Thequad spring 2016

2016

“Education is the key to unlocking the world, a passport to freedom.”

- Oprah Winfrey

Inside:

Tips on Enrollment, Money and College Life!

Coming Spring 2016

Announcing the Michigan Chronicle/Talmer S.W.A.G. Scholarship Finalists The special edition of ACHIEVE will display the finalists for the Michigan Chronicle/Talmer S.W.A.G. Scholarship Award. Stay tuned to find out who won a scholarship.

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities call 313.963.5522 2 • The Quad • SPRING | 2016

Spring 2016

Table of Contents P 4 Factors in Admission Decisions P 10 Best Career Advice for

College Students P 11 Top 10 College Majors with

Lucrative Earning Potential P 13 Campus Life: Saving Money

for Course Materials

The Road to Success Begins With Preparation Choosing the right college can catapult a student’s career in ways unimaginable.

Laying down the groundwork in high school is critical to students getting accepted to their top choice of school. Preparing for the ACT and SAT are steps to a student’s college journey.

This issue gives readers some resources to current scholarships that are still accepting applications as well as websites to look for other scholarships that could help pay for college in the coming years. Use The Quad as a tool to preparing for the future.

Thinking about what career path a student would like to take now helps them to form a plan and work at that plan.

When college graduation is upon them, they should have job offers instead of wondering what to do now.

Success is just steps away. Get a head start in The QUAD.

Managing Editors: Jasmen Jackson/Tatiana Wheeler Strategic Partners: Department of Education/ National Association for College Admission Counseling Graphic Designer: Juan Sifuentes

ENGINEERS, ARCHITECTS, SCIENTISTS, AND THINKERS.

By Hiram E. Jackson

P14

Need to Know: College Entrance Exams

10 Things for Prospective Transfer Students

Lawrence Technological University isn’t for just anyone. We want the future designers, engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs who will create the innovations of tomorrow.

We want you at LTU. Watch LTU students share their college experiences at ltu.edu/StudentStories.

admissions@ltu.edu 800.225.5588 Southfield, Michigan LTU ranks fifth among U.S. colleges and universities for boosting graduates’ earning power. – Brookings Institution Architecture and Design | Arts and Sciences Engineering | Management

Possible is everything.

SPRING | 2016 •

The Quad • 3

Your high school grades are the #1 factor in the college admission decision. ther factors count, but the body of work you develop in high school is what matters most—as it should.

Colleges do not choose students by the numbers only—they don’t simply take the students with the highest grades and test scores. Colleges use many other factors to add depth to the numbers, and to compare applicants with each other

to build a class that fits the college’s mission. Students who meet or exceed the threshold for admission are, at selective colleges, evaluated based on all of the attributes they bring to campus, including special talents, academic interests, and personal characteristics.

Here’s a breakdown of what colleges take into account:

Percentage of colleges attributing different levels of importance to factors in the admission decision: 2011 Factor

Grades in college

Prep courses

Strength of Curriculum

Admission test scores (SAT and ACT)

Grades in all courses

Essay or writing Sample

Student’s demonstrated Interest

Counselor recommendation

Class Rank

Teacher recommendation

Subject test scores (AP, IB)

Portfolio

Interview

SAT II scores

Extracurricular activities 5.0

State graduation exam

Work

Considerable Importance

Moderate Importance

Limited

Importance

No Importance

84.3%

11.9%

2.3%

1.5%

67.7

20.4

5.8

6.2

59.2

29.6

6.9

4.2

51.9

39.2

6.9

1.9

24.9

37.5

17.2

20.3

20.5

29.7

24.7

25.1

19.2

39.8

27.2

13.8

18.8

31.0

31.4

18.8

16.5

41.9

26.5

15.0

6.9

31.2

31.5

30.4

6.6

12.8

30.2

50.4

6.2

25.4

25.8

42.7

5.4

9.7

22.6

62.3

5.0

43.1

38.1

13.8

4.2

14.9

23.8

57.1

2.3

17.0

43.2

37.5

SOURCE: NACAC Admission Trends Survey, 2011

Additional Factors While colleges, on average, pay attention to the same types of factors, some colleges pay more attention to some factors than others.

