2015 montana college fair preparation guidebook

college fairPreparation and tipsw w w . M o n t a n a C o l l e g e s . c o m

HIGHER EDUCATION FOR MONTANA STUDENTS | MPSEOCSupporting Quality Access to Higher Education

CREDITSA special thank you to your parnters who help make this book possible: Pathways, Montana University System - Student Financial Services, GEAR UP, Student Assistance Foundation, and many more!

The Guide to Higher Education is produced by the Montana Post Secondary Educational Opportunities Council (MPSEOC). MPSEOC is a non-profi t organization representing the 25 accredited institutions of higher education across the state of Montana. MPSEOC exists to promote higher education to students, parents, and guidance counselors in Montana. One of the Councils primary objectives is to sponsor activities that will provide assistance to students in their transition from high school to college. This Guide Book is designed to help reach this goal. Thank you to all who make this book possible!

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ABOUT THIS BOOKThe Guide to Higher Education is designed to help encourage students to research all

the amazing options available after high school. In this book we outline a basic step-by-

step process that can be a helpful tool to any student. However, we strongly encourage

that students use this as a starting point. In this book we refer the reader to many other

resources, websites, and organizations for help. We hope that you take that next step! Also,

while using this book, a great complement is our website: www.MontanaColleges.com

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CONTENTS

PREPARING FOR THE COLLEGE FAIR

Step 1: COLLEGE FAIR TIPS

Step 2: FAIR WORKSHEET

Step 3: RESEARCH

Step 4: CAREER RESEARCH

Step 5: MONTANA OUTLOOK

Step 6: TIMELINE & CHECKLIST

Step 7: ATTEND THE COLLEGE FAIR

BEFORE THE FAIR! RESEARCH DETAILED ONLINE COLLEGE PROFILES @ WWW.MONTANACOLLEGES.COM

| MONTANA COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

| MANY OUT-OF-STATE COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES

| MILITARY BRANCHES

| AGENCIES





resources, websites, and organizations for help. We hope that you take that next step!

Also, while using this book, a great complement is our website: www.MontanaColleges.

com

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SEPTEMBER :: Join U

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2015 | MPSEOC | Montana College Fair Schedule

EASTERN REGION

Day Date Time

Host Institution, City Location

Number of Invited

High Schools

Estimated number of

high school students to attend fair*

MondaySeptember14 12:30p.m.2:30p.m.

MSUNorthern,Havre CollegeGym 10 400

TuesdaySeptember15 9:00a.m.10:30a.m.

GlasgowHighSchool,Glasgow HighSchoolGym 12 325

WednesdaySeptember16 9:00a.m.10:30a.m.

SidneyHighSchool,SidneyGymorMultiPurposeRoom 11 315

WednesdaySeptember16 1:00p.m.2:30p.m.

DawsonCommunityCollege,GlendiveCollegeGym 6 200

ThursdaySeptember17 8:00a.m.9:45a.m.

MilesCommunityCollege,MilesCityCollegeGym 8 325

ThursdaySeptember17 1:00p.m.2:30p.m.

ColstripHighSchool,ColstripHighSchoolGym 6 150

CENTRAL REGION

Day Date Time


Number of Invited High

Schools

Estimated number of


MondaySeptember21 9:00a.m.11:00a.m.

MontanaStateUniversity,BozemanStrandUnionBallrooms 9 450


ParkSeniorHighSchool,Livingston Gym 5 300


MSUBillings,BillingsGym 30 1500


FergusCountyHighSchool,LewistownFairgrounds 11 320

WednesdaySeptember23 1:30p.m.3:00p.m.

UniversityofGreatFalls,GreatFallsMcLaughlinCenter

23 500

ThursdaySeptember24

9:00a.m.10:30a.m.

CutBankHighSchool,CutBankHighSchoolGym 7 290

WESTERN REGION

Day Date Time


Number of Invited High

Schools

Estimated number of


MondaySeptember28 9:00a.m.11:00a.m.

MontanaTech,ButteHPERCenterGym 12 600


CarrollCollege,HelenaGym 6 450


TheUniversityofMontana,MissoulaUniversityCenterBallroom 17 1200

TuesdaySeptember29 1:15p.m.2:45p.m.

HamiltonandCorvallisHighSchools,HamiltonHamiltonHighSchoolGym

5 400


PolsonHighSchool,PolsonHighSchoolGym 5 200

ThursdayOctober1 8:15a.m.11:30a.m.

FlatheadHighSchool,Kalispell HighSchoolGym 13 1300

*Estimated numbers of high school students is based on the number of students who attended the 2014 fairs and the estimated number of seniors in the class of 2014-15.

SEPTEMBER :: Join U

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resources, websites, and organizations for help. We hope that you take that next step!

