Let’s Talk Education in the U.S.A

Let’s Talk Education in the U.S.A Recruit in Canada Counselor Workshop September 28, 2007

Presenters • Jim Crawley, Associate Director for International Recruitment - Grand Valley State University • Jerry Dueweke, Sr. Assistant Director of Admissions – Butler University • Barry Kelland – Canadian Admissions Representative – Northwood University

Objectives and Goals • Helping the student with the college search • To familiarize you with the components of an application to a U.S. university • To talk through the application process • To familiarize you with the athletic recruiting and the NCAA process

Signs from Around the World • In a Zurich hotel • Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, the lobby should be used for this purpose • On the menu of a Swiss restaurant • Our wines leave you nothing to hope for • In a Bangkok dry cleaners • Drop your trousers here for best results • In a Norwegian cocktail bar • Ladies are requested to not have children in the bar • Outside a Hong Kong tailor shop • Ladies may have a fit upstairs

The “Search” • The guidebooks • The “rankings” • The web sites • College fairs • College visits

Guidebooks • Good source for factual information • Usually used after list has been established • Much of the basic data can also be found on web sites

The infamous “rankings” • First and foremost, there are no official rankings in the U.S…..only magazines that do their own rankings..i.e…. • U.S. News & World Report – America’s Best Colleges • Money Magazine – Best Buys • Princeton Review – 366 Best Colleges

The Web Sites • www.petersons.com • www.studyusa.com • www.collegeview.com • www.princetonreview.com • http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/

College Fairs • Encourage attendance • Encourage students/parents to investigate schools they do not know • Bring list of questions (Do you offer scholarships? should not be the first question!) • Bring address labels/fill out inquiry cards • Bring documents – athletic resumes, transcripts

College Visits • Individual visit or Visitation Day – check university web site • Call ahead/send in reservation • A tour and presentation are typical • Other possibilities, depending on institution (you need to ask), include: Lunch, Visiting a class, Talk with a professor, Talk to a coach, Staying overnight with a student

Scholarship, Scholarship, Scholarship…. Show me the money!

Academic “Merit” Scholarships • GPA requirement • Test score requirement • Leadership • Involvement • Essay • Watch Deadlines!

Need-based Aid • Grants • Income-based • Loans • Need U.S. co-signer • On-campus work • Might not be offered prior to arrival • Jobs are normally available • Income will only be spending money

Performing Arts Scholarships • Art • Portfolio required • Check with school for exact requirements • Watch for specific submission date • Music/Theater/Dance • Audition CD/DVD • Check with school for exact requirements • Usually only “Majors” get scholarship • Watch for deadline

Athletic Scholarships • Start process early • Athlete may be very good, but the other factor is the “needs” of the team at that time • Put together packet of info that can be shared with coaches • To play for the most competitive DI and DII schools you have to be a highly ranked athlete • Full scholarships are rare • Academics are #1….very few go on to play professional sports

The Admissions Timetable • Early Decision • Early Action • Rolling Admission • Deadlines

The Application Packet The application – not standardized across U.S. • Common app – not universally accepted • University app – on-line or paper • Make sure app is filled out COMPLETELY, and ACCURATELY • Check to see if Canadians need to fill out the “international” application if applicable • Make sure app is signed by applicant and counselor Application Fee – Up to $70 – normally not waived

Proof of Language Proficiency • TOEFL/IELTS is normally waived for Canadians • Some possible exceptions (as determined by each individual university): • Student is in ESL classes • Student has only been in Canada for one year • Student’s first language is not English

The Essay • Not always required • Sometimes only required for scholarship consideration • SAT writing section is sometimes accepted as “essay” • Topic may or may not be given • Preferred length may or may not be given • Be creative, but don’t go overboard • “The World is my oyster and “X” University is my pearl.” • Two most common mistakes • Misspellings • Wrong school name on essay

SAT • May or may not be required for admission and/or scholarship • Recommended minimum score or average score is usually available on the university web site • SAT IS required if you would like to try and be in intercollegiate athletics • NCAA minimum SAT requirement is lower than many of the universities’ admissions requirements • Written part is not necessarily counted in overall score total for admission purposes, depending on institution, however, it may be used for English placement or as a separate item in the admissions decision

