JT Education

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IT education in India is a much opted study option for maximum numbers of students. The drastic growth in IT sector has further enhanced the requirement for more IT experts in the country. The increasing demand for IT experts further provides a direct impact on IT education in India. Through this article, let us have a look at how HCL CDC as an IT institute plays a primary role while imparting IT education in India to budding aspirants. From career counseling to placement assistance, HCL CDC is one such IT institute which imparts quality and standard IT training to its students.

HCL CDC’s role in IT education in India

HCL CDC plays an important role while imparting training for IT education in India. Every year, the institute prepares thousands of IT professionals by grooming their skills and training them to become experts in various IT sectors. HCL CDC’s approach of imparting IT education in India is different from other IT institutes. The following paragraphs will throw more light upon why HCL CDC is a preferred choice amongst the list of IT institutes in India.

Career Development Facilities at HCL CDC

Nowadays, a mere training for a particular IT course is not sufficient. Students are expected to have all-round knowledge about work place, corporate culture along with technical knowledge right during their training period. Every organization expects an IT passed out to be well versed in his related field of training as well as in related corporate skills. Career Development programs are specially designed to prepare students with extra knowledge and skill about work culture, etiquette and career enhancing techniques. Though the technical skill is mandatory, these things also count while shaping a successful career of any candidate.   HCL CDC stands apart from other IT institutes particularly for its career development facilities. A wide range of career development facilities are provided at HCL CDC to assist IT students to launch a rewarding career in IT sector no sooner than they complete their IT training. A list of career development programs offered at HCL CDC include-

- Skill development in India

- Industrial training in India

-Enterprise learning solutions

- Corporate training in India

- Project training

HCL CDC’s approach is not just to prepare good IT experts but also to provide the best of IT training to its students through meticulously planned strategies of IT education. Be it infrastructure or training modules, everything at HCL CDC is but technologically sound. In terms of placement assistance, HCL CDC is at par with every reputed IT institute in the country. That is why every year; thousands of happy faces leave HCL CDC campus with job offers from various renowned IT organizations.

Too busy with work or at home, yet you aspire for an education career. Then opting for an online education degree is the right way to proceed.

If you love teaching and coaching children something new, then an education degree is your right choice. Maybe you could spend most of the time with cute and innocent toddlers or at kindergarten teaching them nursery rhymes, alphabets, numbers… or doing something exclusive like teaching disabled students who require special skills. This would definitely be a much satisfactory activity disregarding the money factor which could vary upon your institution of service.

An online education degree will prove to be interesting and highly creative. You will be guided through your degree with many interesting presentations, videos, lectures and even books. While at it you can even be in touch and interact with your professors and other fellow students as well. At the same time you can be assured of being trained in problem solving, thinking skills and practical teaching experience as well.

Depending upon your area of interest you could opt for elementary education, middle school education, adult education, distance and online education, special education and educational administration too. Some of these subjects are highly sensitive and need lot of understanding and attention. The degrees you could opt for range of Associate’s in Education, Bachelor’s in Education, Master’s Degrees in Education and Doctorates in Education as well.

Opting for online education degree makes it possible to realize your goals and you can head for a career in teaching or administration job in an educational institution. The degrees could be associate or bachelor’s education degree or Advanced Education Degree such as a Master’s or doctorate degrees too.

If you accomplish an associate online education degree you stand a chance to become a pre school teacher, kindergarten teacher, special education teacher or a child care administrator to name a few. While on the other hand, if you have an advanced degree, you stand the chance to gain a position of an educational writer, vice principal, school administrator, counselor or after school activities director.

An online education degree is the right way to earn your education degree especially if you are already occupied with another career or looking after your growing children and home. An online education degree gives the extra edge to your qualifications and thus a much needed boost to your career in education.

The ability to obtain an online education degree has opened the educational doors for many students who cannot afford to attend school on campus as a full-time student.  Distance learning courses definitely provide some advantages over the traditional college education. But, because of the methods of delivering and receiving the material, students must consider the 7 things necessary in approaching an online education successfully.

