College planning values interpretation1
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This document provides suggestions for college selection based on different values that may be important to students in the college planning process. It discusses 10 different values that could be priorities and suggests colleges and factors to consider for each value. For example, it recommends primarily undergraduate institutions and low student-faculty ratios for students for whom academics is the top priority, and colleges with opportunities for recognition for students who value being known for their success in an area of interest. The document aims to help students align their college selection process with their important personal values.
College planning values interpretation1
- 1. College Planning Values Assessment Interpretation and Suggestions What do your college planning values say about you? If (1) was among the top three priorities on your list, you will want to explore the academic character of the colleges you are considering. Although all colleges are, by definition, intellectual centers, some put more priority on challenging students and pushing them to their limits. Reading about the academic features of the colleges you are considering will be important. Your high ranking of this value says that you will be able to take advantage of intellectual opportunities at college. You may want to select a college where your SAT scores are similar to or slightly above the ranges of other admitted students--at those colleges you will be able to shine academically. You may desire to take an active part in classroom discussions and will want a college where the student faculty ratio is low. Ursinus College: 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio Swarthmore College: 8 to 1 student / faculty ratio Muhlenberg College 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio Lehigh University 9 to 1 student / faculty ratio Lafayette College 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio Juniata College 13 to 1 student / faculty ratio Haverford College 8 to 1 student / faculty ratio Gettysburg College: 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio Franklin and Marshall College 10 to 1 student / faculty ratio Dickinson College 10 to 1 student / faculty ratio Bryn Mawr College 9 to 1 student / faculty ratio Penn State branch campuses If (2) was among your top three priorities, you feel challenged and stimulated by academics and classroom learning. You will want to find a college where your mind will be stretched. You will want to choose a college where you can explore a range of new academic subjects. A liberal arts and sciences college may give you an enriching breadth of academic offerings. You will want to look for a college where academic clubs are popular and where you have a good chance of knowing professors and sharing ideas with them. Access to faculty is important to you and you will want to look at the student faculty ratio in colleges you consider. Also note the ratio of undergraduate students to graduate students. Primarily undergraduate institutions will be the colleges that may best be able to meet your needs, because you will be the focus of teachers’ attention. Teachers at such colleges place their priority on teaching and are not distracted by the needs of graduate students or by pressure to balance teaching and student time with research and writing. University Of Pittsburgh-Bradford Messiah College University Of Pittsburgh-Greensburg Thiel College Grove City College Haverford College Juniata College University Of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Franklin and Marshall College Allegheny College Washington & Jefferson College Swarthmore College
- 2. If (3) was a top choice you derive satisfaction from social opportunities. You will want a college where the academic demands will not diminish your ability to socialize. You likely will want a good balance between the social and academic sides of campus life. You will want to explore the percentage of students who get involved in intramural sports, clubs, or fraternities and sororities. Look at your college choices on the basis of school spirit and sporting events offered. Consider popular campus events--see if they sound exciting to you. Also look at the percentage of students who stay on campus over the weekend. You will also want a college where it is easy to make friends. Both small and larger colleges would be appropriate for you. Although a larger college would expose you to more students and a larger quantity of potential friends, studies show that students at smaller colleges become more involved in activities and build deep friendships more quickly. Look for supportiveness and camaraderie in the student body. Lehigh: Nationally known rep. Great Academics, even better parties. Penn State: Big University=Big Parties. Mix of frats and other parties. West Chester Indiana U of PA WVU If (4) is important you will want to consider earning potential, advancement opportunities, and the future market for the careers you consider. You will want to consider this value in your career planning. Remember, however, that there is no sure road to riches! You not only must pick a career direction carefully, but must choose a college where the potential for academic success-- good grades--is high. The name of a particular college is less important than good grades or contributions to campus life when securing a good job or being admitted to graduate school. Even if you find that a particular career has tremendous earning potential, those earnings may come to only those who are most successful in the profession. Look at average salaries, but also consider your interests, values, and personality before making your final career choice. Be sure to take advantage of hands-on learning opportunities. Perhaps, for example, there are internships that meet your needs. Also, finding good, career-focused summer jobs can be helpful. Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania – Criminal Justice Bucknell University Allegheny College Lebanon Valley University of Pennsylvania – Communications
