Table of Contents
1 Choosing To Go:
An Introduction to this Guide 1
2 Moving Up in the World:
Setting Goals and Imagining Your Future 13
Helpful Tools
Careers Clusters Interest Survey 26
Career Clusters Linked to Your Interests 30
3 If The School Fits, Pick It:
Finidng Your Type of College 39
Helpful Tools
Request for Admission Application Fee Waiver 50
The Four-Way Fit: Questions to Ask Yourself 61
The Four-Way Fit Worksheet: Build Your Own Rankings 65
4 The Other College Rankings:
Making a List of the Right Schools For You 67
Helpful Tools
The Four-Way Fit + Rankings Worksheet 94
The Washington Monthly's College Rankings
Best-Bang-for-the-Buck Colleges (by region) 95
Affordable Elite Colleges 165
Best Community Colleges 177
Best-Bang-for-the-Buck HBCU's 180
5 Troubled Waters:
The Community College Transfer Swamp 185
Helpful Tools
Sample Schedule and Milestones Chart 194
6 The Here and Now:
Taking Stock of Where You Are 199
Helpful Tools
College-going Activities Plan (9th-12th grade) 204
Sample Senior Timeline Table 216
Asking for Help: A List of Questions 219
7 Tasting Victory:
Preparing to Succeed 221
8 Families are Complicated:
The Tricky Business of Transitions 235
Helpful Tools
Sample Student Consent Form for Release of Information 246
9 Getting In:
Demystifying College Admission 247
Helpful Tools
How's the Fit? Grid 267
10 It's All About the Benjamins:
How To Pay For College 271
Helpful Tools
Cost Comparison Worksheet 295
Glossary of Financial Aid Terms 296
11 Carpe Diem:
Making The Most of Your First Year 299
12 Keep Up the Good Work:
Employment After College 317
13 Do Unto Others:
Non Profit and Public Sector Careers 331
50 Schools You Should Know About
Midwest 346
Northeast 356
South 365
Southeast 375
West 386
Acknowledgments 397
Notes 400