1. Choosing the best education online institution – Make sure the institute for higher education chosen has adequate resources and accreditation recognized by the proper authorities.  Unless authenticity can be verified, find another school.  Sadly, unscrupulous degree mills offer degrees with short-term or no real education. Thus, the diplomas are bogus and absolutely worthless. Find a school that provides solid education, ample student support, and the facilities necessary to succeed in your distance learning.

2. Evaluate the cost and benefits – Generally, obtaining an online education is a costly venture. Most people do not realize the cost is often more than a traditional education.  So, it is important to evaluate the desired online education degree, and determine whether the benefit of future income opportunities will offer the reward for gaining an online degree.

3. How do employers view an online education degree? – There are many instances where employers were skeptical about the legitimacy of online education degrees. With so many “diploma mills” out there, it’s warranted for employers to be cautious. Although an online education degree might be legit, it would be very helpful to the employer if you provided the type of accreditation your college has beforehand to avoid any misunderstanding. By letting the employer know in advance that your institution was accredited by an institution that is recognized by CHEA and US department of Education, you will be a step ahead in qualifying for that dream job.

4. Discipline, determination, and time – First time distance learning students are often surprised by the amount of discipline necessary to stay on task and complete the online assignment.  It takes unfaltering determination to achieve an online education. In addition, without regularly scheduled classes, it is essential to exercise good time management skills. To keep focused, without the physical presence of educator and peers, it is important to establish communication with other students to have another push toward success in your education degree online

5. Utilize all the facilities provided – Online courses generally provide online lectures and email correspondence to ensure a means of communication with instructors, tutors, and fellow students.  Take advantage of every opportunity to utilize these resources of motivation and encouragement, as well as establish a sense of connection with the college or university.

6. Make use of credit transfers – Many online education degree colleges allow students to transfer their credits from courses they took in previous colleges, whether online or traditional. By doing this, it means students don’t have to repeat courses they learnt before. For this to be effected, it’s important for a student who intends to pursue an education online to make sure they get transcripts and results from their previous universities or colleges and make them available to their accredited online college so they can be passed as transfer credits.

7. Make use of the educational technology – Accredited online universities offer a plethora of opportunities for doing necessary research and other facilities to ensure adequate completion of the course.  Normally, the cost of virtual libraries, the programs to access online lectures, and even student online access and e-mail accounts are factored into the cost of the course. Therefore, it only makes sense to use all the technology available to make the most of the educational opportunity in achieving an online education degree.

If you are young and inexperienced, you are likely to find yourself at the career crossroads where you are not sure which way to go. It is quite a common problem and can have serious impact on your future. In todays highly competitive market it is essential for one to choose the career path with serious considerations.

Web designing is a field that is rapidly flourishing and therefore is attracting many young professionals towards it. The web designers are highly in demand for both domestic and foreign companies. Web designing however isn’t offered in traditional college curriculum and therefore aspiring candidates are required to depend upon the professional training institutes for web design training course. Hence, if you are a young professional and want to join the web design industry, here is how you may find the right web design training course for yourself.

Determine your interest: Although the web design market in growing that necessarily doesn’t mean that it is the right industry for you. As basic qualities a web designer should possess set of skills like artistic bent of mind, knowledge of drawing and color schemes and the like. A web design training course can offer you only the knowledge of technology required for web designing.

Ask suggestions: If you have not yet determined which institute to join then you can seek suggestions from friends and peers regarding the best web design training course available in the market.

Career fairs: Career fairs are now quite popular worldwide. In such fairs professional training institutes, colleges and universities from different parts of the world gather to attract aspiring students. You can compare the web design training course offered by various institutes by visiting their stalls. This will help you make an informed decision.

Search online: You can now find a web design training course through search engines. You can search online with terms like – “web design courses” to find a right option. You may visit the websites of the web design training course providers as well for more information on their courses.

Career forums: If you are not sure which web design training course to pursue you may ask your questions on the online forums. There are many career forums available online where the likeminded professionals gather to share their knowledge and expertise.