Also, while using this book, a great complement is our website: www.MontanaColleges.

com

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www.MontanaColleges.com

MEMO Date: April 21, 2015 To: Montana Educators and Administrators From: Montana Post Secondary Educational Opportunities Council (MPSEOC) Amy Leary & Kerry Hanson

Re: College SPIRIT / Pride Week CELEBRATION | www.SupportMontanaStudents.org

OnbehalfofallMontanacollegesanduniversities,weinviteyouandyouremployees,yourschoolfacultyandstaffandcommunitiesacrossMontanatoparticipateinthisCollegeSpirit/PrideWeek!WhatanincredibleopportunitytoencouragehighereducationbypromotingeducationthroughthosemostvisibletoourMontanastudents,thefaculty,staffandadministrationsinourschools.Wehopeyouwillparticipateandencourageschoolsinyourareatodothesame.WeareconfidentallMontanacollegesanduniversitieswillberepresentedinadditiontoseveraloutofstateinstitutions.WeseeterrificvalueinpromotinghighereducationwithinthestateofMontanaandtoshowstudentstodaythevarietyofopportunitiesavailabletothem.Thiseffortwillstrivetoadvocatehighereducationthroughincreasedpublicawarenessfromthepeopletheyspendsomuchtimewithatschool.ThisCollegePrideWeekwillnotonlyshowthesestudentsthattheirmentorshavegonetocollege,butalso,joinincelebratingtheachievementsofourcollegesanduniversitiesthroughalumni,friendsandfans.

What:CollegeSpirit/PrideWeekCelebrationThegoalofCollegePrideWeekistoencouragestaff,facultyandadministrationtowearashirtorclothingrepresentingthecollegetheyattended(preferred).Theycouldalsochoosetorepresentaninstitutionnearesttheircommunityorsimplychooseacollegetheyareafanoforsupport.OurhopeistohaveatremendouscrosssectionofhighereducationfromallMontanainstitutionsbeingrepresentedtooutofstatecolleges,privateuniversitiesandivyleaguerepresentation.

When:WehopeyoumightconsideradoptingCollegeSpirit/PrideWeekwhiletheMPSEOCcollegefairtourswillbeinyourareainSeptember.Or,youarewelcometochooseonespecificdayforthemostvisibilityifaweekseemstoolong.Generally,theCollegeFairRegiondatesareasfollows:

99 EasternRegionCollegeFairs:September14179 CentralRegionCollegeFairs:September21249 WesternRegionCollegeFairs:September28October1

K Pleasevisitusonline@www.SupportMontanaStudents.orgtoseethespecificlocationsofcollegefairs.Youmaytalktoyourhighschoolcounselorifyouwouldliketoknowtheexactfairtheyhavechosentoattend.Thankyou!

WelookforwardtoyourenthusiasticparticipationinCollegeSpirit/PrideWeek,asanewefforttopromotehighereducationinMontana.Pleasesendusyourdigitalphotoswewouldlovetoseeyourcollegiateenthusiasm.SharethemonFacebookorposttoourcelebrationpage@www.SupportMontanaStudents.org.

ThankyoufortheconsiderationtoembraceandsupportCollegeSpirit/PrideWeekandthepromotionofhighereducationtoMontanastudents!Havefunwiththiseffort!TheMontanaPostSecondaryEducationalOpportunitiesCouncil(MPSEOC)

MPSEOC | P.O. Box 7548 | Missou la , MT 59807 | www.MontanaCol leges .com

MPSEOC|MontanaPostSecondaryEducationalOpportunitiesCouncil|www.MontanaColleges.com S u p p o r t i n g Q u a l i t y A c c e s s T o H i g h e r E d u c a t i o n

CELEBRATE :: Show Your Support of M

ontana Students @ w

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.SupportMontanaStudents.org 6

CELEBRATE :: Show Your Support of M

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999

The University of MontanaTheres something special about this place. Its something diff erent for each person. For

some, its the blend of academic quality and outdoor recreation. For others, its the size-not

too big, not too small. Students receive a high-quality, well-rounded education and training

for professional careers in the Universitys Colleges - Arts and Sciences, Health Professions

and Biomedical Sciences, Forestry and Conservation, and Technology - and six schools -

Journalism, Law, Business, Education, Pharmacy and the Fine Arts. Located at the heart

of western Montanas stunning natural landscape, UM is a magnet not only for top-notch

teachers and researchers, but also for students from across the country and around the globe.

UM and Missoula has an increasingly diverse population and rich culture.

AT A GLANCEType of school: Public unit of the Montana University System

Institutional Accreditation: The University is regionally accedited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Profes-sional schools and departments are approved by specialized ac-crediting organizations.

Total Undergraduate Enrollment: 13,961

Average Class Size: 26

Faculty/Student Ratio: 1:19

ESTIMATED EXPENSES (PER ACADEMIC YEAR)Application fee: $30, Online Fee: $36

Tuition and Fees: In-State: $4,978 Out of State: $14,484

Room and Board: $5,440 Books and Supplies: $800

FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS Financial Aid: More than 9,000 UM students receive some form

of fi nancial aid. Scholarships, grants, loans and work-study pro-grams are available for eligible students once they complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid is awarded on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served need basis.