Transcripts • Original transcript is required from each secondary school attended • Must show classes taken and grades received • Some schools will “weigh” AP or IB courses, while other colleges will take the grades exactly as the SS sends them

Verification of financial support • Original bank statement • Must show at least one year’s worth of expenses, as established by each individual college/university • It is assumed that the support will continue for the duration of the degree • If a scholarship has already been offered, only the balance might need to be shown • If a scholarship of any kind is offered, it is important to get it in writing, AND it is crucial that the offer is “accepted” by established deadline. • Signed statement from parent or sponsor

Other Items • Recommendation letters • Resume • IEP – Individual Education Plan – used for students who have specific learning needs • Rank (needed or not) • Art portfolio • Music audition tape

The Admissions Decision • Watch Deadlines!....both for admission, and for scholarship • Make sure application file is complete • Be familiar with the universities’ admissions processes. • Can new updated info be sent later for scholarship consideration? • Is there an appeal process? • Admissions closed / Wait list / Wait pool

Intercollegiate Athletics

NCAA Classification • Division I and Division II (DI & DII) • Examples • Differences • Division III (DIII) • Examples • Athletic scholarships not available • NAIA • Jr./Community College • Other • Club Sports • Intramurals

How Coaches Recruit • Inquiries by students/their coaches • Timetable • Talent vs. need • Recruited vs. walk-on • Time commitment • Stress should be on academics

What can a prospective student/athlete send? • An athletic resume • Letters from coach • Highlight video • Newspaper articles • On-campus work-out

Potential Affect of Athletics on the Admissions Process • An athlete might go through the admissions process later than others, depending on the sport • If an athlete is a “blue chip” recruit, then the coach will probably be talking to admissions about him/her • Admissions requirements still have to be met, but if a student is border-line SOMETIMES a coach will “go to bat” for a prospect with the admissions office

https://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/NCAA/general/index_general.htmlhttps://www.ncaaclearinghouse.net/NCAA/general/index_general.html • Information for International Student-AthletesWhat is the NCAA Initial-Eligibility Clearinghouse? • The Clearinghouse is an agency which will provide initial-eligibility certification for all prospective student-athletes wishing to compete as freshmen at NCAA member institutions offering Division I or II athletics. The Clearinghouse is not a placement agency or an admissions office - it will not locate a college/institution for student-athletes to attend. The NCAA Clearinghouse will provide the student's initial-eligibility certification results to all colleges/universities that request to receive this information. • Who must register with the Clearinghouse? Any prospective student-athlete who will enroll in college as a freshman and plans to compete in NCAA Division I or Division II athletics must register with the Clearinghouse.

The NCAA Clearinghouse • Courses taken, grades received and SAT I scores are all part of the process • Clearinghouse requirements are lower than most university’s admissions requirements • Being “cleared” to play does not insinuate admission to any university

Clearinghouse Requirement for Ontario Students Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). • The document above meets core-curriculum requirements only if the coursework represented satisfies the core-curriculum distribution as specified in Bylaw 14.3.1.1 • The grade-point average must be at least 60.000 percent (equivalent to U.S. 2.000) to 75.500 percent (equivalent to U.S. 3.550) or higher on a 100-0 (100 high) scale. • The grade-point average is calculated by averaging those core courses with passing grades that appear on the document above and transcripts for grades nine through 12. • Courses must satisfy the core-curriculum distribution specified in Bylaw 14.3.1.1. Please note that courses identified as P (applied), O (open), E (workplace prep) and C (college) are not acceptable. Courses identified as M (university/college preparation), U (university preparation) and D (academic) are acceptable. Applicable grading scale (may not be all inclusive): • Excellent 80-100% • Good 70-79% • Satisfactory 60-69% • Poor 50-59% (lowest passing grade; see page 5) • Fail 0-49%

Estimated Probability of Competing in Athletics Beyond SS level

Question and Answer

Thank you! We look forward to seeing at the University Fair!

Let’s Talk Education in the U.S.A