4 • The Quad • SPRING | 2016

College Size Small colleges — Have a more “holistic” application review process, meaning they pay more attention to all of the facets of your application.

Large colleges — Have a more “mechanical” application review process, meaning numbers (GPA, test

scores) play a significant role in determining your initial qualification. In the case of open admission or near-open admission colleges, that may be the extent of the process. At more selective large colleges, the initial qualification may be followed by a more holistic review of qualified applicants.

Selective colleges — Both large and small selective colleges (meaning that the colleges accept fewer than half of students who apply) have a more “holistic” application review process.

Grades and GPAs About two-thirds of high schools weight their GPAs for students who take college preparatory courses.

To account for different grading scales among high schools, more than half of colleges recalculate applicants’ GPAs to standardize them.

Class Rank Nearly one-third of high schools do not report class rank information to colleges. Accordingly, colleges have de-emphasized class rank as a factor in the admission decision over the past decade.

Essay Do colleges take extra steps to catch cheating or plagiarism on essays? Many colleges that require essays will scrutinize essays that they believe have been forged, borrowed, or heavily edited or

influenced by someone other than the applicant.

In fact, some colleges have instituted their own verification processes, while others have contracted with businesses that double check essays for plagiarism. Given that many colleges view the essay as an indicator of a student’s interest in attending, it does not pay to have someone else write your essay.

Other Factors that Colleges May Consider In order to shape their classes, colleges may consider other factors for admission, including a student’s geographic location (especially for public universities), whether a student is the first in their family to go to college (for access purposes), a student’s race or ethnicity (for diversity purposes), a student’s relation to alumni (for the purposes of development and community-sustenance), and gender (for purposes of reflecting the population).

Homeschooled Students Colleges are more likely to rely on standardized test scores (ACT, SAT) for homeschooled students than for students than for students from high schools, due to the lack of consistency across homeschooling environments.

DREAM BIG REALIZE YOUR POTENTIAL

Sample College Statements about Homeschooled Applicants Princeton University University of New Hampshire University of Missouri As you start you r college search process, check out NACAC’s State of College Admission report. There you will find a trusted source of information about the application process without the hype that often surrounds coverage of college admission. ©2016 National Association for College Admission Counseling

ANY WAY YOU COUNT THEM, THE NUMBERS ADD UP TO AN INVALUABLE MICHIGAN DEGREE.

19

260 15:1

SCHOOLS & COLLEGES

$

DEGREE PROGRAMS

70

STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO

%

U-M GRADUATION RATE

OF RESIDENT STUDENTS AWARDED

FINANCIAL AID

91

%

$105

MILLION GIVEN IN UNDERGRADUATE

SCHOLARSHIPS 2014-2015

(59% National Average) source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2006 cohort

564,000 LIVING ALUMNI

AT MICHIGAN, WE WORK HARD TO MAKE EDUCATION AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE.

WE WANT YOU TO GO BLUE. admissions.umich.edu/quad SPRING | 2016 •

The Quad • 5

Federal Deadline: Online applications must be submitted by midnight Central Time, June 30, 2016.

Any corrections or updates must be submitted by midnight Central Time, September 17, 2016.

State Deadline: www.fafsa.ed.gov/deadlines.htm# College Deadline: Check with the college(s) you are interested in attending. You may also want to ask your college about its definition of an application deadline - whether it is the date the college receives your FAFSA, or the date your FAFSA is processed.

Courtesy of fafsa.ed.gov/deadlines Estimate Your Eligibility For Federal Student Aid Need to know how much financial aid you qualify for? Check out FAFSA4caster! A brand new tool provided by Federal Student Aid at www.fafsa.edu.gov FAFSA4caster will help you understand your options for paying for college.

Provide some basic information and it will estimate your eligibility for federal student aid.