Scholarships - DEADLINE - DECEMBER 31: Presidential Leadership Scholarships: UMs premier academic scholarship based on merit. General Scholarships: Scholarship deadline is December 31. Scholarship applications available by contacting Enrollment Services-Admissions or online at: http://admissions.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS Freshmen admission requirements: Complete an application

for admission, (online application is available at http://admis-sions.umt.edu)

Submit a $30 application fee ($36 for online application) Submit offi cial ACT/SAT scores Submit a fi nal high school transcript oce you have graduated

from high school. The transcript should show your graduation date and needs to be submitted prior to the start of the semes-ter you plan to attend.

Freshmen Admission Requirements: Earn either a 2.5 GPA or, a minimum score of 1540 on the SAT combined critical reading, math and writing or, a minimum score of 22 on the ACT composite (essay not required), or rank in the upper half of your graduating class. Students must also meet a math pro-fi ciency requirement by either:

Earning a minimum score of 18 on the math portion of the ACT, or

Earning a minimum score of 440 on the math portion of the SAT, or

Earning a minimum score of 3 on the Advanced Placement calculus exam. Students must also meet the writing profi cien-cy requirement by either:

Earning a minimum score of 6 on the Writing Subscore or a minimum score of 17 on the Combined English/Writing sec-tion of the Optional Writing Test of the ACT; or

ACADEMIC PROGRAMSCollege of Arts & SciencesAfrican-American Studies*Anthropology Archaeology Cultural & Ethnic Diversity Forensic Anthropology Linguistic-sApplied ScienceAsian Studies*Biology Botanical Sciences Biological Education Cellular & Molecu-lar Biology Ecology Human Biological Sciences Medical Technology Microbiology Natural History Zoological SciencesChemistry Biological Chem-istry Environmental Chemistry Pharmacological ChemistryCommunication Studies Communication and Human Relationships Organizational Com-munication Rhetoric and Public DiscourseComputer Science Business Systems Scientic Applications Software SystemsComputer Science/Mathematic-sEconomicsEnglish Creative Writing Linguistics LiteratureEnvironmental StudiesModern & Clas-sical Languages & Literatures Arabic* Chinese* Classical Civilization* Classical Languages* Classics French German Greek* Irish Ital-ian Japanese Latin Persian* Russian Span-ishGeography Cartography/GIS General Geog-raphy Rural Town & Regional Planning Physical GeographyGeology Earth Science Education En-vironmental Geology General GeologyHistory History EducationHistory/Political ScienceHuman & Family Development*Humanics*Latin American Studies*Liberal Studies Asian Studies Environ-mental Studies Womens StudiesMathematics

Applied Analysis Combinatorics & Optimization Math Education Pure Math-ematics Sta-t i s t i c s M i l i t a r y S c i e n c e * N a t i ve American Stud-i e s P h i l o s o p -hyPhysics and Astronomy Astronomy and Astrophysics

Computational Physics PhysicsPolitical Science Public Administration Public Law American Politics International Relations and Compara-tive PoliticsPre-Engineering*Pre-Law**Pre-Medical Sciences*Pre-Nursing *Psychology Behavioral Specialist General Psychology Pre-profession-alReligious Studies*Russian Studies* Sociology Criminology Rural & Environmental ChangeWomen & Gender Studies*School of Business Administration-Business AdministrationAccountingFinancial Man-agementInformation SystemsInternational Business-ManagementMarketingSchool of EducationEducation (Secondary Certication) Business & Information Technology Education Elementary EducationHealth and Human Performance Athletic Training Applied Health Exercise Science Health Enhancement Teaching certicationLibrary-Media Services*Ofce

FOR MORE INFORMATIONPhone: 406-243-6266 / 800-462-8636Fax: 406-243-5711Mailing address:Enrollment Services - AdmissionsThe University of MontanaMissoula, Montana59812-2016Admissions Web:http://admissions.umt.eduE-mail: [email protected]

STEP 1 :: COLLEG

E FAIR TIPS | Fair D

etails, Scholarships, and More 8

COLLEGE FAIR TIPS

FIND MORE ONLINE TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR THE COLLEGE FAIR @

WWW.MONTANACOLLEGES.COM

HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF A COLLEGE FAIR We are celebrating 28 years of helping students connect to so many amazing options after high school. Join us for another year of Montana College Fairs!

College Fairs can be overwhelminga lot of noise, people clustering around tables, fi lling out cards, leafi ng through brochures, and competing for the attention of admission representatives. Its easy to get caught up in the crowds, fun, and confusion. Its also just as easy to stop at every booth that catches your eye or seems popular. When that happens, you end up with a lot of pretty brochures, but not a good idea of which colleges you may be interested in.

It pays to be prepared before the college fair!

FIND A DETAILED SCHEDULE OF THE MONTANA COLLEGE FAIRS ONLINE To see a detailed schedule of all 18 Montana College Fairs in September, visit us online @

www.MontanaColleges.com/schedule.pdf

Do think of some good questions to ask.

Do map out a strategy for the fair (have some paper and a pen to take notes or bring a copy of the College Comparison Worksheet in this Guide Book.

