One size does not fit all in post-secondary education. Gain wisdom and insight about how important it is for students to diligently conduct research to find the “right fit” when selecting an institution to pursue their goals beyond high school. Hear suggestions about how to make sure your students are preparing appropriately for their post-secondary aspirations.

1. NAVIANCE SUMMER INSTITUTE 2014
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

2. Naviance Summer Institute
Palm Desert, California
Presenter: Dr. Roger J. Thompson
Vice President for Enrollment
Management, University of Oregon

3. The College Search
• Presentation Overview
– The college search process—past and
present
– Finding the “right fit”

4. College Search—A look back
• High school students have always
investigated post-high school options.
• Methods have changed
– Viewbooks, direct mail etc, all student initiated
• Higher education landscape has changed
– More and different kinds of institutions and
programs
• More information available today
– www created an unlimited amount of information

5. College Search—Today
• New tools
– The web—biggest impact/change
– Technology advanced and tools developed
• Entire new industry developed
– Companies to support college search process
– Growth in independent counselors
– Communication tools

6. College Search—Today
• Self service
– Students/parents easily access any institution
to learn more about programs, etc.
– Contacting the institution not needed to begin
the search process
– Students/parents comfortable with self
service—everywhere in their life
– Students/parents are technology savvy—
raises expectations for institutions

7. College Search—Today
• Demographics
– Changing demographics in America
– Total high school graduates quite variable
based on region
– Student population becoming more diverse—
Latino/Hispanic fastest growing demographic
in America
– College attendance/participation is increasing
—creating new challenges

8. 0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
3,000,000
3,500,000
4,000,000 1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
2025-26
2026-27
2027-28
Actual Projected
Includes private and public school graduates
Source: WICHE Knocking at the College Door, Dec 2012
High School Graduate Projections – ENTIRE USA
1996-97 through 2008-09 (actual), 2009-10 through 2027-28 (projected)

9. 0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
300,000
350,000
400,000
450,000
500,000
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
2025-26
2026-27
2027-28
Actual Projected
Includes private and public school graduates
Source: WICHE Knocking at the College Door, Dec 2012
High School Graduate Projections – CALIFORNIA
1996-97 through 2008-09 (actual), 2009-10 through 2027-28 (projected)

10. 0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
2025-26
2026-27
2027-28
Actual Projected
Includes private and public school graduates
Source: WICHE Knocking at the College Door, Dec 2012
High School Graduate Projections – OREGON
1996-97 through 2008-09 (actual), 2009-10 through 2027-28 (projected)

11. 0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
1996-97
1997-98
1998-99
1999-00
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
2013-14
2014-15
2015-16
2016-17
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
2022-23
2023-24
2024-25
2025-26
2026-27
2027-28
Actual Projected
Includes private and public school graduates
Source: WICHE Knocking at the College Door, Dec 2012
High School Graduate Projections – WASHINGTON
1996-97 through 2008-09 (actual), 2009-10 through 2027-28 (projected)

12. College Search—Today
• Student characteristics
– Diverse populations & changing student bodies
– More first generation college students entering
higher education
– More families experiencing higher education for
the first time
– Families are changing, creating different
dynamics
– Student expectations are increasing—variety of
areas, from college experience to careers

13. White
63%
Asian/Pacific Islander
6%
African
American/Black
2%
Hispanic/Latino
11%
Native American
1%
Two or More Races
7%
International
10%
Unknown
1%
Entering Freshman Racial/Ethnic Diversity
Fall 2013 University of Oregon
UO Office of Enrollment Management, October 28, 2013
Domestic
Minority
27%

14. College Search—Today
• Starting earlier
• Parents highly involved
• Peers are important
• HS counselors, teachers & administrators
• University officials—tour guides to
admissions officers, to anyone on campus
• Others

15. Finding the “Right Fit”
• Most common term in college search
process
• High school counselors, university
officials, parents, publications, others
suggest students find it
• My thought—it is often described but
rarely defined

16. Finding the “Right Fit”
• Academic Preparation
– Reasonable rigor
– Academic background matches
university/college requirements or standards
– HS academic record matches college
academic interest
– HS background matches desired college
academic interest (Music, Architecture, etc)

17. Finding the “Right Fit”
• Institution type
– College or University
– Community College
– Technical or trade school
– Public or Private
– Religious affiliation
– Research university, liberal arts college etc.
– Principles and values

