home student
for purposes of tuition.
• AND during these three years a student
cannot just be at a (boarding) school to
qualify; the family must work or at least
own property for these school years to
count.
UK Tuition Costs
• 2009-10 statistics:
• Arts classroom based courses:
– 8,000 to 10,000 pounds sterling per annum
• Science lab based courses:
– 10,000 to 15,000 pounds sterling per annum
• Medicine and other specialist subjects:
– 15,000 to 20,000 pounds sterling per annum
UK Tuition Costs
• Virtually no scholarships are available to
cover the costs of the tuition fees at the
undergraduate level.
UK Application Process
• UCAS – Universities and Colleges Admissions Service
• Only 5 choices in any one application cycle
• Either a similar course at 5 different institutions or maybe different
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courses at a smaller number of institutions
Simple form to complete on line
Personal Statement
School Open Reference
Results of external examinations most important element in
admission decisions
Conditional offers for students who have not completed their
secondary schooling – based on total of IB points and possibly a
score in specific subjects
Tuition Costs in Canada
• There are different charges for Canadian
citizens and international students.
• The fees for international students vary
considerably:
– At University of Toronto or UBC the costs are
over Canadian $30,000 per annum;
– At other universities the costs may be as low
as $15,000 to 20,000 per annum.
Application Process in Canada
• In Ontario, Ontario Universities’ Application Center
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(OUAC)
Other provinces, simple application forms
Transcript
Predicted IB Grades
Only academic criteria matter for admission
Minimum offer usually 28 points, but might be higher for
more competitive courses (even up to 40 points!)
Automatic scholarship for achieving certain IB points at
many Canadian universities.
Tuition Costs in USA
• Varies considerably.
• In-state residents may pay as little as
$3,500 per annum while out-of-state
students pay several times more.
• In-state residents: US citizens or
permanent residents.
Comparison of in-state and out-ofstate tuition fees in Florida
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Florida Agricultural and Mechanical (A & M) University
Florida Atlantic University
20,525
Florida Gulf Coast University
7,996
Florida International University
29,584
Florida State University
31,231
University of Central Florida
41,051
University of Florida
34,534
University of North Florida
14,250
University of South Florida
33,998
University of West Florida
8,334
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231,000
This distinction between in-state and out-of-state students only applies to state universities
9,566
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3,264
3,344
3,656
3,466
3,355
3,561
3,370
3,491
3,456
3,351
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15,186
16,409
16,174
15,865
17,403
17,763
17,150
15,134
16,155
16,233
Florida Caribbean Institute
• The FCI was created by an act of the
Florida State legislature to identify and
promote commercial, educational and
cultural linkages between Florida and the
countries of the Caribbean
• Florida State universities can arrange for
Caribbean students to pay in-state tuition
fees
Private Colleges in Florida
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Barry University
Eckerd College
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Flagler College
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida Southern College
Jacksonville University
Johnson and Wales University
Lynn University
Northwood University
Nova Southeastern University
Palm Beach Atlantic University
Ringling College of Art and Design
Rollins College
Saint Leo University
St. Thomas University
Stetson University
University of Miami
University of Tampa
5,053
1,826
4,531
2,537
2,507
1,687
2,893
1,955
2,144
673
5,403
2,471
1,199
1,778
1,587
1,150
2,219
9,997
4,887
56,500
u / grads
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24,500
30,590
27,540
13,600
28,920
21,190
22,500
21,717
28,490
16,455
19,500
20,210
25,110
34,520
17,150
19,680
30,216
34,834
20,682
tuition fees
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
• MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS
– Given for proven ability
– IGCSE OR CSEC Results
– Quality of the school program. IB diploma usually
regarded as the most challenging school program
– IB Predicted Grades
– SAT Scores!!
– Extracurricular involvement
– Leadership
Merit Scholarships
• Most universities have a number of “bands” and will
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place applicants in a band for merit scholarship
purposes.
For example, at the University of Miami merit
scholarships are worth $10,000, $16,000 or $24,000
(maximum).
Students who are awarded the maximum scholarship
might then be invited to apply for a Presidential
Scholarship which could be full tuition.
Often this involves writing an additional essay and / or
going for interview.
Need-blind Admissions
• Merit scholarships are awarded ON MERIT and are not
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dependent on need.
Need-blind admission policies: many schools admit
students without looking at the family’s ability to pay
(need blind).
Some will then fund whatever the cost is for that
admitted student to attend.