Do team up. If you can bring your parents to the fair, they can be a big help because they will often ask different questions than you would have thought of.

Do leave some time for browsing. You may find that you are interested in somewhere you had not thought about.

Do some follow-up. Look through your brochures and your notes and start weeding through them. For those that you are interested in, follow up by fi lling out the information cards in the brochures or by starting to schedule college visits.

Help keep Montanas student reputation STRONG! Show respect, be polite, and enjoy yourself!

College Fair Donts Dont be rude to the colleges! You

represent Montana, your school, and yourself. These colleges will remember you, and it may mean an extra scholarship if you take this seriously and are respectful, polite, and well-mannered!

BEFORE THE FAIR Visit: www.MontanaColleges.com! See full profi les of many of the colleges attending this years fairs.

Check out the Online Guide Book for further details and tips about your options after high school. This will help you prepare for the fair! Discuss your college plans with your guidance counselor, family, teachers, and friends. Research your colleges of interest on the Internet, on our website, and in your guidance counselors offi ce.

REGISTER ONLINE Before The Fair! Visit: www.MontanaColleges.com to register and print your bar code.

AT THE FAIR Pick up a bag and a fair directory at

the entrance! Bring your Bar Code! Scan your Bar Code at the fair entrance for a chance to win a $1000 Scholarship. Visit with colleges and universities which you feel meet your criteria.

AT A COLLEGE FAIRCollege Fair Dos Do make a list of the colleges you want to find out more about.

Do research the colleges you like by checking out their brochures, catalogs, and websites.











Institutional Accreditation: The University is regionally accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges. Professional schools and departments are approved by specialized accrediting organizations.







FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS Financial Aid: More than 9,000 UM students receive some

form of fi nancial aid. Scholarships, grants, loans and work-study programs are available for eligible students once they complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Financial aid is awarded on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served need basis.

Scholarships - DEADLINE - DECEMBER 31: Presidential Leadership Scholarships: UMs premier academic scholarship based on merit. General Scholarships: Scholarship deadline is December 31. Scholarship applications available by contacting Enrollment Services-Admissions or online at: http://admissions.umt.edu, Financial Aid Web: www.umt.edu/fi naid To apply, use the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) plus other documents as requested by UMs Financial Aid Offi ce. Applica-tions processed on a fi rst-come, fi rst-served basis after January 1. UM School Code: 002536


for admission, (online application is available at http://admissions.umt.edu)


from high school. The transcript should show your gradua-tion date and needs to be submitted prior to the start of the semester you plan to attend.

Freshmen Admission Requirements: Earn either a 2.5 GPA or, a minimum score of 1540 on the SAT combined critical reading, math and writing or, a minimum score of 22 on the ACT composite (essay not required), or rank in the upper half of your graduating class. Students must also meet a math profi ciency requirement by either:



Earning a minimum score of 3 on the Advanced Placement calculus exam. Students must also meet the writing profi -ciency requirement by either:


Earning a minimum score of 6 on the Essay or 420 on the Writing Section of the SAT; or

Earning a minimum 3 on the Montana University System Writing Assessment; or

3 on the AP English Language or English Literature Examination.

Transfer Admission Requirements: (Students who have attempted 12 or more college credits are considered transfer students at UM): Complete an application for admission (on-line application is available at http://admissions. umt.edu), submit offi cial college transcripts from all colleges attended and a $30 application fee ($36 for the online application). A minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 is required for admission.

International student admission requirements: Complete an international student application for admission (online ap-plication is available at http://admissions.umt.edu); submit a $30 application fee, ($36 for the online application) offi cial

