After I return on November 5th, I look forward to meeting with my sophomores and juniors to begin making college visit plans and list building. However, sometimes students and families aren’t ready for the conversation because they need time to explore on their own. But where to start?
Review this simple PDF. Which factors matter, to either/both the student and family?
Before booking the proverbial trip to Boston (MIT, Harvard, and Northeastern have single digit admit rates and unlikely admits for most students), why not start smart, go online, and learnwhat you can for free? (There is a lot of misinformation, so please stick with these sites.)
Less College Stress families: go onto your page and read about every college-the Fiske Guide (below) is included for free. Use the links in the Researching/Visiting colleges file! In fact, explore all your files...there’s much to be discovered about every aspect of the college process. While you are college shopping through through the Less College Stress system, try these:
Fiske Guide: the most comprehensive college guide, offering information about every feature of a college, plus possible overlaps and top programs. (free through my system, not outside it.)
College Navigator: play with exploring schools by Geography, Major, Type of degree and Institution, Undergraduate Student Enrollment, Tuition, Campus setting, % of applicants admitted, Test Scores, Varsity Athletic teams, and Religious Affiliation. (under Research within any College Profile) College Navigator.
Campus Reel: see great videos of campuses and follow students through their days at school. (under Research within any College Profile) https://www.campusreel.org/
Loper: a college app that works like a dating app. Download, start your account, enter all your must-haves, and Loper will offer up colleges to swipe on. Link Loper to your Less College Stress system so I can see the schools you like. https://www.getloper.com/
So rather than booking a major trip, review that PDF, visit a few campuses in your area on a Saturday or Sunday. Explore, talk to students, and keep an open mind. If you can see yourself in every scenario, that’s fine. Rule out what you don’t want. I am here to fill in all the details, provide the data, and refine the list later!
Prairie View A & M University: This HBCU (Historically Black College/University) and R2 research university provides opportunities for STEM students. Most popular majors are Mechanical Engineering, Agricultural Business, and Nursing; Apple and engineering recruiters recruit heavily. Lots of scholarships available for students who submit test scores, including a full 45k scholarship for the agricultural school and up to 10k per year for students with GPA 3.5/SAT 1260/ACT 26. https://www.pvamu.edu/
Trinity University: Highly-selective, small, diverse liberal arts college in cosmopolitan San Antonio: its urban location sets it apart from other LACs, but like others, Trinity has no barriers to any major and emphasizes academic flexibility. Undergraduates are sought out for fully financed research, freshmen get job offers, and an annual $25k entrepreneurship competition. After graduation, 98% of students are employed/in grad school within six months, and 90% of pre-meds are accepted into medical school. Trinity is a happy home to Trinicats 😸 (cats who live all over campus)! https://www.trinity.edu/news/class-2027-breaks-acceptance-rate-record
Baylor University: Southern Baptist University in Waco welcomes all students. Princeton Review ranks it #5 for first year experience and #5 happiest college. Although 15,000 attend, the average class size is only 26. Required chapel attendance and Christian Heritage and Scriptures courses. Business Entrepreneurship and Science programs are highly-ranked. School spirit abounds, 1/3 students engage in Greek life, and all enjoy visiting the two live bears that live on campus: Indie and Belle. https://about.web.baylor.edu/
Southern Methodist University: Despite its name, SMU is a non-sectarian university. Nationally-ranked Cox Business School’s most selective program is Alternative Assets Management (ED applicants denied to Cox are still committed to SMU). Dual admissions are not offered for CompSci and Engineering (the latter boasts 40% women). PreCalc preferred for applicants, but it’s easy to switch majors (except into the business school). Required core curriculum, including a language requirement so students become world citizens. Exciting new Human Rights program:https://www.smu.edu/dedman/academics/undergraduate-minors-and-programs/interdisciplinary-studies/ehrp. Beautiful campus!
Here’s a quick overview of five institutions I saw in the Lone Star State:
Rice University: Students are not admitted by major (except for architecture and music), and there is no need to declare a major until the second semester sophomore year declaration deadline. Choose courses from 3 distribution groups (like clusters) that students must complete by senior year. House system (think Harry Potter) will be expanding from 11 to 13 residential colleges.
Texas Christian University: Ranked “Happiest Students” by Princeton Review. Beautiful campus, big sports culture. One out of every three students are in the Neely School of Business. Undecided students who really want business should apply to business first because it’s tough to transfer in. Lockheed Martin offers many internships and jobs to engineering students. Possible to double major across colleges. 1/3 of the curriculum is liberal arts-based to build strong critical thinking skills.
Southwestern University: Very selective, regionally respected, the oldest college in Texas (1840) is older than the state itself (1845). Only 28 miles north of Austin, 11th largest city in the US. Personal attention emphasized; 6 advisors for every 375 students. First year seminars are purely interdisciplinary (chocolate course taught by Bio teacher covers economics, psychology, marketing and culture). Exceptional Southwestern study abroad program in London; study away in NYC and DC. Great outdoor adventure opportunities!
Austin College: No adjunct professors. 97% faculty are tenured/tenured track. 90% applicants admitted to health sciences programs. New Master of Medical Science Physician programs is first year didactic; second year clinical rotation. Texas Instruments has made a 34 billion dollar investment in local infrastructure. Largest telescope in North Texas!
University of Texas at Austin: The state flagship now autoadmits the top 5% of Texas high school graduates. 90%of students must be from Texas legally. Under 10% OOS are admitted. Jester Residence Hall alone houses over 3,000 residents. New EA deadline is 10/15. Submit your housing application right after applying!