While there is some argument about which colleges
follow this policy, the general consensus is that only
about 8 to 12 schools fall into this category. These
include the richest institutions like Harvard, Yale,
Princeton, Stanford, Dartmouth
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
• NEED:
– US CITIZENS WITH SOCIAL SECURITY
NUMBER:
– FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).
 Establishes the Expected Family Contribution.
 Cannot be completed before 1 January of year in
which college is due to start.
 The EFC is communicated to the colleges.
– CSS/FIANCIAL AID PROFILE (called Profile for short).
Establishes eligibility for institutional aid
– Individual college financial aid forms
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
• NON-US CITIZENS:
– Not eligible for federal funds nor for state grants, in
most cases
– If the college offers need-based financial support to
international students, additional forms will need to
be completed:
– INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FINANCIAL AID
APPLICATION FORM (WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.COM)
– College Application Forms
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
• Know which colleges give need-based aid to
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international students
See me!
Know which colleges give the most money to
international students!
Apply early – by November. Once the money available
for merit scholarships or need-based aid has been
allocated, there is no more!
Look carefully at the Aid package offered:
– Grants and scholarships
– Loans
– Work-study
FINANACIAL ASSISTANCE
• ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS
– Eligibility to participate in Division I and II
college athletics decided by NCAA.
– Financial aid only available to Division I and II
athletes (not Division III)
– “Few students receive a partial athletic
scholarship, and even fewer receive full
scholarships. It helps to have college athletic
directors talk with students about financial aid
availability.”
Ways to Reduce Costs in Later Years
• IB Transfer Credits.
– In 2010 some of our students were awarded
up to 18 credits (out of 30) because of the
results they achieved in their IB examinations.
This could save the student a full semester of
college study. Some universities will give
credit only for HL subjects, some for both HL
and SL; some for only grades 6 and 7; others
for grades 5,6 and 7; others for 4,5,6 and 7.
More ways to Reduce Costs
• Honors Program or Honors College.
– At many colleges the Honors program has
many advantages, one of which might be a
scholarship worth several thousand $.
Sometimes students are asked to apply but
generally they must express an interest. In
some colleges, you can only enter after the
first semester or even a year, in others you
can start as an honors student. At most
colleges, you can enter the program during
the first two years. A student needs to
maintain a certain GPA to remain in the
program.
More Ways to Reduce the Costs
• Departmental scholarships. Many colleges have
departmental scholarship opportunities which a
student only gets to hear about once he/she is
in a particular department. Often a professor will
suggest that a student apply.
More Ways to save Costs
• Residential Assistant (RA). RAs have special
responsibility within a residence – for example,
to provide entertainments for their floor, to
control cleaning materials, the vacuum cleaner
etc. and to ensure that rooms are cleaned, to
help with security and safety matters. In most
colleges a student applies to be an RA, is
interviewed and, if chosen, then trained. For the
additional work and responsibility, he/ she will
be given a room – usually a single room – rent
free; in some colleges a free meal plan is also
included. So an RA can save about $5,000 a
year.
More Ways to reduce Costs
• Stay on the Deans List. In some colleges,
students who make the Dean’s List as
exempt from tuition for the next semester.
• Internships / Coops. At many colleges an
internship is now compulsory and many of
the positions pay pretty well. Because it is
compulsory, the normal restrictions about
working on a student visa don’t apply.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
• Common Application Forms OR individual university / college application
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forms
Application form can usually be completed online
(College application) essay
College Supplement
Resume
WE WILL BE SENDING ALL COMMON APPLICATION FORMS AND
RELATED MATERIALS –SUCH AS TRANSCRIPTS - ELECTRONICALLY
• Financial aid forms (parents)
• Financial guarantee
• Application fee
APPLICATION ITSELF
• Presentation is everything! Never work on
an original application before completing
the draft copy with your career counsellor.
Neatness and clarity are important. The
appearance and content of the application
will reflect a great deal about you,
therefore, it is very important that you
invest time and thought into each
application. Unless otherwise stated, you
should always type your application.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
• Transcript
• School Report / Guidance Councellor
Recommendation
• International Supplement
( includes predicted grades)
• Teacher letters of recommendation (2 or
3). Teachers should be from the IB years.
TRANSCRIPT
• The most important factor in the college
admissions decision is your academic
transcript ( your grades from grade 10).
Colleges are looking for strong grades in
an academically challenging programme.
Specifically, they will be looking at the
types of courses you have taken, the
number of courses, the level of courses
and the grades earned.
TRANSCRIPT
• IB DIPLOMA: ALL COURSES TAKEN ARE
“HONORS” COURSES AND SO THE
TRANSCRIPT ALREADY LOOKS STRONG –
THE STUDENT IS TAKING THE MOST
CHALLENGING PROGRAMME IN THE
SCHOOL.