ACADEMIC PROGRAMSCollege of Arts & SciencesAfrican-American Studies*Anthropology Archaeology Cultural & Ethnic Diversity Forensic Anthropology Linguistic-sApplied ScienceAsian Studies*Biology Botanical Sciences Biological Education Cellular & Molecu-lar Biology Ecology Human Biological Sciences Medical Technology Microbiology Natural History Zoological SciencesChemistry Biological Chem-istry Environmental Chemistry Pharmacological ChemistryCommunication Studies Communication and Human Relationships Organizational Com-munication Rhetoric and Public DiscourseComputer Science Business Systems Scientic Applications Software SystemsComputer Science/Mathematic-sEconomicsEnglish Creative Writing Linguistics LiteratureEnvironmental StudiesModern & Clas-sical Languages & Literatures Arabic* Chinese* Classical Civilization* Classical Languages* Classics French German Greek* Irish Ital-ian Japanese Latin Persian* Russian Span-ishGeography Cartography/GIS General Geog-raphy Rural Town & Regional Planning Physical GeographyGeology Earth Science Education En-vironmental Geology General GeologyHistory History EducationHistory/Political ScienceHuman & Family Development*Humanics*Latin American Studies*Liberal Studies Asian Studies Environ-mental Studies Womens StudiesMathematics Applied Analysis Combinatorics & Optimization Math Education Pure Math-ematics Sta-t i s t i c s M i l i t a r y S c i e n c e * N a t i v e American Stud-i e s P h i l o s o p -hyPhysics and Astronomy Astronomy and Astrophysics Computational Physics PhysicsPolitical Science Public Administration Public Law American Politics International Relations and Compara-tive PoliticsPre-Engineering*Pre-Law**Pre-Medical Sciences*Pre-Nursing*Psychology Behavioral Specialist General Psychology Pre-profession-alReligious Studies*Russian Studies* Sociology Criminology Rural & Environmental ChangeWomen & Gender Studies*School of Business Administration-Business AdministrationAccountingFinancial Man-agementInformation SystemsInternational Business-ManagementMarketingSchool of EducationEducation (Secondary Certication) Business & Information Technology Education Elementary EducationHealth and Human Performance Athletic Training Applied Health Exercise Science Health Enhancement Teaching certicationLibrary-Media Services*Ofce Systems Management*Special Education*Speech and Language PathologySchool of Fine ArtsFine Arts Art Art Education Ceramics Painting/Draw-ing Photography Printmaking Sculpture Dance Choreography/Performance Studio Teaching Drama Acting Drama Education Design/Technology Me-dia Arts*MusicMusic EducationComposition/Music TechnologyPerformance Piano/Organ Voice Or-chestral InstrumentsCollege of Forestry & Conserva-tionForestry Forest Resources Management Range Resources ManagementRecreation Management Nature and Democracy* Broadcast Journalism PhotojournalismRadio-TelevisionCollege of Health Professions and Biomedical ScienceSchool of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science Health Scienc-es* Pre-Physical Therapy**School of Social Work


STEP 1 :: COLLEG

E FAIR TIPS | Fair D

etails, Scholarships, and More 9

Show Your College Spirit and Support For Montana Students!We are in our 7th year of celebrating September as College Spirit/Pride Month in Montana! Here is your chance for your high school, community, and beyond to celebrate and support your local students in their journey after high school. Wear your college gear the same week as the students local college fair to show your support! Donate a dollar to the student sholarships or post your support on facebook. On how you can join this celebration and show your support of Montana studetns go to:

www.SupportMontanaStudents.org.

Join the Montana celebration to support Montana students!

REMIINDER: REGISTER ONLINE BEFORE THE FAIR AND PRINT YOUR BAR CODEDo not forget to register before the fair @ www.MontanaColleges.com. Once you register you will then print the bar code to bring to the fair. This will get you into a drawing for a $1,000 scholarship and also save you lots of time in not having to fi ll out contact cards at each college table. See you at the fair in your area in September!

We look forward to seeing you at the Montana

College Fair in your area!

Dont waste your time today! Remember when you are interviewing the colleges for the right fi t, they are also interviewing you taking notes for admission and scholarship potential. Use this time wisely to impress!

Dont go to the fair without a plan and some idea of the types of colleges that will be at the fair.

Dont collect every brochure available at the fair; but instead, be selective in what you choose based on what you will actually use and look at later.

Dont just follow your friends around to the tables they want to visit. Be adventurous! Have fun!

Dont sit outside the fair unless you have seen everything you need to see.

Dont just let the brochures and info pile upon the fl oor of your bedroom.

REPRESENT MONTANA AND YOUR HIGH SCHOOL WITH CLASS! You are representing Montana! Your attitude and representation at the Fair could encourage a college to come back again next year or also cause them to never want to come back to visit Montana high schools. Thank you for being courteous and respectful to the representatives at the college fair!

SCHOLARSHIPSEach fair will have an opportunity to win a $1,000 scholarship for any institution you would like to attend. You must resigter online before the fair, print the bar code, bring the bar code to the fair to be scanned to be included in these scholarhship opportunties. Register @ www.MontanaColleges.com.

Questions To Ask At The College Fair What are classes like in the major I am

interested in?

What is your institutions specialty, or what makes your school unique?

How large is your campus and student population? How large is the surrounding community?

Do you off er advising or tutorial services?

What is the typical size of the freshman class, and how diffi cult are fi rst choice and core classes to get into?

What is the cost breakdown of your school and is fi nancial aid available?

What kind of on-campus and off - campus living options are available?

What are the costs of housing and food services?

What extracurricular and club activities does your campus off er?

Do you provide career placement services for your graduates?

When do I need to apply for admission, fi nancial aid, and scholarships?

How can I arrange for an on campus visit?

w w w.MontanaCol leges.com

SCHOLARSHIPS


































STEP 2 :: FAIR W

ORKSH

EET | College Comparison 10

COLLEGE COMPARISON WORKSHEET

General School Information Offi cial Name

City and State

Public or Private

Admission Offi ce Contact Information

Student Body Type (Co-Ed, All Female, All Male)

Enrollment / SizeTotal Student Enrollment

Total Undergraduate Enrollment

Total Graduate Enrollment

Number of Resident Students

Number of Out-of-State Students

Number of International Students

Location / EnvironmentDistance from Home

School Setting (Urban / Rural)