Talk to industry experts: You can also talk to the industry experts regarding their views on best web design training course. They can also enlighten you on the ongoing market trend in the industry.

Compare courses: Compare the course content of different institutes and choose the one that would best suit your needs. You may also take into account the scopes of advance learning with the institute at the time of joining. Also take into account their infrastructural facilities, faculty strength, industrial recognition as deciding factors.  

As we are getting more dependent on the web based world the demand for skilled web designers are likely to grow in the future. The demand for web design training course would also grow along with, which is likely to encourage many more professional institutes to offer such courses. Students therefore have to be more careful in choosing the most appropriate web design training institute.

Forensic psychology is a relatively new discipline, having only been formally recognized as a specialization within psychology by the American Psychological Association in 2001. Recently, many specialty schools and universities have started offering forensic psychology bachelor degrees, master’s degrees and doctorate degrees that are tailored to students’ specific career goals. One such institution is Argosy University.

As forensic psychology is a dual discipline incorporating psychology and law, many professionals have doctorate degrees in psychology and certified are as forensic psychologist by the American Board of Forensic Psychology. A practitioner in this field is normally appointed as an expert witness by a court in a certain jurisdiction based on his or her specialization and experience. For example, a forensic psychologist can be called in as an expert witness in a family court, civil court or criminal court.

Choosing the right graduate program in forensic psychology can be confusing considering the many programs available and the numerous areas of specialization offered. The choice of graduate program depends primarily on a student’s career choice. Master’s degree programs are suitable for those who want to pursue a career in criminal investigation or law enforcement.

Students who want to practice as a forensic psychologist should pursue a doctorate degree. Some universities offer master’s programs in psychology specializing in legal systems or criminal justice, and some institutions offer degrees in forensic psychology specializing in counseling or family law. The options are limitless, depending on a student’s interest and career choice.

Many institutions offer online classes in forensic psychology, which is very attractive to those who are working or not able to physically attend classes due to extenuating circumstances. Argosy University offers online programs designed for optimal interaction and learning, taught by teachers with real-world experience.

Some universities offer grants or scholarships for their graduate program students. Certain associations and psychology foundations offer scholarships or grants based on specific areas of study. These include the American Psychological Foundation, American Academy of Forensic Psychology and American Bar Association.

Forensic psychology is an interesting field; it is also one that requires serious dedication, hard work and commitment in order to fully attain the level of an expertice on the job. Choosing the right graduate program is certainly crucial in launching a stellar career.

Career Development has become a primary responsibility and an essential requirement for every individual in any organization. A profound career development skill can help an individual to meet the constantly changing needs of the market.

Career Development can be discussed under two perspectives- organizational and personal career development. Organizational development looks at how concerned individuals manage their careers within and between organizations. Personal career development aims at individual career development to bridge his skills with his career objectives.

Decision making is one of the toughest obstacles that an individual faces before he finally gives a kick start to his career. A right Career Development Centre can provide a great deal of help and support while launching one’s career. An individual’s career skill varies from another. So, choosing a right career needs proper counselling and lots of research works. An ideal Career Development Centre will help you sort out your professional skills, launching your career towards a right track. For a successful career path, it’s advisable to take counseling and guidelines from a renowned career development centre.

Why Career Development Centre has become a great demand in the market?

Career Development Centre has become a great demand in the market because:

It provides individual learning solutions and job search services Provides unique enterprise learning solutions for career oriented students and professionals Affords learning solutions for students, employees, academic institutions etc Provides help in decision making strategies for individuals Assists you to take charge and supervise your future Moves forwards your career, add new skills, or build up abilities

Computer Training Centre as one of the wings of Career Development Centre

Computer Training Centre has also been considered as one of the wings of Career Development Centers. Whether you want to launch a career in IT or upgrade your current desktop skill set, Computer Training Centres provide you with the right training programme to allow you achieve the desired goals. There are various computer training centres in the market that provide rich and compelling computer knowledge. Most of these computer training centres provide Red Hat certificate to ensure the privacy of communications. Red Hat Certificate system abridges enterprise-wide operation and implementation of a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).