Your estimate will be shown in the “College Cost Worksheet” where you can also provide estimated amounts of other student aid and savings that can go towards your college education.

Get started now! Visit www.fafsa.edu.gov for more information.

Metro Detroit National College Fair Suburban Collection Showplace – Novi, MI Sunday, March 20: 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.

Monday, March 21: 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

6 • The Quad • SPRING | 2016

Current Scholarships Most scholarships are based on merit, but there are some offered to students who may not have the grades but have the service, workmanship and artistic appeal. We have listed a few scholarships that are still open to apply for.

Some are minority-based or offer an internship component and some are one-time awards. Either way, any scholarship awarded helps you reach the goal of obtaining a college degree debt free. Along with these listed, check out the scholarship websites for other opportunities to assist in your college career.

TMCF | Lowe’s Gap Scholarship DEADLINE: June 30, 2016, 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time — One-time award ranging from $500 to $3,100 (depending on account balance). In association with Lowe’s, TMCF offers a gap scholarship for graduating college students with a minimum 2.5 GPA. The scholarship amount ranges from $500 to $3,100, depending on account balance, and fills the gap to help a student graduate. http://tmcf.org/our-scholarships/current-scholarships TMCF | AFSCME Union Scholarship DEADLINE: February 28, 2016, 11:59pm Eastern Standard Time — This scholarship offers an internship and stipend, plus a scholarship of up $6,300. The Thurgood Marshall College Fund is pleased to partner with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) to provide a scholarship and internship exposing competitive students to careers within the labor union movement. http://tmcf.org/our-scholarships/current-scholarships Minority Scholarships Buick Achievers Scholarship Program (High school graduates who are first-time college students) Deadline: February 29 by 5 p.m. https://buickachievers.scholarshipamerica.org/ The Coca-Cola Pay It Forward Scholarship and Mentorship with Steve Harvey (For moms and their teens) Deadline: June 16 www.coke.com/payitforward Coca−Cola Scholars Program (Current high school students) Applications open August 2016. Applications will be accepted from those students graduating from high school in 2017. http://www.coca-colascholarsfoundation.org/applicants/ Shawn Carter Scholarship (For high school seniors, undergrad college students, GED diploma holders, and students at vocational or trade schools).

Applications open April 1 and close April 30. https://www.shawncartersf.com/scholarship-fund/#app Scholarship Resources

Camilla Smith, a social work major, Macomb Community College When her professor suggested that Camilla Smith enter the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service essay contest at Macomb Community College, she knew what she wanted to write about and where to go for help in turning her personal experience into a polished piece worthy of first place.

“I could connect the topic with my life, but really had to narrow it down,” said Smith. “Consultant Sue Richardson at the Reading and Writing Studio helped me

tremendously. She was able to get me to dig deep inside my feelings and heart to produce a meaningful essay.”

The Reading and Writing Studios offer free assistance to help students complete all varieties of reading and writing assignments, and the free resources offered by Macomb don’t end there. Tutoring in math, science and foreign languages is available in the Learning Centers and help in writing a résumé and finding a good job is provided

by Career Services.

Financial Aid connects students to private scholarships (Macomb has more than 100 available), while the Student Options for Success (SOS) office connects them to organizations that may be able to help with living expenses while they attend college.

And when it’s Macomb they attend, students encounter an active campus with more things to get excited about than apps on a smartphone. There are intercollegiate athletics, student clubs and organizations, art exhibits, trips to fun places like Chicago and Cedar Point, environmental projects, film screenings, poetry slams and alternative spring break trips, most recently to help rebuild homes in Louisiana.

And, have you ever been to the Heidelberg Project in

Detroit? Macomb students built two of its play structures out of recyclable material as a weekend community service project with the college’s Student Life and Leadership staff.

Smith credits the same professor who told her about the essay contest, Rochelle Zaranek, for making her aware of how extensive and diverse campus life is at Macomb.