Location and Size of Nearest City

Nearest Airport

Admission RequirementsDeadline

Grades and Tests Required

Average Test Scores, GPA, Rank

Process for Admission

Academics Your major off ered

Special Requirements

Accreditation

Typical Class Size

Student-Faculty Ratio

COLLEGE A COLLEGE B COLLEGE C





































STEP 2 :: FAIR W

ORKSH

EET | College Comparison 11

CostAnnual Tuition, Fees, and Room and Board

Estimated Total Budget

Application Fee and Deposits

Financial AidDeadline

Required Forms

Percent of Students Receiving Aid

Scholarship Process and Availability

HousingResidence Hall Requirement

Desired Residence Hall

Off -Campus Options

Meal Plan Details

Student LifeClubs and Organizations

Greek Life

Athletics, Intramurals

Performing Arts

Other

Student ServicesTutoring

Career Services

Academic Advising

Health Service Options

Counseling Services

Campus VisitsBest Time to Visit

How to Arrange a Visit

Special Visit Programs or Opportunities

COLLEGE A COLLEGE B COLLEGE C


































STEP 3 :: RESEARCH

| Selection Criteria and Campus Visits 12

SELECTION CRITERIA SELECTION CRITERIACurriculum What do you want to study?

Do you have a specifi c subject in mind, like art or music, or do you want a more general education?

Do you want a range of potential majors and study programs?

Are you interested in a career that requires professional certifi cation, and does the school provide that necessary training?

Do you want to take advantage of special programs like study abroad and internships?

Quality of Education How much contact do you want with

your professors?

How much does it matter to you whether professors or graduate students teach your courses?

How involved do you want to be in research and learning outside of the classroom?

Size How large or small a school do you

want?

Do you prefer large lectures with hundreds of students or small classes with lots of student participation?

Do you want to be on a big campus with many majors, an impressive library, and lots to do?

Or would you prefer a small college where you know everyones name?

Do you want to stay close to home, so you can visit frequently?

Housing and ResourcesIf you plan to live on campus, make sure you check out the quality of the dorm life. Do not forget to check on the meal plan options.

Does the campus provide for special dietary needs in the dining halls?

Retention and Graduate Rates Retention rate is the percentage of

students who stay for four years.

Graduation rate is the percent who actually graduate within four years.

Both rates tell you whether students are satisfi ed with their experience at the school and get the support they need.

Cost How much can you aff ord?

What kinds of fi nancial aid does the school off er?

Others In addition to these and others you

come up with, you might also want to consider several other questions.

What percentage of applicants is accepted? What are the average test scores and grade point average of the students?

What services are off ered for job placement or career guidance?

Admission What does the school require for admission?

What does the school look for in prospective students?

What are your chances of being accepted?

Facilities What would you like to see on or near

your college campus?

Are restaurants, shops, and health clubs important to you?

What about laundry rooms?

Wheres the computer lab(s)?

Wheres the library and research facilities?

What about transportation on and around campus?

Campus Life How is life outside the classroom?

What special interest groups, activities, and fraternities/sororities do you want to be involved in?

Are they active in campus life?

What about Campus Security?

What is the local community like?

How safe is the campus and surrounding neighborhood?

Athletics -- Does the school off er intramural and varsity sports?

How are the sports facilities?

Location Which part of the country would you

like to experience?

Do you want a city or small town setting?

Your priorities for college selection

will likely be diff erent from your

friends priorities. However, there

are some things that all students

should consider.





































STEP 3 :: RESEARCH

| Selection Criteria and Campus Visits 13

Determining QualityWhat is Accreditation?One way to help determine overall quality of a college or university is to make sure it is accredited. The goal of accreditation is to ensure that education provided by institutions of higher education meets acceptable levels of quality. Because there is no centralized authority exercising control over colleges and universities in the United States, institutions can vary widely in the character and quality of their programs. Therefore, accreditation is one way to protect the quality of education at various colleges and universities.

Two Basic Types of Educational AccreditationInstitutional: Overall, the institution is meeting its objectives.

Specialized / Programmatic: Normally applies to programs, departments, or schools that are parts of an institution.

For More Information About AccreditationYou should always make sure that the school you are interested in is accredited by a recognized accrediting agency. It is one way to insure that youll get what you pay for. To check regional and national accrediting agencies that are recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education, http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation

Visits Tips The only way to truly get a feel for a college campus is to actually visit. If you havent taken the time to narrow your choices, campus visits can be challenging because you:

May not have time to get to all the campuses.

You may not be able to aff ord a visit to each campus, and you wont be able to distinguish the campuses when you have too many to chose from. Your best bet is to narrow your choices and visit your top 3-6 schools.

Goals of a Campus Visit Meet with an admissions staff member

and any other important staff or faculty (fi nancial aid offi cer, faculty member in your chosen academic area, etc.).

Get a feeling for the academic and social atmosphere.

See the facilities to be used for study, living, recreation, etc.

Talk with students currently attending the school.

Check out the surrounding community in which the college is located.

In order to make the most of your campus visit, you should spend some time planning your stay. Make arrangements for a visit well in

advance (preferably two or three weeks ahead of time). Many students like to just show up on campus when the time is good for them. If you havent taken the time to notify someone that you are visiting, you will probably not get to see and do all you hoped to do.