The science of career development may take a new shape or role. However, with a wide range of career options for everyone, the further need for Career Development Centres will keep increasing day by day.

What you need to know about financial aid BEFORE choosing a college.

With the high cost of a college education, no one wants to pay more than they must. Yet thousands of families pay too much for college every year because they don’t understand the basics of financial aid and don’t know the right questions to ask. So let’s learn what questions to ask.

Basics Part I

There are three types of financial aid for college: grants or scholarships, loans and work-study.

Grants and scholarships are free money that you do not need to pay back.

Most grants and scholarships come from the federal and state government or from the individual college.

Loans need to be paid back after college.

There are many loan programs available from the federal and state government. Most of these loans have fairly low interest rates. There are also private loans available although these generally have a higher interest rate.

Work-study is a job offered on the campus of the college.

Basics Part II

Need based aid vs Merit based aid

Need based aid is given by all colleges to students who have need. Anyone who can’t pay the full cost of the college has need.

A form called the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) determines the amount of need for federal grants and scholarships. Many highly selective colleges also require a form known as the Profile form The FAFSA form is filled out after January 1 of the year the student will first attend college.

The FAFSA and Profile forms ask questions about the income of the parents and student using information that you gave on your tax returns. These forms also ask questions about the amount of money you have in savings or investments. The Profile form is more detailed than the FAFSA form. Once these forms are completed the government uses the FAFSA form to determine how much your family can pay for college. This is your expected family contribution or your EFC. Your EFC is the same regardless of the cost of the college. Similarly the individual colleges who use the Profile use that form to determine what your family can pay for college.

Your need is the cost of the college you are looking at minus your EFC. For example, if you are looking at a college that costs ,000 a year and your EFC is ,000, your need at that college is ,000. If you are looking at a college that costs ,000 a year your EFC is still ,000. Your need at this college is ,000.

Merit-based aid includes scholarships typically for students who have good grades or have some other special talent such as athletic or musical talent. Most highly selective colleges offer little or no merit-based aid.

Finally, in looking at colleges you should ignore the cost of the college. Yes, you read that right. Ignore the stated cost of the college when you are first deciding which colleges to investigate further. You will see why later in this article.

So now you know the basics. Now comes the fun part: How to save money by asking the right questions.

Questions to ask the colleges

Question 1- What percent of my need do you meet?

Remember that EFC, or expected family contribution that the FAFSA determined? Some colleges will meet 100% of your need. Need again is defined as the cost of the college minus your EFC. So what does it mean if a college says they will meet 100% of your need? It means that once the FAFSA or Profile form has determined how much you can pay for college, the college will pay 100% of the rest of the bill.

Colleges will typically meet the need you have using a combination of grants, loans and work study. Most colleges will award work study and loans first and if there is a need after that, the remaining need will be supplied by grants. The colleges will typically have a standard loan and work study amount that they award and you should ask about what these numbers are when investigating the college.

Let’s see an example of a financial aid award from a college that provides 100% of need with a student who has an EFC of ,000.

Total cost of college ,000

Expected family contribution $ 5,000

Need ,000

Financial aid award

Work study $ 2,000

Loans $ 4,000

Grants $ 29,000

At a college that meets 100% of your need you pay ,000.

But what happens if the college doesn’t meet 100% of need?

Many less selective colleges don’t pay the total amount of need that their students have. Let’s use the example of our imaginary college from above only this time assume that the school only provides 90% of need.

Total cost of college ,000

Families expected contribution $ 5,000

Need ,000

This college only provides 90% of the ,000 need or ,500. Thus, your out of pocket expenses are the ,000 EFC plus an additional ,500 for a total cost of ,500.

This example makes it easy to see why a school that meets 100% of need is often a better financial aid “deal” than a school who doesn’t meet all of the families need.

Many of the most expensive private colleges meet 100% of the students need while cheaper public colleges usually meet less than 100% of the need. This means that for many students it can be cheaper to go to an expensive private college than to attend a cheaper state school. Until you know what percent of need the college meets, don’t eliminate a college from consideration just because it is expensive.

