About Us
Welcome to CampusCompare, the starting point for finding your best-fit college. Discover more than 7000 2-year and 4-year colleges and dive into the real-time College Current from colleges across the country.
6 Ways to Search
Location
State
Major
Major
Career
Career
Ivy League
Ivy League
Sports
Sports
A to Z
A to Z
Find Your Perfect Fit
What Are My Chances?

Compare Schools

Financial Aid Calculator

Archive for the ‘trends’ Category

Should I attend a pre-college summer program?

Tuesday, May 12th, 2009


Dear Babs,pre-college summer program

I’m a sophomore in High School and I have some friends going to pre-college “summer program” at Northwestern University (I live outside of Chicago). Is this a good idea? It’s really expensive, but am I more likely to get into the school if I go to a summer program there?

-Summer Plans

Dear Summer,

A pre-college summer program is basically an academic “camp” held at a college. Top schools across the country attract bright high schoolers looking for a feel for the college life before they graduate. You live in dorms, take classes like a college student in subjects that interest you, and even eat in the caf (oh joy!). These programs can be at a prestigious university far away, like Oxford University in England, or at your local campus.

Do these programs look good? Sure. It shows that you are academically curious: who else would volunteer to take school over the summer? But a lot of students are taking these courses because they think it gives them an “in” at the selective college before they even have to apply. This is not true. These programs are expensive, and colleges run them to make money, not to pre-select applicants. Colleges know that not everyone can afford to go to these programs, and they don’t give preference either way. There are unfortunately many students who spent $6,000+ on a program at a very selective college, only to be rejected by them come Senior year.

At best, a pre-college summer program shows that you are interested in attending the school, and pursuing an academic future. You can demonstrate this in a lot of other ways. Try taking courses at a community college, volunteering in a lab or museum, or using this summer to build your portfolio in art, writing, or music. Go on a tour of the colleges you are looking into to show them that you are interested (it’ll get your name on file). Basically, colleges are impressed when you pursue a passion-not when you spend bucket loads of money.

Good Luck!

Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Admissions, Dear Babs, study abroad, trends
05.12.09
RSS 2.0 | PERMALINK | TRACKBACK
NO COMMENTS

College Guide to Studying Abroad

Thursday, March 19th, 2009


search collegeDear Babs,

I have been admitted to Rice University this fall. I want to participate in a study abroad program there. It will be a bit pricey though (probably a couple thousand over the cost of a semester’s tuition). Will studying abroad look good on my resume? Is it worth the cost?

-Thrifty Traveler

—

Dear Thrifty,

Congrats on Rice University! It’s great that you want to travel, and study-abroad programs are a great way to do it (you’ll get college credit AND great life experiences). As far as your resume is concerned, it certainly doesn’t hurt to have studied in a foreign country. It shows that you have stretched your horizons and gained life experience, and that you have more going on than just your SAT scores. Since it’s not cheap, try and do a few things to maximize the benefits of your time abroad:

  • Learn a new language. Bilingualism is a huge boost to your resume, and there is no better way to learn a language than to live in a country where it is spoken.
  • Go off the beaten path. Although the hallowed halls of Europe are a must-see, you may get more out going to a less-seen country. Plenty of students go to Paris, London, and Rome, but your time abroad in Istanbul, Singapore, or Mexico City will give you amazing stories to tell your friends, and your potential employers.
  • Research. If your program involves writing a thesis, working in a lab, or conducting a study of some kind, do it abroad! What better way to understand the affect of post-socialist economic policy in Albania than by going there.
  • Volunteer. As a volunteer or intern in a developing country, you can gain valuable work skills working for a hospital, non-profit, or school. Also, you’ll help people. :)

Don’t forget to apply for grants and scholarships from your school. Once you’re in college, search for money available for travel for internships and research related to you program. In addition to class credit, you may be able to partially fund your semester abroad! With some $$ and a real purpose for your travels (beyond sight-seeing) you’ll be able to make every kilometre worth it.

Good Luck!

Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Dear Babs, study abroad, trends
03.19.09
RSS 2.0 | PERMALINK | TRACKBACK
NO COMMENTS

An Honors College Guide

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

Dear Babs,

As I search for college information on state schools, I’ve noticed that a lot of state schools have an Honors program. What is the purpose of Honors College? Apart from the obvious “provide a challenge,” what are the benefits to signing up to be in Honors college?

-Applicant of Honor

—

Dear Applicant,

An Honors College is a specially designated program in a university that provides a more rigorous curriculum and, as the name implies, awards honors upon graduation to its students. In most schools, you must be admitted into the Honors College in order to participate. In some schools, students of the Honors College reside in specific dorms and take part in special activities exclusively for Honors students. This is meant to foster an intellectual community beyond the classroom.

Honors colleges are popular in state schools as a way to attract high achievers who might otherwise attend private schools. It is also a way that large, less selective schools can create a small, liberal-arts college feel to boost their academic profile. Many top state schools, including University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Maryland-College Park, and University of Massachusetts-Amherst all have Honors colleges.

If you’re adding state schools to your college search to save money, but still want the close-knit feel of a smaller school, an Honors college at a state university may be just for you. But be warned, these colleges are not for the academically timid. Some universities require you to apply separately to their Honors College, in addition to the school’s main application. Others consider students from the main application pool, and accept the ones that show promise. Sometimes, students who are not admitted as freshman can apply as sophomores. Some schools don’t have separate Honors Colleges, but Honors programs. The difference is that there is not specially designated faculty to your program, and you probably won’t live in an Honors dorm. Instead, students complete extra graduation requirements and achieve a certain GPA so that they may graduate “with honors.” Make sure you find colleges with the program that you want. Whichever route you choose, know that being part of an Honors College shows an enthusiasm for academic pursuits-and a commitment to the work load that follows.

Good Luck!

-Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Admissions, Dear Babs, trends
01.07.09
RSS 2.0 | PERMALINK | TRACKBACK
1 COMMENT

Americans Head North for their College Search

Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

 

 

Dear Babs,
Lately I have heard all this buzz about studying in Canada. What’s the deal?
-Curious about Canada

Oh Canada! Our friendly neighbor to the north. Besides maple syrup and hockey, Canada also boasts some top colleges that have been getting international acclaim for many years. But what makes studying in Canada such a hot college trend?

$$$

Compared to tuition prices in America, tuition in Canada comes at bargain-basement prices. International-student rates are usually between $12-$15,000 CAD a year. At the current exchange rate, this is equivalent to only about $10,000-$12,500 USD a year. Compare that to in-state tuitions of around $8,000 in most states and out-of state tuitions of often upwards of $20,000. Not to mention private colleges like NYU, where tuition can go as high as $35,290. At almost a third of the cost, going abroad to Canada may be the most frugal college decision you can make.

Canadian schools are also competitive to American colleges in terms of quality. McGill University has been called the Harvard of Canada because of its legacy of producing international leaders, attracting prominent professors, and having a high placement of undergrads go on to graduate study. Did you know that University of Toronto has the most Nobel Prize winners of any college in Canada? Or that the Queen’s School of Business at Queens University was ranked number one for all non-U.S. MBA programs? Canadian schools are the up-and-coming alternative to overpriced higher ed in America.

Another plus to studying in Canada is their application process. Canadian schools typically only look at your statistics, like your SAT scores and GPA, and don’t bother with essays or extracurriculars. This can be great if you’re the kind of student who does well on standardized tests, but doesn’t want to deal with the typical college application rigmarole. Also, considering their reputation, McGill and U of T have a very generous college acceptance rate. Most colleges in Canada are quite large, and their size enables them to accept more students than your average small liberal-arts college. If you’re a good student who might have difficulty getting in the top-tier American colleges, a Canadian school may be a great way to still get a world-class education.

These are just a few of the considerations you need to take into account when choosing a school. Above all else, make sure you can see yourself at a school for four years. For some, the large campuses and distance from home might make studying in Canada unappealing. However, if you’re looking for a bargain with a stellar reputation, seriously consider adding one of the schools above to your college search. Who knows, you may even become a hockey fan.

Good Luck!

Babs

POSTED BY Dear Babs IN Dear Babs, trends
01.07.09
RSS 2.0 | PERMALINK | TRACKBACK
NO COMMENTS