Reasons Students Select Colleges What factors are believed to have the greatest influence on a student applying to and eventually enrolling in a college? The American College Freshman Study, conducted annually by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, offers the views of the 2008-09 freshman class with respect to this question. The current study, released in January, cited the following reasons: College has a good academic reputation 65% Graduates get good jobs 54% College offer of financial aid 43% Campus visit prior to application 41% Cost of enrollment 40% Social atmosphere and reputation 38% Enrollment size 38% Suggesting a heightened sensitivity to costs and affordability, the two factors that address cost and financial aid both increased in importance over the previous freshman class (2007-08). Specifically, the cost of enrollment moved up the list from seventh most influential factor to fifth and the college's offer of financial aid increased from 39% to 43% in the one year period. Bound-For-College Guidebook Is Off the Press Frank Burtnett's new book, the Bound-For-College Guidebook is now available from Rowman & Littlefield Education. This comprehensive guide to college exploration, decision-making and application strategies can be purchased through the publisher's web site. Unique to this student guide are the Frequently Asked Question (FAQs) about college admission and financial aid. This guide contains a series of student exercises that engage the reader in his or her personal journey to college. Go to the www.ednow.org website and click on the book link at the top of the homepage.http://education-portal.com/articles/The_Twelve_Coolest_College_Scholarships.html R. Russell Shunk (former Dean of Admissions at Dickinson College, Pennsylvania) said of the new book: "There are a number of books about the college admission process on shelves all over this country. Frank Burtnett has written one that will be on desks, open and used." Quotable Quotes from Notable People "Right now, three-quarters of the fastest-growing occupations require more than a high school diploma." -President Barack Obama in his address before a joint session of Congress on February 24, 2009. FAQ ~ Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Careers and Colleges Question: I've heard that some scholarships are awarded for very strange reasons. Is this accurate? Answer: Most scholarships are either merit-based or need-based. Merit-based awards address specific achievements, skills or accomplishments that the donor wishes to recognize. Often, merit scholarships focus on academic (GPA) or personal (music, writing, etc.) talents. Need-based scholarships, on the other hand, take into account the student and family economic situation and their ability to pay the costs of college attendance. Students and parents may be surprised to discover what a thorough search of scholarship opportunities might unearth. A small number of scholarships have a very narrow, highly restricted applicant base. Carnegie Mellon University, for example, offers four scholarships to bagpipe players. The Vegetarian Resource Group scholarships are awarded to vegetarians who advance the cause of vegetarianism. Not to be outdone, the National Beef Ambassador scholarships go to future spokespersons for the cattle industry. There are even scholarships for experts at duck calling. The list goes on and on. Maybe you know someone who has the unique interest or unusual talent associated with these "out of the mainstream" scholarships. To learn more, go to:   Great Web Resources - Just Point Your Mouse and Go! Are your clients concerned about the money management skills of their college-bound daughters and sons? The National Endowment for Financial Education has produced "40 Money Management Tips Every College Student Should Know," and makes it available at the organization's website. Go to: http://www.smartaboutmoney.org/portals/1/resourcecenter/40moneytips07.pdf Ask Dr. Burtnett - Tips College Financial Planners Can Use With Clients The college-bound students in your clientele will benefit from your knowledge of the college admission and financial aid process. At the "Ask Dr. Burtnett" link at www.ednow.org you will find monthly tips to share with students and parents. Postings have dealt with everything from admission essays to campus visits to scholarship scams. Don't miss this excellent opportunity to learn more about the school-to-college transition. "Ask Dr. Burtnett" can be found at:http://www.ednow.org/id43.html.   © Education Now, 2009. Dr. Frank Burtnett is a regular contributor to both the NICCP member and student/parent newsletters. A career-long counselor, teacher and former executive director of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), he is the president of Education Now, a consulting firm and publisher with offices in Springfield, Virginia and Rockport, Maine. Frank also trains future counselors as a member of the counselor education faculty of the School of Education and Human Services at Marymount University in Arlington, Virginia.