“I didn’t know that Macomb offered so many activities and services,” said Smith, who was among the 400 staff and students who volunteered for the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service on Jan. 18. “The things I learned in my pre-social work class with Professor Zaranek about what the school offers allowed me to be a part of many activities and programs.”

Smith won that essay contest and received a $500 check from the Macomb Community College Foundation to help with her continued studies. She also received a standing ovation after reading her essay to fellow MLK Day of Service volunteers, making it a fitting sendoff for her as well. Smith graduated with an associate degree from Macomb in December and is transferring to Wayne State University to pursue bachelor and master’s degrees in social work.

“Macomb has been a great school to attend,” said Smith. “I’m glad that I chose this as a first step in my college journey.”

Find out for yourself what Macomb has to offer at Discover Macomb on Feb. 27.

Discover Macomb!

ONE-DAY EVENT FOR FUTURE STUDENTS AND PARENTS

Saturday February 27, 2016 10am–1pm

South Campus

12 Mile Rd. & Hayes (Warren)

LEARN ABOUT saving academic programs

$18,000

Register Today!

370 transfer plans

EARLY ADMIT

finishing

early admission

DEBT

studentlife

activities/ sports

www.macomb.edu/discovermacomb Questions? 586.498.4008

SSPRING | 2016 •

The Quad • 7

THE POWER Ready to take the next step?

WMU offers 104 graduate programs, and is home to a law school.

WMU-Extended University Programs There’s a way to get a learner-centered education guided by the common good and relevant to today’s organizational and societal needs.

The Master of Public Administration at WMU-Lansing will enhance your leadership skills, administrative capacities and management practices.

Our MPA program is nationally accredited and offer six concentrations to meet your needs.

wmich.edu/lansing (517) 483-9728

8 • The Quad • SPRING | 2016

WMU-Cooley Law School

An Outstanding Private Law School Affiliated with a Top Research Institution • Flexible day and evening class options allow students to work and go to school • Low student-to-faculty ratio • Unconditional scholarships up to 100% of tuition • Required practical experience at one of nine in-house clinics or 3,000+ externship sites across the nation and abroad • Foreign Study and Joint Degree programs

wmich.edu/law (517) 371-5140

OF GOLD A Transformational Experience— Become the Lawyer You Aspire to Be. Challenging Academics | Comprehensive curriculum is designed to prepare you for law practice.

Faculty Committed to Students | Accessible, experienced faculty are committed to student success.

Supportive Community | A collaborative, welcoming, diverse environment where students learn from each other as well as from their professors.

Prepared for Law Practice | Students have a law practice experience with real clients before graduation.

Commitment to Service | Clinics, externships, and pro bono activities provide experience and community service opportunities.

Flexible Programs | Attend mornings, days, evenings, and on weekends.

Campuses in Michigan and Florida.

Attend an open house Auburn Hills: Thursday, March 10, from 4 to 7 p.m.

Grand Rapids: Tuesday, March 8, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Lansing: Thursday, March 10, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Dayana, A Recent WMU-Cooley Graduate

TM

SPRING | 2016 •

The Quad • 9

lthough young job seekers with only a high school degree are in even worse shape, recent college graduates have entered a grim job market.

The economy is still recovering, entry-level wages have plummeted and recent college grads are competing for jobs with more than 2 million of their educated and jobless peers.

The millennial generation makes up about 40 percent of the unemployment rate in the U.S. Something’s gotta give.

“The most impressive job candidates to employers are those who are both ambitious and have a proven track record through hands-on leadership experiences,” says Matt Stewart, entrepreneur and co-CEO of College Works Painting, a college internship program which, according to internal surveys shows that 90 percent of their alumni find college-grad-level jobs within three months of obtaining their degree.

The key is to find an internship that will help you build tangible, real-world skills. Employers want to know that you’re capable of being in charge of something. To get hired for the job that you actually want, you need an internship in which you’re given actual responsibilities and in which you gain leadership experience.

You won’t gain these necessary skills from an easy internship.

