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Fall 2006
Because we know you’re busy, this newsletter zeros in on practical information that will help you help your college-bound students. In this issue, we focus on college decision making. We offer some great tools to use in assisting students with this all-important choice — especially students who might be considering attending one of Minnesota's Private Colleges.
In This Issue
A new and improved Web site
The re-vamped Minnesota’s Private Colleges Web site is geared to our most important audiences: prospective students and those who advise them. Check out our new information for guidance counselors page and direct your students to the thinking of attending page. Information and resources are organized into these categories: preparing for college, choosing a college and paying for college.
Tip: For quick and easy access to the MPCC Web site, create a shortcut on your desktop or add the site to your browser’s list of favorites or bookmarks.
We’ve upgraded three features on our Web site that make it easier than ever to find the information you and your students need:
- Our Colleges — click this link on the right hand side of pages to see a list of the 17 colleges and universities in our system. Hover your mouse over a college name for a snapshot preview or click on the name for detailed information.
- Majors & Minors — click this link on the right hand side to find out which schools offer which majors.
- Contact Admissions — click on this graphic in the right hand sidebar to request materials from admissions offices from any of our 17 schools
Please let us know what you think about our new site; send your comments to colleges@mnprivatecolleges.org
2006-08 Viewbooks now available
“Minnesota’s 17 Private Colleges and Universities at a Glance” is hot off the press. This guide for students contains brief profiles and other valuable information to help students discover if one of our schools is the right fit for their future. Order or download this free publication.
Note: The 2006-08 College Guide for school counselors will be available soon. We plan to mail it before the end of the year to all counselors in the state along with copies of the Viewbook.
Jumpstarting the college search process
For those students who don’t have a clue where to start when it comes to choosing a college, the CollegeBoard.com’s Quick-Start College Selection (Pick a Baby Step, Any Baby Step) suggests these steps:
- Read the college brochures and e-mails you’re receiving
- Talk to family and friends about their college experiences
- Write down what you want or need in a college
- Research colleges
- Make a college wish list (no limits; this is brainstorming)
- Visit a campus to help focus your preferences
- Go to a college fair
- Meet with your counselor
Once students narrow down the field, finding a fit (which is the ultimate goal of the decision making process) provides a list of questions to use when evaluating schools. Often campus size is a factor in students’ decisions. Minnesota's Private Colleges offers some good reasons to “think small.” See Campus size matters.
Trivia
What was the #1 reason for attending college, according to 2005 freshmen at UCLA?
A. To get a better job
B. To make more money
C. To find my purpose in life
D. To learn more about things that interest me
Source: The Higher Education Research Institute of UCLA. See all 5 questions at CollegeBoard.com.
(The answer is D.)
Next Issue
The winter issue of Counselor News will focus on the financial aid process. If you have ideas about specific questions or topics we should address in future issues, please send us a note at colleges@mnprivatecolleges.org.
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