Choosing a college is a huge decision, and there are so many things to consider. One college admissions officer suggests using the “three rates” for each college to make sure you’ll make the right choice.
University of Richmond dean of admission and associate VP Gil Villanueva tells the New York Times:
I’ll have [my son] track what I call the “three rates” for each college. The first is the retention rate: Are students returning as sophomores? Because if they are, then I make the argument that they have had a very good experience, their needs are met. Next is the graduation rate. A fifth or a sixth year in a college represents forgone income or time that you are not in graduate school — and you are not going to get that back. The last rate is the placement rate or “student outcomes.” What are students doing six months, a year or five years after graduation? Are they employed, are they in graduate school, what type of companies or organizations do they work for? The three rates gives parents and students peace of mind that they’ve done their research.
You can find these answers by contacting the school’s admission office or even with just a quick web search.
If it’s good enough advice for a dean of admission’s own kid, it’s probably good for yours. Villanueva also suggests using a spreadsheet to compare what your student wants to get out of college against what he or she finds when visiting the school.
Advice College Admissions Officers Give Their Own Kids | The New York Times
Photo by JoeInSouthernCA.
University of Richmond dean of admission and associate VP Gil Villanueva tells the New York Times:
I’ll have [my son] track what I call the “three rates” for each college. The first is the retention rate: Are students returning as sophomores? Because if they are, then I make the argument that they have had a very good experience, their needs are met. Next is the graduation rate. A fifth or a sixth year in a college represents forgone income or time that you are not in graduate school — and you are not going to get that back. The last rate is the placement rate or “student outcomes.” What are students doing six months, a year or five years after graduation? Are they employed, are they in graduate school, what type of companies or organizations do they work for? The three rates gives parents and students peace of mind that they’ve done their research.
You can find these answers by contacting the school’s admission office or even with just a quick web search.
If it’s good enough advice for a dean of admission’s own kid, it’s probably good for yours. Villanueva also suggests using a spreadsheet to compare what your student wants to get out of college against what he or she finds when visiting the school.
Advice College Admissions Officers Give Their Own Kids | The New York Times
Photo by JoeInSouthernCA.