• BUT THE RESULTS IN IB1 (GRADE 12)
ARE IMPORTANT!
APPLICATION ESSAYS
• This is the part of the application that students
sometimes rush to complete. The essay is a
critical factor in the admissions decision and it is
entirely under your control! Take time to think
about the message you want to get across to
the Admissions Committee, and write an essay
that demonstrates your writing ability and makes
your application “come alive”. The essay is your
golden opportunity to let them know more about
who you are, what you value and what your
future goals are.
EXTRACURRICULAR INVOLVEMENT
• The emphasis here is on quality and not
quantity.
– College admission officers are not interested in a list
of ten activities with little time commitment and
involvement. They are looking for those students who
have invested their time, energy and commitment to
pursuing one or two activities in-depth. They are
looking for those individuals that will make a real
commitment to their college community.
– Admissions officers are also looking for demonstrated
leadership qualities. Remember leadership involves
being a team player!
SPECIAL TALENTS
• Admissions officers are looking for unique
individuals, students with special talents or
experiences that set them apart from
other candidates:
– outstanding musicians, writers, actors,
athletes, and editors. Colleges are looking for
individuals whose unique talents will make
significant contributions to their college
communities.
SCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS
• The school recommendation is written by
your careers counsellor.
– As your primary advocates, we try to present
an assessment that is fair and accurate and
which emphasises achievements and talents.
This comprehensive letter includes
information about academics; extracurricular
involvement; and, most importantly, a sense
of character of the applicant.
TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS
• Each college has its own specific requirements
for teacher recommendations, but in most cases
two are requested.
– Some colleges are very specific and ask for
recommendations from teachers in certain disciplines.
The teachers you choose to write your
recommendations should be taken from your 12th.
and 13th. grade level courses and should be able to
speak to your abilities and accomplishments both in
and outside the classroom.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• ALL RECOMMENDATIONS REMAIN
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL TO
ENSURE INTEGRITY. ALL
RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE SENT
DIRCTLY TO THE COLLEGES,
TOGETHER WITH THE TRANSCRIPT
AND SCHOOL REPORT. UNDER NO
CIRCUMSTANCES WILL A COPY OF
ANY RECOMMENDATION BE MADE
AVAILABLE TO A STUDENT, PARENT
OR OUTSIDE AGENCY.
OUTSIDE RECOMMENDATIONS
These recommendations are sometimes
helpful and can support your out-of-school
activities or work experience.
LEGACY STATUS
• At many colleges the sons and daughters
of alumni receive special consideration in
the application process. Although legacy
status is not a guarantee for admission,
alumni children usually get a “second
look.”
INTERVIEWS
• Some colleges require or recommend an
interview while others do not.
– For some colleges, the interview is provided solely to
inform you about the college and provide you with an
opportunity to ask questions. For other colleges, the
interview provides admission officers with additional
information about you and your future goals.
Depending on the college, this information may or
may not be used during the application decisionmaking process. Interviews may be: face-to-face with
an admissions officer; face-to-face with a local
alumni; a telephone interview.
What criteria do admissions officers
consider to be the most reliable
indicators of success in college?
• School Achievements
93%
• Test Scores
87%
• Recommendations
50%
• Essay
44%
• Interview
33%
• Activities
30%
STANDARDISED TEST SCORES
• The amount of weight placed on standardised test (SAT)
scores in the admissions process varies from college to
college.
– Such scores provide colleges with a measure to compare
students from different schools. As a general rule, the more
selective the college the more important test scores are due to
the rigorous and academically challenging programmes offered
by selective institutions. It is important to keep in mind that
standardised test scores are only one of many factors that
college admission officers consider when evaluation an
application. However, these scores are important in deciding who
gets merit scholarship money.
PSAT
• Can be taken once a year only in October.
• All grade 12 students are entered.
• US citizens are eligible for National Merit
Scholarships.
• Students find out which questions they
got right and which were wrong.
• First step towards SAT Reasoning Test.
SAT
• NOVEMBER TO MAY
– REGULAR SAT PREPARATION CLASSES FRIDAY 2.20
• SAT TEST JANUARY
• SAT TEST MAY
• SAT TEST JUNE (although conflicts with end of year
exams)
• SAT TEST OCTOBER
What Grade 12 students need to do
during this year:
• Research colleges, visit if possible. By the
end of the year, have the list of colleges
you want to apply to ready
• Take the PSAT and then the SAT so that
you know which colleges you can apply to