Inform the college of your special areas of interest (academic area, extracurricular interests) so the admission staff can plan a more meaningful visit for you.

Review the publications (view book, catalog, and web site) before you attend the visit. That information will help you develop a list of questions and issues you would like to discuss.

Plan to spend at least half a day (a full day is preferable) at each college.

In addition to a tour of campus, you should try to do the following: Attend a class to get an idea of typical

size, teaching style, and academic atmosphere.

Meet with the Financial Aid staff .

Obtain a school calendar and catalog, if available.

Browse through the library and other facilities you will use (recreation facility, dorms, dining halls, bookstore, etc.).

Engage students (other than the tour guide) in conversation.

Spend some time in the student center or student union to get a feel for the campus community.

Spend some time in the outside community--eat at a restaurant, do some shopping, tour the surrounding neighborhoods.

Read the school and local newspapers and browse the bulletin boards around campus.

Keep notes on your visit and discuss your impressions with your parents and/or counselor.

Read through the sample list

of criteria provided here. If

something is important to you,

make sure you include it in your

own list. Here is a good list to start

with!

w w w.MontanaCol leges.com

CAMPUS VISITS

STEP 3 :: RESEARCH

| Discover Your Personality Type 14

DISCOVER YOUR PERSONALITY TYPE

Another way to think about what you are good at is to fi gure out how you are smart. Everyone is smart in diff erent ways. You could be good with words, numbers, pictures, athletics, or music. You might have a gift for working with people or a special love of nature. Most people are gifted in more than one of these areas, but usually have a couple of areas in which they really shine. And knowing how you shine can lead to the kinds of careers that would most interest you. Use the checklist below to discover the ways you are smart.

WORD SMARTYES NO

I love to read.

I love telling and hearing stories.

I write stories or poetry.

I enjoy learning foreign languages.

I have a great vocabulary.

I am good at spelling.

I enjoy talking about ideas.

I have a good memory for names and facts.

I enjoy playing word games like word scrambles, Scrabble, or crossword puzzles.

I have fun playing with wordspuns,tongue twisters, rhymes, or rap.

WORD SMART TOTAL_______

I enjoy doing puzzles and mazes.

I like taking things apart and puttingthem back together.

PICTURE SMART TOTAL_______

MUSIC SMARTYES NO

I enjoy singing.

I enjoy listening to music.

I play an instrument.

I easily remember melodies and tunes.

I make up or write my own songs or raps.

I sing to myself when thinking or doing tasks.

I always notice sounds around me, like birds singing, rain falling, clocks ticking, traffi c, construction, and other sounds in daily life.

I can always tell when music sounds off -key.

I can read music.

I can hear the diff erent instruments when listening to music.

MUSIC SMART TOTAL_______

BODY SMARTYES NO

I always look forward to physical education class.

I like to move around and be active.

I learn physical skills quickly and easily.

I do well in one or more sports.

I love doing things like mechanics, carpentry, hair braiding, sewing, typing, or working with clay or other things I can do with my hands.

MATH SMARTYES NO

I do math easily in my head.

I love science, especially doing experiments.

I think numbers are fascinating.

I love to organize information on charts.

I love solving mysteries.

I enjoy games like chess and checkers.

I ask a lot of questions about how things work.

I like discovering how computers work and I use computers for more than playing games.

I enjoy fi guring out riddles or brainteasers.

I look for patterns in everything, from numbers to facts to nature to human behavior.

MATH SMART TOTAL_______

PICTURE SMARTYES NO

I love working with art materials suchas paper, paint, markers, or clay.

I daydream a lot.

I think in pictures and easily seeobjects in my mind.

I enjoy building things.

I notice styles, colors, and details ofcars, clothes, hairstyles, bikes, furniture, packaging, and other everyday things.

I draw and doodle a lot.

I learn better from pictures, maps,charts, and slides than from books.

I am good at reading maps andfi nding my way around unfamiliarplaces.

STEP 3 :: RESEARCH

| Discover Your Personality Type 15

English teacher, author, talk show host, translator, etc.

Math Smart : accountant, astronaut, chemist, computer programmer, forensic scientist, automotive design, inventor, mathematician, software engineer, pharmacist, science teacher, video game designer, etc.

Picture Smart: computer animator, graphic designer, artist, architect, fashion designer, cartoonist, movie director, photographer, map maker, urban planner, web developer, airline pilot, interior decorator, etc.

Body Smart: physical therapist , auto mechanic, dancer, sculptor, actor, physical education teacher, construction worker, athlete, surgeon, choreographer, dentist, sign language translator, computer repairer, etc.

Music Smart: audio-video technician, music critic, singer, music therapist, song writer, musician, sound engineer for recording studio, music teacher, speech and hearing therapist, TV broadcast technician, movie sound eff ects artist, composer, music producer, etc.

People Smart: manager, business person, counselor, social worker, training specialist, politician, police offi cer, researcher of human origins, clergy person, nurse, school principal, college admissions offi cer, etc.