- 3. If (5) is high on your list, you take pleasure in being known for your success in an area of interest. For instance, you might feel good about being recognized or known in school as a good student, a top athlete, or a leader in a club. No doubt this type of recognition contributes to your confidence. You might look for colleges where you will be able to acquire or continue to receive this recognition. Often, recognition is easier to achieve at smaller colleges where you would not be competing against large numbers of students hoping to achieve the same recognition. You will also want to choose colleges where it is easy to get involved and where the activities offered are appealing to you. You may want to consider the benefits of being a “big fish in a small pond.” Dickinson College Wilson College Ursinus College Cedar Crest College Muhlenberg College Lafayette College Gettysburg College If (6) is important, that value will no doubt guide your vocational or vocational pursuits. You may find yourself choosing a career in which this value can be fulfilled, or you may seek opportunities on a college campus where you can be of service to others. You will want to choose a college where community service is valued. Consider the activities available and note whether community service-related involvements are among them. Colleges vary a great deal in terms of political awareness. At some colleges, students are attuned to national and international events, often express feelings about current issues and policies, and, in general, show interest in political things. Students at other colleges show no interest in these matters and find other ways to interact with peers. Duquesne University The Defiance College Bluffton College Bethany College Wheeling Jesuit University Ohio University University of Richmond Lycoming College Youngstown State University University of Pennsylvania Swarthmore College Haverford College Allegheny College Lehigh University The Military Academies George Mason University Villanova University
- 4. If (7) is important, personal autonomy is important to you. College is, in generally a time for independence, and students are often anxious to make their own decisions without parental involvement. If you feel you can handle lots of independence, you will want to look for colleges where there is some freedom in choosing courses and where students are given responsibility for their own lives. Colleges vary in terms of these factors. Note which courses must be fulfilled by all students. Be certain that you will not be stifled by too many rules and regulations. You may also want to look for colleges where the personal development of students receives high priority. A priority on independence also suggests that you will be comfortable being away from home and on your own. One college that boasts that it allows students more freedom in course selection is Georgetown University. You may also want to consider an Associates of Arts (AA) degree which is slightly more popular at community colleges. If (8) is one of your top three choices, you will want to look first at the religious life of each of your college options. There are two ways to consider religious life on college campuses. First, the question of how religion affects the day-to-day life of the college. For example, are biblical references made in class? Are religious convocations mandatory? Second, the question of whether there is a religious heritage at the college. Many hundreds of colleges have historical relationships with a religious denomination, but this tie does not affect the rules or the general life of the students. (For example, the college may have a certain number of religion classes required to graduate, but these classes are typically broad-based and not doctrinal.) You may want a college that has a relationship with your particular religious group. Or you may desire a large number of students who belong to the same denomination as you do. As you explore colleges, you will also want to see if the college has a commitment to the values and ideals held by you or your family. Baptist Bible College Eastern University Geneva College Grove City College Lancaster Bible College Messiah College Philadelphia Biblical University Valley Forge Christian College Waynesburg College Duquesne University Saint Vincent’s College Grove City College Westminster College
- 5. If (9) is appealing, you like newness and will likely be stimulated by new experiences and new activities. You are in for a treat at most colleges. New experiences are the “stuff” of which college is made. You may see college-going as an adventure and will want to pick colleges where you can meet your need for stimulation and excitement. Because you value newness, you should not hesitate to attend college in a different part of the country, or to experience an environment or a climate that is quite different from your high school. You will also want to look for evidence of diversity in the student body. For a warmer climate you might choose a school in North Carolina or Florida. For a different environment you might try Northeastern near Martha’s Vineyard or a college in the vicinity of New York City. For a real value you may consider a Canadian college. If (10) is appealing, be cautious. Students who are overly concerned about this value might find college planning traumatic and even painful, because of the admission selectivity of “name brand” colleges. Even though it is perfectly acceptable for students to be attuned to the overall excellence of a college, academic quality and prestige are not the same thing. Some colleges are well—known because of, say, a fine football team or because of academic excellence in a subject like psychology or physics. Although it is appropriate to look for a strong faculty and a highly regarded college, you want a college that will give you the greatest chance of academic success. It is success in college, not just academic reputation or prestige that will lead to admission into graduate school or a broad selection of jobs. Besides the Ivys and the Military Academies here is a list of “prestige” schools. Consider carefully. University of Notre Dame University of Pennsylvania Carnegie Mellon University University of Virginia University of Michigan Duke University Vanderbilt University Purdue University University of Chicago Georgetown University