Choosing a College

College fairs can provide a wealth of information to help you start narrowing your list of possible colleges.
After registering, watch for a list of colleges that will be there and identify a few schools you know you want to visit. With so many schools present, it’s helpful to have a game plan going in.
Below are some questions you may want to ask the college representative:
•    What is the average freshman class size?
•    Can I use the Common Application to apply?
•    What kind of financial aid does your school offer?
•    Can I live on campus all two/four years?
•    In addition to the FAFSA, do you require the CSS/Profile? If so, once or every year?

Look out for Destination College, our annual college planning event and college fair for NH high school juniors and their families!

Use an online college search tool, like a college database with lots of filters, to explore colleges and build your list. Also, check with your school counseling office to see what tools they may have to assist you.

Big Future by The College Board^®

• Big Future is a free tool that helps you explore your interests, college majors, and different schools
• Personalized action plans you can save and edit throughout your college search

Naviance

• Used by some schools in NH and can look different from school to school
• Students and parents/guardians have login information
• Keep track of your list and application steps completed
• For more information, contact your school's counseling office

College Navigator

• The College Navigator is a free tool from the U.S. Department of Education
• Explore schools including the types of degrees and programs they offer, admission requirements, campus safety statistics, accreditation information, retention and graduation rates, and more

College Scorecard

• The College Scorecard is a free tool from the U.S. Department of Education
• Highlights key indicators about the cost and value of colleges

1. Schedule your visit – Colleges offer many different events for you to see campus, this could be an open house, information sessions, or even a virtual visit. If you do an on campus tour make sure you leave enough time to walk around on your own after the tour.
2. Make the most of your visit – Explore all the opportunities available from the admissions office. Many offer lunches with current students or other fun ways to learn more about the school.
3. Collect materials – Pick up all admissions materials and financial aid brochures. Student newspapers, flyers and activity calendars will also give you a sense of what campus life is really like.
4. Try the food and see a dorm – Whether or not you plan to live on campus, it will become somewhat of a second home. You should feel comfortable in all the spaces available for students, including the dining halls. Have lunch and make sure you like the food!
5. Reflect and write – Jot down a few notes to capture your impression of the campus immediately after the tour. Record the names of the college staff you interacted with and send them thank you notes.

Virtual campus tours are a great tool in your college search as they may help you to sort through schools or may give you the opportunity to "see" a campus you are unable to visit. 
Websites like Campus Tours and YouVisit provide access to thousands of campuses nationwide.
Virtual campus tour links for New Hampshire college campuses include:
•    Colby-Sawyer College
•    Great Bay Community College
•    Lakes Region Community College
•    Manchester Community College
•    Nashua Community College
•    NHTI - Concord's Community College
•    River Valley Community College
•    White Mountains Community College
•    Dartmouth College
•    Franklin Pierce University
•    Keene State College
•    MCPHS University
•    New England College
•    Plymouth State University
•    Rivier University
•    Saint Anselm College
•    Southern NH University
•    University of NH Durham
•    University of NH Manchester

• What percentage of students receive grants and scholarships?
• What is the average class size during the first year? What is the largest class?
• Are first-year students guaranteed housing? Every year?
• What are your most popular majors or programs?
• What do students like to do for fun?
• If I decide to take a Gap Year, am I able to keep any financial aid offered for the following year?
• What’s your favorite campus tradition?

• What do you feel makes this school the right fit for you and other students?
• What classes are you taking right now? How much time do you spend on homework?
• What do you feel are the most popular campus activities? Classes?
• How accessible are professors out of class? Are tutors available for extra help?
• What is transportation like?
• What do you do for fun on weeknights and weekends?