Question 2- Do you have merit based aid?

Many colleges that don’t meet 100% of a students need do offer scholarships for some students. If your student is near the top of the application pool for a less selective college they may get some money if they qualify for merit based aid. Thus, in some cases, if the student is willing to look at a less selective college, they may get a better financial aid package. Here are some questions you should ask if the college provides merit aid.

How many merit awards are available?

What is the value of the merit awards available?

What are the qualifications to receive one of these merit awards?

This works even for families that don’t qualify for need based aid at all. If your student can qualify for a merit based award you won’t need to pay the full stated cost of the college.

Question 3- How is financial aid determined after the first year?

Some colleges have a policy of providing good financial aid for the first year and then substantially reducing the grant aid in the following years while increasing the loans. You should ask the college in which you are interested how they determine financial aid after the first year and what the average loan is after the first year. While it is typical that the amount of loans will increase each year if the increase is substantial you will want to take that into consideration.

Question 4- What is the average loan amount at graduation of those students who have loans?

This question will give you the best indication of the amount of loans that this college requires compared to other colleges in which you may be interested. Although most students will have some loans when they graduate, you don’t want this amount to be any more than necessary.

Question 5- What is your policy regarding outside scholarships?

Most colleges will subtract money earned in outside scholarships from your financial aid package. Some colleges will reduce the loan burden by the amount of the scholarship, but other colleges will reduce your grant money. If the college reduces the amount of loans you have to take out that is a benefit to you. There is no benefit to you if the college reduces the grant aid.

Question 6- What is your packaging policy?

Most colleges give a financial aid package that includes grant money, loans and work study. But each college combines this money differently. Specifically you want to know:

What percentage of an aid package from your college is grant vs. self-help (loans, work study)?

The greater amount of grants versus loans and work study the better for the student.

Do you have a preferential packaging policy?

Preferential packaging occurs when a college gives a better financial aid package to a student with a stronger academic background than to another student with the same financial need but with a weaker academic background..

Question 7- What is your four year graduation rate?

What difference does a college’s four year graduation rate make? This is an important question that many people never consider. Another way to phrase this is, How many years of college am I going to have to pay for? If the college has a high four year graduation rate, you will most likely only have to pay for four years of college. However, if the college graduates most students in six years then you can plan on paying for six years of college, not four.

Conclusion

Now that you know something about financial aid, including the questions to ask each college you are considering, you can make an informed decision in paying for a college education and hopefully also save some money.

In trying to decide what type of college will best meet your wants and needs there are many things to consider. Listed below are some of the factors you will need to consider in deciding where you want to go to college.

Type of institution- Private or Public. College or University. Church sponsored.

Colleges can be either public or private. Public colleges are those that are supported by the state in which they are located. Many highly ranked colleges in the United States are state-supported institutions. These colleges can often provide an excellent education at a price for an in-state resident that is much less than comparable private colleges. At the early stages of your investigation, I would encourage you to consider both private and public colleges.

While private colleges frequently cost more than comparable state institutions, they often have the financial means to offer generous need-based or scholarship-based financial aid. This aid can make the cost of a private college the same or less than attending your state college.

Many of the more selective private universities and colleges have a religious affiliation. The extent of spiritual influence varies. But at the beginning of your college search, we strongly encourage you to investigate all private colleges, regardless of religious affiliation.

Academics- What courses and majors are you looking for

The most important reason for going to college is to get an education. The type of academic atmosphere and variety of courses studied is an important factor to be considered when choosing a college. Be careful, however, of choosing a college based solely on it having a particular major or field of study. Research shows that 90% of all college graduates do not major in the field of study they originally had intended. This happens for several reasons.

First, most colleges have majors in subjects you have never before studied such as political science or anthropology. Second, as you gain experience and maturity in college, your interests may change. Take time to explore your options and be realistic about your talents. Be sure to pursue a course of study that is of genuine interest to you, not just one you think might lead to a good career.

