What’s the Problem with How the College Selection Process Works Today?
The current colleges selection process is still very much based on parent-biased paradigms and campus tour euphoria. When recounting the college selection process, most parents still talk about how their child’s experience compared to their own (25 – 35 years ago), the school’s reputation (based on no measurable data) and how a campus “just felt right” during a campus tour.
Even when families attempt to do more due diligence on schools, they find most independent college websites and printed guides are not that helpful. Four pound printed college guides and websites filled with misinformation only further confuse the college selection process.
Take a Look at Parents’ Concerns:
- The value of a 4 year college education is being questioned – in the press and in parents’ minds. Only 40% of parents say the higher education system provides good value.
- Parents want their child to graduate on time. College is expensive and taking more time to graduate only increases the cost. 61% of liberal arts students will graduate in 4 years – these schools are design to make that happen. Outside of these schools, less than half of students will graduate within 5 years.
- Parents and students don’t trust campus produced marketing materials. 27% of first-year students felt the admissions or recruitment materials did not accurately portray life on campus.
The Liberal Arts Difference
We believe the real purpose of college should be to develop students into life long learners who are open to challenges and handle adversity well; students who are capable of creative problem solving and use technology as an integral part of the problem solving process.
A liberal arts degree sets students up for long-term career success. This is because a liberal arts education prepares students for a workplace that is constantly changing. These students learn communication skills, analytic skills, the ability to work in a team and a strong work ethic – all in-line with what employers are looking for.
There Must Be a Better Way to Find a School
We provide better information from an independent, authentic and credible third party source. We discuss the value of an education from a liberal arts college and provide students and parents with insights into life on campus and the true educational experience.
The site includes college rankings different than any other and also college comparison articles – putting in black and white the real differences between schools (based on current student input) previously thought indistinguishable by families.
Our research and publishing efforts are guided by our Board of Advisors made up of liberal arts college leaders.
Perhaps most importantly, we make it easy for students to discover schools that are a great fit and they would not have previously considered in their search.
We invite you to take a look around the site, learn more and get clarity on your college choice.
We look forward to your feedback.
The LiberalArtsColleges.com Team