18. Finding the “Right Fit”
• Location
– In-state or out-of-state, or out of country
– Large city, one of the major cities in country
– City, a large city, but not a major city
– Suburban, a community bordering a large city
– Traditional college town, where the focus of
the community is the college or university
• Pseudo-suburban, rural, etc.
• Big, medium, small

19. Finding the “Right Fit”
• Campus size
– 40,000 or more students
– 30,000 or more students
– 20,000 or more students
– 10,000 or more students
– 5,000 or more students
– 3,000 or more students
– 1,500 or more students
– Under 1,000 students

20. Finding the “Right Fit”
• Size is important, but experience &
opportunity is sometimes over-looked
– Average class size
– Courses offered
– Time availability
– If large classes, how are they handled
– Who teaches which kinds of courses
– Lab or research experiences or opportunities

21. Finding the “Right Fit”
• Student experience—outside of class
– Study abroad opportunities
– Internships, paid or unpaid
– Research opportunities
– Student recreation/activities
– Clubs, organizations, greek system
– Social environment
– Athletics

22. Finding the “Right Fit”
• Campus culture
– Politically active
– Liberal, conservative, or not politically active
– Diversity of student body, faculty etc.
– Athletics, Arts, Science, Research etc.
– Housing—on-campus or off-campus
– Town and Gown
– How do students feel about their school

23. Finding the “Right Fit”
• Financial Fit
– More info about this since 2008 recession
– More info available for students/parents than
at any point in past
– Net price calculators—pro’s & con’s
– Cost of attendance figures
– Financial literacy
– Key: must make sure financial fit is in place

25. Finding the “Right Fit”
• Importance of fit
– 59% of freshmen who start at a 4 year
institution graduate within 6 years from that
institution
• 57% publics, 65% privates, 42% private for profit
– 31% who started a certificate or associate’s
degree in 2008 completed within 150% of
normal time
– 1/3 of all students transfer at least once
before earning their degree
» Source: NCES data

26. Finding the “Right Fit”
• Importance of fit
– Cost implications
– Federal financial aid impact of transfer &
maximum borrowing
– State aid
– Institutional aid—what is available to
freshmen is likely not available to transfers
– Impacts time to completion/graduation
– Student & family stress

27. Academic Year 2012-13
UO Bachelors Degrees
3173, 69%
1423, 31%
Freshmen Transfer

28. 1. Prospective Student
2. Admitted to University of Oregon
3. Enrolled Student
4. Graduate of University of Oregon
5. University of Oregon Alumni
6. Donor to University of Oregon
STUDENT LIFECYCLE

29. College Selection—Tips
• Start early
– Sophomore year
• Student & Family involvement
– Discuss & share ideas
• Utilize technology—search engines
– Much info is available to assist today
– Naviance with counselor & independently
– Assignments to students helps

30. College Selection—Tips
• College Fairs
– Initial exploration
• Visit campus—can’t do this enough
– Top recommendation
– Formal visits & informal time on campus
• Understand academic requirements
– Important to have strong understanding of
institution

31. College Selection--Tips
• Understand cost of attendance & your
ability to pay for college
– Plan early and utilize financial incentives
(529’s)
• Involve HS Counselor
– Connect early to help student plan—planning
reduces stress
• Explore the www for institutions
– Discover new places
– Learn about those you know

32. College Selection--Tips
• See the community, & incorporate “hang
out” time as part of the college visit
• Talk to current students, not just tour
guides
• As student narrows choices, visit in-depth
– Meetings in areas of interest—in class or
outside of class
– Make notes immediately after each visit—
pro’s/con’s

33. College Selection--Tips
• Attend off-campus receptions/events
– Gather & learn as much info as possible
– Meet key folks from schools
• Apply early
– Senior year is busy & stressful—take care of
applications early
• When decision is right, make it
– No one perfect school—many perfect schools!

34. Conclusion
• The fundamental experience of the college
search process for the student should be:
Empowering!
• Help your students be empowered to
make this decision—the first big decision
of many they will make in their lives.

35. Conclusion
• The college selection process is exciting
for students.
• But it can be full of anxiety and stress for
natural reasons—our job is to help
alleviate the stress & anxiety.
• Our HS Counselors play a critical role in
this process—THANK YOU FOR THE
WORK YOU DO TO HELP YOUNG
PEOPLE!

36. Conclusion
“There is no man living that can not do
more than he thinks he can.”
Henry Ford

37. Questions/Answers/Discussion
• Contact Information:
– Dr. Roger J. Thompson
– Vice President for Enrollment Management
– University of Oregon
– (541) 346-2541 or vpem@uoregon.edu