These days, the company name on your resume holds little to no weight. It’s not who you interned for. Instead, it’s what you did during your internship that matters.

The challenge is distinguishing an internship that may have flashy bells and whistles but no real job responsibilities, from the rewarding internship that will give you the skills needed to adequately compete in the job market.

Internships are those extra-credit points that ambitious college students can leverage for getting ahead as an attractive job candidate. Stewart asks students the following: Will the internship provide you with leadership skills?

Internships provide students with all kinds of exposure to business. But just any experience won’t be good for you. Your time is valuable. The purpose of internships is to gain adequate experience. So don’t waste your time on an unworthy internship.

When applying for internships, review the job description. Look for job responsibilities that require leadership skills.

“What we try to do is give students a truly entrepreneurial experience,” says Stewart, whose internship program provides practical and life-changing business experience for college students who have shown potential for success.

Interns operate their own house-painting business with hands-on guidance from mentors. “Also, and though we don’t require any previous experience – with guidance and mentorship – our interns have mid-level responsibilities,” Stewart says. “Our students manage all hiring, firing, sales, marketing and customer relations. This enables our alumni to

10 • The Quad • SPRING | 2016

land grad-level positions upon graduation instead of competing for entry-level jobs that may not even require a degree.”

•If anyone can get the internship, is it worth your

time?

While an internship can be considered “free education,” corporations know they have nothing to lose when they see talented young minds willing to work for free. If an internship is easy to attain and isn’t willing to pay you for the work you do, it may be garbage work.

More than 50,000 students apply to intern at College Works Painting annually, yet only 2000 interns are hired. And about half of those hired interns make it to the summer, when the internship resembles more of a full time job.

“It’s an incredibly difficult challenge, running your own business – and that’s what our interns are doing,” Stewart says. “Some of our hires don’t make it through spring training; the program is just too much for them. Yet, you don’t want to be that stereotypical intern who becomes an expert on how the CEO likes her coffee. College summers are designed for hard work, that’s how you’ll get ahead in your career.” (Statepoint)

Top Ten college majors with lucrative earning potential

G

etting an education has always been encouraged in minority households. This coming from your grandma, grandpa, great-aunts and other relatives that went through or know of the struggles African Americans faced in the past with getting a grade school education.

Now we have to push our high schoolers to aim higher to sustain life and get ahead. Go after a college degree because that’s a sure way to earning a good salary and benefits.

But what about the interest of our future leaders, artists, engineers, and professionals? Some of the majors they choose to pursue in college have standard earning potential while others have lucrative earning potential. In case you haven’t decided what to major in, here are some areas of study that show an array of growth potential in the current job market and beyond. Courtesy of www.kiplinger.com.

Actuarial Mathematics Starting salary: $60,800 Mid-career salary: $119,600 Annual online job postings: 21,782 Best related job: Actuary Projected 10-year job growth: 23.0% Civil Engineering Starting salary: $55,100 Mid-career salary: $93,400 Annual online job postings: 152,412 Best related job: Civil Engineer Projected 10-year job growth: 17.8% Computer Science Starting salary: $61,600 Mid-career salary: $103,600 Annual online job postings: 1,874,509 Best related job: Computer and Information Research Scientist Projected 10-year job growth: 15.9% Supply Chain Management Starting salary: $50,200 Mid-career salary: $84,700 - $85,200 Annual online job postings: 270,000 Best related job: Logistics Manager Projected 10-year job growth: 17%

Economics Starting salary: $51,400 Mid-career salary: $97,700 Annual online job postings: 799,117 Best related job: Economist Projected 10-year job growth: 15.3% Finance Starting salary: $50,900 Mid-career salary: $89,300 Annual online job postings: 1,029,020 Best related job: Financial Analyst Projected 10-year job growth: 16.0% Management Information Systems Starting salary: $56,300 Mid-career salary: $95,500 Annual online job postings: 2,306,724 Best related job: Computer and Information Systems Manager Projected 10-year job growth: 16.7%