If you do have a strong interest in a particular area, such as science, it is important to evaluate a college’s facilities and offerings in those areas to make sure they have adequate resources. Remember that many smaller colleges may not offer majors in certain professional fields, such as engineering, business, or physical therapy. If you are certain of a specific field of study, be sure that the colleges and universities you are considering offer that major.

Don’t exclude a smaller college, however, simply because you think the resources may be inadequate. Remember that all of the resources of a college are available to its undergraduate students whereas at a large university, many of the specialized equipment might be reserved for graduate students only. Some of the largest producers of PhD’s in this country are small colleges.

Atmosphere- Liberal, conservative or something in between

Each college has a particular atmosphere or environment that affects the “feel” of the college. Many factors go into creating a college’s atmosphere including such things as how the colleges handle student questions, concerns, and scheduling; whether there is an academic or less serious mood among the students and the level of campus activity regarding social issues.

Every campus will have a different feel. What is important is to determine if the campus atmosphere will be comfortable for you as a person. The best advice regarding student life is to look for an intellectual and social climate in which you will feel comfortable and challenged.

The type of atmosphere a college offers can best be discovered by visiting the campus and talking to as many people as you can. Until you have an opportunity to do that the next best option is to read everything you can find about the college in which you are interested.

Student body and gender- Co-ed college or single sex

A student body can be comprised of all men, all women, or both men and women. Students who may worry about a single sex college should know that today virtually all colleges have exchange programs with other colleges whereby a student from one college may cross register at another college to take courses for credit. Also dorm privileges, social activities, and extracurricular opportunities will vary by the composition of the student body.

Setting- Where do you want to live

The physical environment of the college may be very important to you. Some people prefer the social and cultural activities of a large city. A major metropolitan area can offer many benefits, but a student must adjust to the lifestyle of a big city. A college or university that is located in the heart of a city is often comprised of multi-storied classroom buildings and high-rise dormitories.

Others want to go to college in a more rural setting. There are many colleges and universities that are in rural settings with campuses located many miles from the nearest large city. Many institutions are located close to, but not in large cities. The decision of a location and campus setting should ultimately include those colleges where you will be most comfortable living the next four years of your life.

Other factors to consider are the expense of travel, the need for independence versus the desire to stay near your family, and the effects of living in a particular climate.

Size- Large university or small college

The following are generalizations, so if some of these areas are of concern, ask questions at the colleges you are considering:

A large university (15,000-50,000+ students) may offer a variety of academic opportunities including elaborate facilities and large libraries, as well as the stimulation of a large faculty, graduate students and undergraduates. However, housing may be more difficult to obtain, more courses may be taught by graduate students, lecture sessions may be very large, and opportunities for leadership in campus organizations may be diminished.

A medium-sized university (5,000-15,000 students) may offer fewer majors and more modest facilities than a large university, but also may offer greater opportunities to participate in the activities of your choice.

Small colleges (under 5,000 students) usually offer smaller classes, earlier opportunities to take classes with well-known professors, and more chances for participation and leadership in campus activities. However, facilities and classes may be limited and options for activities and diversity reduced.

Location- Where do you want to spend the next 4 years

When considering the possible locations of your future colleges, consider questions such as:

How important is it for me to attend college close to home?

How much do I value attending college with students of different geographic backgrounds?

How frequently do I anticipate going home during the academic year?

How extensively does the weather affect my studies or quality of life?

Consider whether you would prefer a geographically diverse student body, or a regional community of students from more homogeneous backgrounds.

Campus life- What happens on campus when people aren’t in class

Whether you enjoy your college years will often depend on the experience of living on a college campus. Learning in college comes not only from your class work but also through interacting with your college friends, extracurricular activities, and just hanging out in the dorm. Here are some factors that can affect your college experience.

Housing Living on-campus for the first few years of their college experience is important for many students. Dormitories can become a focus of college campus life and the easiest way to meet new friends. If it is an important consideration for you, remember to ask any college in which you are interested about the availability of on-campus housing for all four years. Some colleges only have enough housing for the first year or two of the college experience.

