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 New
this Fall
Northwest College Updates
Open houses for juniors and seniors considering various colleges
throughout the Northwest have been announced. To learn more about
opportunities to visit colleges, meet with coaches, hear from
faculty, and tour the facilities, go to the admissions websites
and research campus events. Here are just a few of the opportunities
in our area:
- To reserve a spot at one of the Fall Preview Days at Washington
State University in October and November, go here.
WSU just announced
that it is offering guaranteed admission to in-state students
who either rank in the top 10 percent of their high school class
or have at least a 3.5 grade point average at the time of application.
- Quest University (right
photo), a new liberal arts college in Squamish, British Columbia,
founded by the former president of the University of British
Columbia, is Canada’s first non-denominational liberal
arts college. Fifty percent of Quest’s students are international,
and class sizes are small. The Block System allows students
to study one subject for 3 1/2 weeks, and an interdisciplinary
program is also central to the education of a Quest student.
Information on visiting Quest can be found here.
- Whitman College,
a very selective liberal arts college in Walla Walla, Washington,
is offering two
preview days this fall.
- Oregon State University
offers a variety of engineering disciplines and an Honors
College. Learn more at the fall
preview days in October and November.
- Willamette College
offers internships at the nearby capitol in Salem, Oregon, in
addition to strong music and debate programs. You can schedule
a visit here.
- The University of Puget Sound
(below) attracts students from all over the United States and
the World; only 19 percent of the student body comes from the
state of Washington. Its undergraduate school of business and
leadership is unique. Learn more about what this small,
liberal arts college has to offer, including research opportunities,
small class size, and a focus on teaching, at the fall
preview day in October.
Financial Aid Update
 If
you are applying to colleges now, it is important to visit the
financial aid and scholarship pages for each of your colleges
to determine if there are specific requirements for additional
essays, or applications for specific scholarships. Your best source
of scholarship funds comes from the institution rather than outside
scholarships, so focus your energy on your list of colleges. For
example, some colleges provide music scholarships for non-music
majors, and others provide scholarships for leadership and community
service. Most have early deadlines, so now is a good time to get
familiar with all of the requirements. Some colleges will allow
additional, higher SAT or ACT scores to be submitted to allow
consideration for merit awards, even after an application has
been submitted. Check with your colleges prior to having additional
scores sent.
Requirements and deadlines for submission of applications for
financial aid, either the CSS
Profile or FAFSA, are
listed on the financial aid pages of each college, another reason
to get an early start in the process.
Are you curious about how colleges will review your financial
situation in terms of your “Expected Family Contribution”
(EFC)? Use this
calculator for a preliminary analysis. More information about
the financial aid process and additional calculators are available
on this excellent financial aid
website.
The Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) allows students who
are residents of Washington to enroll at participating college
programs in other states at a reduced tuition rate. Learn more
here, and make sure to explore
the search tool
offering a listing of programs and any GPA and/or SAT requirements.
Transfer Students
There is a great deal of information for first-year students
applying to colleges, but transfer students, often a large percentage
of a college’s student body, are often ignored. You
should first check the transfer pages of the admissions website
and learn who your contact will be at the college. If you are
considering a transfer to another college, take time to evaluate
the following:
- Do you admit transfer students, and if so, for what years?
- How many transfers are admitted, and how many apply?
- Are there orientation and housing programs for transfers?
- Is financial or merit aid available to transfers?
- What grade point range will be needed?
- When and how will transfer credits be evaluated?
- How difficult is it to transfer into the more competitive
majors/programs?
The Benchmark Blog
You can read more about college admissions and sign up for updates
at the Benchmark
Blog.
See the Fall newsletter
for more information.
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