OUR DEGREES CHANGE LIVES Pursue any of 100 career-focused majors Thrive in small classes Pick the brains of expert professors Apply for generous scholarships and financial aid Compete on, or cheer for, 19 men’s and women’s teams

Nursing Starting salary: $56,900 (median for all 128 majors: $41,600) Mid-career salary: $73,600 (median for all 128 majors: $71,650) Annual online job postings: 911,018 Best related job: Registered Nurse Projected 10-year job growth: 16.3% (all occupations: 11.1%) Physics Starting salary: $57,200 Mid-career salary: $105,100 Annual online job postings: 72,732 Best related job: Physicist Projected 10-year job growth: 11.3% Software Engineering Starting salary: $61,700 Mid-career salary: $99,800 Annual online job postings: 735,513 Best related job: App Developer Projected 10-year job growth: 23.4% Statistics Starting salary: $54,900 Mid-career salary: $103,100 Annual online job postings: 103,270 Best related job: Statistician Projected 10-year job growth: 24.1%

madonna.edu/visit 734-432-5339 • admissions@madonna.edu Schedule a visit • Apply online We know you by name at the M with the flame!

SPRING | 2016 •

The Quad • 11

In the spirit of the words of Andrew Carnegie, Matilda Dodge Wilson donated her estate in 1957 to provide “ladders upon which the aspiring can rise,” establishing what is now Oakland University.

The OU campus has 1,443 acres with the historic address of Rochester, Michigan, and includes the National Historic Landmark, Meadow Brook Hall.

Grounded in teaching, service and research, Oakland University offers more than 270 degree and certificate programs to aspiring minds from its large campus spanning two thriving cities (Auburn Hills and Rochester Hills) in Southeast Michigan. OU’s distinctive educational approach connects 20,711 students, more than 100,000 alumni and its surrounding communities to the unique and diverse opportunities within the region and beyond.

At Oakland, you will have the opportunity to reach your dreams academically, socially and professionally. You will have the chance to conduct research, study abroad, compete in Division I athletics, lead a student organization, perform on the stage, secure a career, and so much more. Your Oakland education is the ladder to your future, and when you take the first step, we OU will empower you to rise even higher.

Check out Oakland University’s admissions sites for application guidelines, academic programs and information on how to pay for your education. Sign up to visit OU for a campus tour or admissions event geared toward you. Apply online today at oakland. edu/apply. There is no charge.

12 • The Quad • SPRING | 2016

s a senior, you have a plethora of things to accomplish before graduation from getting your graduation pictures, getting good grades, what to wear to homecoming, picking the right prom date, and oh yeah, what are you going to do when you graduate? Here is a senior checklist by month for students and parents to stay on track with college planning.

The rest will fall into place!

August/September •Register for the SAT and/or ACT if you didn’t take it as a junior, or if you aren’t satisfied with your score and want to take it again. (remember that your counselor can help you with fee waivers) • Start collecting college applications and review the required pieces of information.

• Stay current with your classes, make sure you are on track to graduate. If you’re ahead of schedule, consider taking courses at a local university or community college to get a jumpstart on college credit.

• Take every opportunity to get to know colleges: meeting with college representatives who visit your high schools, attending local college fairs, visiting campuses (if possible).

• Narrow down your list of colleges to “safe,” “reach,” and “realistic” schools.

Make sure you have the application and financial aid information for each school.

October • If you cannot afford the application fees that many colleges charge, ask your counselor to help you request a fee waiver.

•Finalize your college essay. Have a parent, teacher or counselor, review the application and essay before it is submitted.

•Request personal recommendations from teachers, school counselors, or employers. Follow the process required by your high school or provide a stamped,

addressed envelope, the appropriate college forms, and an outline of your academic record and extracurricular activities to each person writing you a recommendation.

•Research possibilities of scholarships.

Ask your counselor, your colleges, and your religious and civic groups about scholarship opportunities. You should never pay for scholarship information.

December •Register for the January SAT (If needed).

It is the last one colleges will be able to consider for a senior.