Extracurricular activities The extracurricular activities you engage in are not only fun but can be part of your learning experience. Look at the view books of the colleges to see what activities are available. Talk to people at the colleges you are considering to find out what activities are popular on that campus. Many colleges have 100 or more groups for students with a variety of interests. Also ask about how easy it is to start a new group if you have a particular interest not currently represented on the campus.

Fraternities and Sororities The presence of a Greek system can have a dramatic effect on campus life. Ask people on campus about how the fraternities and sororities affect the social life of any college in which you are interested. Do they dominate the social scene or is it spread between many different groups? Can anyone go to a Greek party or are the limited only to certain students?

Campus Employment Many students will hold a part-time job on or off campus while enrolled full time in college. Talk to current students about the availability of jobs and what types of jobs students typically get. With budget cutbacks, some colleges are starting to limit the number of jobs available to students on campus. If you need to have a job but have to seek one off campus, think about the time involved in getting to such a job and the additional costs of transportation.

Athletics- Are big time athletics important to you.

Many students who engage in high college athletics may want to continue to play that sport in college. College students participate at three levels: intramural, club, and intercollegiate. Intramural play is most common. Intramurals allow students to compete at a variety of different levels of competition with a primary emphasis on enjoying the sport for personal fitness, relaxation, and fun. Club sport teams are usually jointly sponsored by students and the college, and may compete against other colleges’ club teams.

Intercollegiate athletics is the university equivalent of varsity-level sports. These programs are categorized by the NCAA into three divisions of varying degrees of competition: Division I, Division II, and Division III.

Selectivity- How hard is it to get into a college.

Your academic performance in a challenging, rigorous program of study is the most important factor in determining your admissibility to colleges. Admission committees value a consistent level of achievement over four years, but they also give strong weight to students who demonstrate significant improvement over the course of their academic career. While your grades are the most obvious indication of potential future success, colleges also want to see that students have challenged themselves in a competitive, demanding academic program throughout their entire high college career. The more honor and AP courses you are able to take successfully, the stronger candidate you will be. Does that mean that you should take AP courses even if the material if too difficult for you? No. But most admission committees will give more weight to a B in an AP course than an A in a much simpler course.

Standardized testing also plays a critical role in admissions. Virtually all colleges will accept either the SAT I or the ACT. Many of the highly selective colleges also require or recommend SAT II subject test. The most important thing to keep in mind for each of the colleges you are considering is their ‘middle 50%’ range of testing. While a quarter of admitted students have scores either above or below this test range, such a median range will give a general indication of the strength of the applicant pool and how you compare.

After looking at your academic performance and your test scores, most selective colleges will then look at subjective factors such as your recommendations, your essays and your extracurricular activities. The amount of weight given to these subjective factors varies from college to college.

Financial aid- If I do get in, how am I going to pay for the college.

Financial aid may consist of grants or scholarships, loans and work study. Grants and scholarships are money that does not need to be repaid while loans need to be repaid. Work study is generally a job offered on the campus of the college offering the financial aid although it may also be a job off campus.

There are many forms of financial aid available. The most basic financial aid offered at all colleges is need-based. Need-based financial aid is given to families who demonstrate financial eligibility using nationally standardized needs-analysis forms, such as the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) and the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile. Demonstration of financial eligibility is determined through detailed review of a family’s net assets, salary, investment income, liabilities, home equity, and other factors.

Some colleges also offer merit-based assistance. Such financial assistance comes in the form of scholarships for students who have achieved superior levels of academic excellence or offer some special talent in the performing arts or athletics.

While cost is undoubtedly very important, do not limit your choice of colleges to only those you can afford without financial assistance. Many of the more expensive private colleges have substantial financial aid programs, which may cover much of the cost, and ultimately result in a cost to you the same as a cheaper state college. A good plan would be to choose several colleges, including one you can afford and several for which you need aid. Although financial aid may seem uncertain at times, limiting prospective colleges on a cost basis alone may exclude some excellent colleges from your list.