Nature Smart: astronomer, veterinarian, environmental scientist, bug scientist, wildlife illustrator, ocean scientist, environmental lawyer, volcano scientist, forest management specialist, plant scientist, agricultural engineer, zoo keeper, weather scientist, etc.

Excerpted from Youre Smarter Than You Think! A Kids Guide

to Multiple Intelligences. Used with permission of Free Spirit

Publishing, Inc., Minneapolis, MN; 1-800-735-7323; www.

freespirit.com. | All rights reserved.

I like to act in plays.

I am good at imitating the way other people move and talk.

I move, tap, or fi dget while I think, study, or read.

I am a good dancer.

I enjoy karate, bike riding, cheerleading, skate boarding, ice/roller skating, gymnastics, surfi ng, rock climbing, or other physical hobbies.

BODY SMART TOTAL_______

PEOPLE SMARTYES NO

I make friends easily.

I always off er help or give advice when someone needs it.

I am always organizing activities for my friends and me.

I like to volunteer for causes that help other people.

I enjoy group activities and lively conversations.

I can guess how people are feeling just by looking at them.

I know how to get people excited about working together on various projects.

I prefer to study and play with others rather than by myself.

I am good at helping friends resolve confl icts.

I like to tutor other classmates or younger brothers and sisters.

PEOPLE SMART TOTAL_______

NATURE SMARTYES NO

I like animals.

I am good at growing plants.

I care about recycling, animal protection, saving the oceans or the rainforests, reducing litter, and other nature and environmental causes.

I like going to parks, zoos, and aquariums.

I enjoy taking care of pets either at home or in the classroom.

I notice trees, squirrels, clouds, nests, plants, rock formations, and other parts of nature whenever I am outside.

I like to learn about plants, animals, volcanoes, weather, the ocean, the environment, or other subjects about nature.

I like to collect leaves, bugs, rocks, seashells, feathers, or other objects found in nature.

I sometimes think I can relate to animals as well as or better than I relate to people.

I can recognize and name many kinds of plants and animals.

NATURE SMART TOTAL_______

WHAT I COULD BE?Now that you have fi gured out some of the ways that you are smart, use that information to think about career options. The chart below has some suggestions to get you started. The section(s) with the highest total score(s) are your areas of natural strength and interest!

Word Smart = advertiser, journalist, librarian, poet, radio or TV announcer, web editor, lawyer, movie script writer, public speaker, w w w.MontanaCol leges.com






























Montana State U

niversity College of Technology, Havre M

ontana 16





Explore your heart wisely and choose a field of study you have a passion for.

Cara Ludwig, Nursing, Billings, MT

STEP 3 : : RESEARCH

| Types of Applications 16

The Application ProcessApplying to schools means more than just fi lling in forms. You need to understand each schools requirements, gather information, meet deadlines, and pay a fee for each submitted application.

When should you begin submitting admission applications? Check deadlines for each school you will apply to. Some dates are suggested or priority and others are absolute. Make sure you allow for extra time to request forms and transcripts, to get letters of recommendations, and to write essays if requested.

Remember! Often, applying for fi nancial aid is a separate application process! It starts with fi lling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Even if you think you dont qualify for aid, be sure to complete the FAFSAMany scholarship programs depend on FAFSA information!

What Do Applications Usually Require? A completed and timely form is so important. Make sure you know and follow all deadlines! At many colleges if the deadline is not met, this alone can eliminate your application from review.

Offi cial High School Transcripts The transcript is your offi cial high school academic record. Check with your guidance counselor to fi nd out what you need to do to get transcripts sent to your selected colleges. There may be a minimal charge for sending these out. Remember, you are not the only student who needs a

transcript, so keep in mind time constraints and deadlines.

Offi cial Standardized Test ScoresWhen you took the standardized tests (ACT or SAT), you probably listed on the test form the names of several colleges. The testing organization forwards your scores directly to those colleges. If you decide to apply to other colleges after you have taken the test, you need to contact the testing organization and supply the new colleges information. For a small fee they will forward your test scores to that new college. For more information visit: www.collegeboard.com (SAT) and www.actstudent.org (ACT)

Letters of Recommendation Two letters of recommendation are usually required for your application. Request recommendations from people who know your strengths. Teachers and counselors are usually the best choices. An employer or community leader can be another option if he or she knows you well and can emphasize your good qualities and achievements.

EssayEssay questions on applications help admissions offi cers understand your motivations, creativity, and personality. That is why its important to start writing your essays as early as possible. Make your essays personal, but stay within the guidelines. Be sure you answer the question being asked!

APPLICATION TIPS Determine what is required for each

school including the application fee.

Create a list of tasks associated with each schools requirements.

Assign a time line to each task (begin and end date).

Check off each task as you complete it.

Keep copies of everything you submit and organize it in a fi ling folder or something similar.

APPLICATION PROCESS










The University of M

ontana, Missoula, M

ontana 17AT A GLANCEType of school: Public unit of the Montana University System










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