January •Keep track of and observe deadlines for sending in all required fees and paperwork for colleges you are interested in applying to.

•If necessary, register for the February ACT (some colleges consider it).

•It is time to file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) no later than Feb 1. The sooner you complete it, the sooner you will have an idea of your financial aid options.

Feb/March/April •Acceptance letters and financial aid offers will start to arrive. Review your acceptances, compare financial aid packages, and visit your final choices, if you haven’t already.

May •By May 1, your intended college of choice will require a commitment and deposit for the upcoming school year. If you’ve been offered financial aid, accept the offer and follow the instructions given.

•Make sure that you have requested your final transcript be sent to your intended school.

Department of Education/ www.fafsa.ed.gov

ollege course materials can be cheaper than most college students think. Book and supplies only account for four percent of the cost of attending college among the top 10 most populous colleges and universities (using population rankings from “Forbes”).

Books themselves are just a fraction of that four percent. However, during a time when many institutions are raising tuition and other fees, students are finding new ways to cut spending on these materials.

Student spending on course materials this past year was an estimated 20 percent less than the 2007 to 2008 school year, according to statistics from Student Watch, developed by the National Association of College Stores. This decline can be attributed to innovative offerings from educational publishing companies, such as adaptive learning platforms, eBooks, eChapters, looseleaf editions, black-and-white editions and print-it-yourself editions.

New platforms are not only helping reduce textbook prices, they are increasing student success, say experts.

Digital learning presents content in more engaging and interactive ways than traditional counterparts. For more information, visit the Association of American Publishers Back to Campus

website at aapbacktocampus.org.

Resourceful students seeking ways to reduce the price tag associated with their degrees should think beyond scholarships and grants and take advantage of less costly course material options. (StatePoint)

Live Where You Learn

Not University owned or operated.

• Top Ranked Public University • 100+ degree programs • Over 700 co-op and internship placements • 180 student organizations

Spring Open House April 16 • Noon - 3:30pm

• $38 million in scholarship offers

umdearborn.edu

• Apply and be automatically considered for scholarships (Online application fee is waived)

University of Michigan-Dearborn 4901 Evergreen Road, Dearborn, MI 48128 313-593-5100

SPRING | 2016 •

The Quad • 13

Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning to change schools.

By Travis Mitchell, U.S. News There are many reasons that a student might transfer colleges.

The decision might stem from a change in academic major or financial circumstances, or a realization that a particular school just wasn’t the right fit.

If you’re considering making a switch, the following tips and advice will help guide the way.

n high school, the pressure of getting good grades and figuring out what you want to be when you leave school is a lot of pressure. Then there is the added pressure of what to major in at college, what’s the right college for you and how to pay for it all seem to come rushing at you at the same time.

In order to get a jump on college, it is suggested to take the ACT or SAT College entrance exams early. What’s early? Your sophomore or junior year would be best. Following are some test prep methods for high school students to assist you in getting top scores on your ACT and SAT exams.

Take a Practice Test The practice test helps students figure out what they would score if they took the real exam at that moment. It should be used as a tool to study the areas that a student did not score high in and improve in areas they did well in. In order to take the practice test, the environment should mimic the real test for concentration purposes. Taking the practice test will help students create a study plan to gear them up for the real test. It is suggested to have strong vocabulary skills since a major portion is reading and comprehension. One source to take the practice test is the Princeton Review, which offers free practice tests with a detailed score report along with an action plan to increase student’s scores.

Princeton Review has test prep books that students can purchase at a local bookstore or online to assist them up until test day.

Take a Prep Class Testing does not come easy to everyone, which is why they have prep classes available to help students study for the ACT and SAT exams. In a

14 • The Quad • SPRING | 2016

prep class, students have an instructor teaching them how to study for the ACT and SAT along with homework assignments to help them learn the concepts it take to get a good score. Prep classes can be taken in a traditional classroom or online.

Online prep classes are great for busy students that have more after-school obligations and they can fit the prep class into their extracurricular schedule.