Trade/Vocational School

• Privately owned and operated
• Programs of study ranging from five months to three years
• Offer a wide variety of job training options
• Feature concentrated curriculum focused on a specific field
• Small class size format

Example: Michael’s School of Hair Design & Esthetics

Community College

• Usually the most affordable college option 
• Designed to be accessible and supportive of students of all admission criteria
• Programs of study usually two-years in length, often focus on job training
• Often designed to transfer to a four-year college
• Small class size format
• Generally are closer to home
• Offer certificates, licenses, associate of arts (A.A.) degrees, associate of science (A.S.) degrees and/or associate of applied science (A.A.S.) degrees

Example: Campuses of the Community College System of New Hampshire

Four-year College

• Offer a broad range of courses, usually emphasizing humanities, social science, and science
• Public or Private — Self-supporting or supported by the state in which they are located
• Mainly offer undergraduate programs
• Small or large class format depending on the institution size and student to professor ratio
• Offer bachelor’s degrees - bachelor of art (B.A.) or bachelor of science (B.S.)
• Some offer graduate and professional degrees

Example: Saint Anselm College

University

• Very large selection of majors and research facilities with greater variety of classes
• Public or Private — self-supporting or supported by the state in which they are located
• Usually offer four-year programs
• Greater access to more faculty and expertise
• Sometimes larger class size
• Offer bachelor of arts (B.A.), bachelor of science (B.S.), graduate & professional degrees

Example: University of New Hampshire

Note that undergraduate programs only include those that offer Associates or Bachelor’s degrees.

Certificate or License: 
Awarded upon completion of a specific short-term course of study

Associate Degree:
Degree awarded after the completion of defined coursework. These programs generally encompass two years of full-time study or about 60 credits.

Bachelor’s Degree:
Programs of study with a concentration in the arts or the sciences. This degree is awarded upon completion of four years of full-time study or the length of time needed to earn 120 credits.

Master’s Degree: 
A graduate degree awarded beyond the bachelor’s degree. The length of time necessary to complete the requirements of this degree depends upon the course of study and whether the student attends on a full-time or part-time basis. Credit requirements can vary from 36 to 60 depending on the field of study. Common abbreviations for this degree include: MA (Master of Arts), MS (Master of Science), MBA (Master of Business Administration), ME (Master of Engineering), MSW (Master of Social Work) and M.Ed. (Master of Education) to name a few.

Doctoral Degree: 
Awarded for advanced and intensive study in a particular field. Common abbreviations include: MD (Medical Doctor), Pharm.D (Doctor of Pharmacy), PhD (Doctor of Philosophy), DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery), and Ed.D (Doctor of Education).

College Financing Tool

• Explore estimated costs of college when building your list to ensure financial fit
• Net price calculators, available on my college’s website, will offer a calculated estimate of financial aid based on a prospective student’s family financial information. 
• College Financing Tool

Net Price Calculators

• A tool to help students and families compare the possible cost of one college to another and is usually found on the college’s admissions or financial aid page. 
• Some colleges will also allow students to include their GPA and standardized test scores in order to give a family an estimate of merit scholarship eligibility. 

Articulation Agreements

• Formal arrangements between community college programs and bachelor degree programs that allow for easy transfer of credits
• Perfect for students who want to start at a community college and later transfer to a four-year college
• For many students, makes college more affordable

Co-Op:

• Students alternate between semesters of learning in the classroom and semesters of learning in the workplace
• Connected to the student’s major and are almost always paid
• Usually takes five years to earn a bachelor’s degree

Cross-Registration:

•  Enables students enrolled at one college to enroll in courses at another institution without formally applying for admission to the second institution

Internship:

• Students gain on-the-job experience while earning academic credit 
• Can last from one semester to one year
• Often unpaid

Study Abroad:

• Students continue their college education at another location, often another country
• Can last one semester or a full year
• Opportunity to immerse in a language and culture 

Honors Program:

• Varies from college to college
• Students are either selected based on academic criteria or have to submit an additional application
• Offers academic challenges along with smaller class sizes, independent study, and research

3-2/Joint Degree Program:

• Students can increase their course load and earn undergraduate and graduate/first professional degrees in less than the usual amount of time. 
• Students begin taking graduate-level classes during their undergrad program
• Examples: Bachelor’s and Master’s in 5 years total 
• Saves time and money

ROTC Programs:

• Students commit to serve in the armed forces after graduation
• Participate in rigorous training and additional military programs during college
• 100% of tuition covered, as well as books, fees, and a stipend