As a result of advising and counseling hundreds of students in their college selection (as well as DURING their college experience), we encourage students to consider the following factors in their decision making process:

Parents, if you are contributing financially, these should be factors you strongly consider as well.

Critical Factors to assist in college success, avoid financial hardship, mature as an adult, and avoid predatory behavior:

1. Choose schools with apparent higher standards and/or Christian priorities in their formation and/or continued administration.
2. Note schools which have intercollegiate basketball, baseball, cross country, track, volleyball, and soccer.
3. Observe their academic reputation and ability to place students into careers immediately after graduation. Choose schools with higher standards for class attendance.
4. Observe schools with generous MERIT based scholarships, including scholarships for athletics, character, music, drama, etc. Note the ones who average granting 50% or more of the total cost of education.
5. Schools with single-sex dorms and even schools with NO co-ed dorms.
6. Prefer schools with a “NO SUBSTANCE” campus policy or at least substance-free dorms.
7. Learn about schools that require chapel, varying from 1x, 3x and daily chapels.  We found them to help motivate students as well as connect students with numerous influential people.. 
8. Learn your options from schools with majors that are very inspiring and career provoking.  Note the ones which offer everything from a variety of ministry careers to the arts, education, history, or outdoor careers.
9. Make sure they are update with numerous computer stations.  Compare the quality of the wireless networks and the number of stations each school has to ensure your access to technology at the school.
10. Know the difference between private and public schools, NAIA and Division III, and schools that make on-line classes available to assist in graduating in a timely manner.
11. And finally, DON'T be tricked when reading your financial aid package.  LOANS are not scholarships.  They will include it on your financial award paper but you have to pay those back after graduation (or after sitting out from attending for awhile).  It's important to keep your total loan obligations to $25,000 or less after completion of your degree - or basically the cost of an affordable car loan.

 
Realistic Expectations:
·             Full scholarships are primarily given to Division I athletes in football and basketball.
·             Some D-1 athletes in soccer, baseball or track will get CLOSE to a full scholarship if a top recruit.
·             Top recruits for a DIVISION II or NAIA I school receive full scholarships – minus the financial aid they receive…usually
              in basketball, women/s volleyball and football.
·             Division II or NAIA schools combine scholarships for ALL areas that you excel. This ALSO can add up to a "full"
              (academic, financial need, athletic, ROTC, leadership, the arts, work study, and/or minority grants).


Personal assistance is available for free by contacting us at :   johnsaucier@teamjam.org