243.Unstack the Odds--GO TO COLLEGE: STEP 2

Unstack the Odds: Help All Kids Access College—and Graduate!

by
Joe Rottenborn
Executive Director, Mahoning Valley College Access Program (MVCAP)

18. GO TO COLLEGE: STEP 2

2) Begin a college search by determining which schools may best suit desired areas of study and academic programs as well as family finances.

7. Once you've determined your career interest(s), seek schools that offer your desired area(s) of study.

8. For information on colleges in Northeast Ohio, click this link: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/41-colleges-in-northeast-ohio.html

9. You may be interested in reading the Huffington Post article by Steve Leveen, "College: It's not where you get in, but how you come out," at http://bit.ly/aP1M0x

10. To read the article "When Choosing A College, What Really Matters? click: http://www.unigo.com/articles/when_choosing_a_college,_what_really_matters%5E63/?taxonomyId=760028

11. To read the article "Price of education is likely debt," click on this link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-07-23-comcol-debt_N.htm?csp=usat.me

12. To see some hazards of taking on too much loan-debt for college, click: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/43-student-loan-debt-part-ii.html

13. To see all Ohio colleges and universities, use that link under "OBR" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

14. To see "Best Colleges 2010," use that link under "U.S. News & World Report" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

15. For "Historically Black Colleges & Universities," look under "U.S. News" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

16. For Part 2: "Answers on Historically Black Colleges and Universities," click this link: http://nyti.ms/bIpeWz

17. To see "National University Rankings," look under "U.S. News & World Report" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

18. To see "Liberal Arts Rankings," look under "U.S.News & World Report" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

19. To explore "Colleges That Change Lives," hit the link "CTCL Members" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

20. To see "Christian Colleges & Universities," try the link "Member Schools" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

21. For "National Catholic College Admission Assoc.,"use "Search for a school" in the left margin of our MVCAP blog: http://mvcap.blogspot.com/

22. To continue your college search, think how close to home you want to stay; how large a school you'd like; & do you prefer public or private?

23. An important consideration in any college search is whether you can afford--with need-based & merit financial aid--a particular college.

24. One of the hazards in doing a college search today is neglecting to consider the "mountain of debt" you may be accumulating at some schools.

25. Maybe the key question to ask yourself about a college search is this one: in which school(s) can I not just survive--but really thrive!

26. Learn about your schools of interest at a free Virtual College Fair; register at http://www.collegeweeklive.com

27. GoodSearch or Google the Common Data Set for schools you're interested in; pay attention to Part C and H. To find out more, click this link:http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/42-common-data-set-cds.html

28. If you are considering Ohio State, you can access its Common Data Set (CDS): http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/42-common-data-set-cds.html

29. If you are considering Miami (OH), you can access its Common Data Set (CDS): http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/42-common-data-set-cds.html

30. If you are considering Ohio U., you can print out its Common Data Set (CDS): http://mvcap.blogspot.com/2010/03/42-common-data-set-cds.html

42. Common Data Set (CDS)

To find out important facts during your college search, you can usually do a GoodSearch or Google "Common Data Set" for the school(s) you are interested in; then, examine the data--particularly, in Part C (Admissions) and Part H (Financial Aid). For an example of a CDS--from "2008‐09 Common Data Set of The Ohio State University in Columbus"--click here:

http://oaa.osu.edu/irp/publisher_surveys/09ColumbusCDS.pdf

To see the Common Data Sets for Miami (OH) University, click this link: http://www.units.muohio.edu/OIR/CommonDataSet/CDSMain.htm

The recent CDS from Ohio University is at this PDF: http://www.ohio.edu/instres/commondataset.pdf

From the CDS website (http://www.commondataset.org/), here are words of explanation on the Common Data Set:

"The Common Data Set (CDS) initiative is a collaborative effort among data providers in the higher education community and publishers as represented by the College Board, Peterson's, and U.S. News & World Report. The combined goal of this collaboration is to improve the quality and accuracy of information provided to all involved in a student's transition into higher education, as well as to reduce the reporting burden on data providers.

This goal is attained by the development of clear, standard data items and definitions in order to determine a specific cohort relevant to each item. Data items and definitions used by the U.S. Department of Education in its higher education surveys often serve as a guide in the continued development of the CDS. Common Data Set items undergo broad review by the CDS Advisory Board as well as by data providers representing secondary schools and two- and four-year colleges. Feedback from those who utilize the CDS also is considered throughout the annual review process.

The CDS is a set of standards and definitions of data items rather than a survey instrument or set of data represented in a database. Each of the higher education surveys conducted by the participating publishers incorporates items from the CDS as well as unique items proprietary to each publisher. Consequently, the publishers' surveys differ in that they utilize varying numbers of items from the CDS.

Those who report data for their colleges are urged to abide by the definitions and the cohorts specified when answering CDS items. They are also urged to use the answers to CDS items when responding to the numerous survey requests they receive, by distributing photocopies of their answers, posting them on their web sites, or by other effective means."