military education guide 2
Educational institution. Determining the most appropriate type of edu- cational institution and
level of education is the next step. Many families assume a four-year college is the only educational choice. The national graduation completion rate for students who start at a four-year college or uni- versity is only 53 percent. Take time to research and consider other types of educational insti- tutions and what their programs have to offer. Talk with your child and deter- mine whether a four-year degree program is the most realistic option to achieve his or her goals. Match- ing your child’s interests, skills, and academic strengths with the right educational program increases the likelihood he or she will graduate and be successful. Most schools fall into two cat- egories: state-operated public in- stitutions and private institutions. Most private institutions also are affiliated with a nonprofit or a private foundation or have a reli- gious affiliation. Other schools are for-profit businesses — such as many online, career, trade, or technical schools. Four-year colleges and universities.
These offer bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees and sometimes in- clude professional schools, like law school or medical school. Two-year community colleges.
These institutions offer two-year associate degrees for transfer to a four-year institution. Some com- munity colleges have guaranteed ad- missions agreements (with specific requirements) with four-year col- leges. Community colleges also offer applied associate degrees, certifica- tions, and diplomas in many career fields that prepare the student to enter the workforce directly.
Easy access, open admission,
and lower costs make two-year pro- grams an increasingly popular op- tion for many students. Career, technical, vocational, and
trade schools. These schools pre- pare students for specific careers. Many of these schools are for-profit businesses, so be aware of bottom- line costs. Many career programs can be found at a much lower cost at community colleges. Research four-year schools at:
•
www.collegeboard.org •
www.collegeresults.org •
http://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator •
www.collegeportraits.org Career and technical schools:
•
www.acteonline.org Apprenticeships:
•
www.doleta.gov/oa U.S. community colleges by state:
•
www.utexas.edu/world/comcol/ state
3
Campus environment. It is important to con- sider a student’s academic capabilities, personality
traits, and individual needs when selecting a school. Families should discuss a school’s location (urban, rural, or suburban), the size of its campus, and the type of campus life available (commuter campus versus residential, dormitories versus stu- dent apartments, etcetera). Many colleges offer virtual tours of their campus on their web- sites, but in-person visits are pref- erable. If at all possible, visit while school is in session to get a feel for the campus environment and stu- dent life. This might be your child’s home for the next several years. Consider travel costs if you’re looking at an out-of-state school. Transferring to another school costs time and money, so it’s impor- tant to select the right school the first time around.
K MILITARY OFFICER NOVEMBER 2011 MOAA’S MILITARY E D UCATION GUIDE 4
Admissions selectivity. As you develop a wish list of educational institu- tions, determine the ad-
missions requirements and the level of acceptance selectivity (defined as the percentage of ap- plicants accepted for enrollment). Admission requirements should be defined clearly on a college’s web- site admission pages. Make sure an applicant’s high school credits match the admission criteria (e.g., four math, four English, two foreign language, etcetera). Admission websites also typically
list the average high school GPAs and test scores (SAT or ACT col- lege entrance exams) for admitted students. Choose schools where a student will be academically suited and competitive for admission based on the institution’s admis- sions criteria. Students who plan to attend a four-year institution should take the SAT or ACT in the spring of their junior years and fall of their senior years. For more about college accep- tance selectivity and ACT/SAT infor- mation, explore: •
http://collegesearch.collegeboard .com/search/index.jsp •
www.collegeboard.org •
www.actstudent.org
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Financial aid, scholarships, and grants. All families should fill out and submit the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is used by many institutions to determine grants, scholarships, and lower-cost loans. Find out which financial aid you might qualify for by using the “FAFSA 4caster” to get an estimate. The FAFSA should be submitted after Jan. 1 of a student’s senior year. All college websites must provide a college net-cost calculator, which
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