Online also gives students the opportunity to do the drills and repeat lessons. A traditional classroom with an instructor gives students the person-toperson interaction with an instructor who can motivate students to have better results.

ACT/SAT Prep Camp Some areas offer an ACT or SAT prep camp to students during one of the holiday breaks which gives a student time to focus on taking the exam in the spring. Most camps are during a time that students may not have school obligations which makes the camp course intensive and beneficial.

The camp goes over every section of the tests which hones in on concentration for the students, an opportunity to brush up on comprehension skills and problem solving. The prep camp is a good alternative to students who have not had the chance to take the weekend prep course or don’t like online instruction but need to take the real test sooner than later.

ACT Exam vs.

SAT Exam Advance Math Science section Essay: Evaluation/Pick a side Score scale: 1 – 36

Strong vocabulary Advance Math No science section Problem solving questions Essay: Comprehension focus

Score scale: 400 - 1600

1. Transfer Admissions Aren’t Always More Competitive The acceptance rate for transfer students was 62.6 percent for the 2012-2013 academic year, according to research from the National Association for College Admission Counseling. That’s only slightly below the first-time freshman average acceptance rate of 64.7 percent.

2. Know Which Schools Attract Transfer Students If you’re worried about being an outsider, check out this U.S. News Education list of schools with the most transfer students.

The data show that it’s far from uncommon for students to make a switch.

3. Map Out a Plan Ahead of Time Students planning to transfer – especially those coming from a community college – shouldn’t expect the process to be quick and easy, school officials have told U.S. News.

Students can prepare for this by reaching out to academic advisers, professors and internship offices at target four-year schools as early as they have an idea they may transfer.

4. You Can Find Scholarships Free money doesn’t discriminate. There are a number of college scholarships dedicated to assisting transfer students.

The Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, for example, offers up to $40,000 a year to each of 85 students who are making the move from a community college to a four-year university.

5. Some Schools Seek Transfers Even the most well-researched college search can end with a student deciding to transfer. And the 2013 NACAC report states 58 percent of four-year colleges say transfer students will be an important part of their recruiting strategy over the next three years. The ultimate goal is to find the right college or education fit.

6. Make On-Campus Housing a Priority It can be a challenge for transfer students to feel like they’re part of their new community. Living on campus is one way to help transfer students feel more connected, make friends and get up to speed at a new school, students told U.S. News in 2011.

7. Get Involved at Your New Campus Along with living on campus, new transfer students should research extracurricular activities and clubs at their target schools. Getting involved has many benefits, including building a sense of community, former transfer students say.

8. Make Sure to Understand Articulation Agreements Some states’ community college systems advertise prearranged admissions agreements with local four-year universities. But the transition between these programs isn’t always seamless, and students should make sure that any classes they take at two-year programs will transfer to their intended colleges, experts have told U.S. News.

9. Attend Orientation College orientation isn’t just for incoming freshmen. Research if your intended schools offer orientation

for new transfer students, as these programs are valuable ways to ease the transition and get settled in a new space. NACAC data show that 72.1 percent of schools offer separate transfer students for orientation.

10. Specialized Financial Aid May Be Out There Some colleges also give transfer students access to specialized financial aid. The NACAC 2014 State of College Admission report noted that 53 percent of survey respondents have dedicated grants set aside for these students.

Passion.

It starts with an education focused entirely on your growth—as a thinker, a problem-solver, and as a person. By the time you graduate, you will have knowledge, confidence, and a clear path moving forward. More importantly, you’ll be part of a community that’s prepared to give, to create, to make a difference. That’s the Laker Effect.

And we can’t wait for you to become part of it.

gvsu.edu

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WHERE THE ASPIRING RISE. Experience an academic and social environment unlike any other.

Where opportunity soars and over-achievers thrive. Where dreamers become leaders, and the dedicated become empowered.

Welcome to Oakland University, where the aspiring can rise.

Learn more at oakland.edu. ucm12048/01.16

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