The Geneva School

How to Choose a College
Click here to review a set of questions that will hopefully be helpful as you determine which colleges to apply to. The options you choose are just that—choices that you believe will best provide the academic environment and culture necessary for you to pursue your collegiate studies. There is no set of “right answers” that these questions presume. What is best for one family and student is not necessarily best for another. With that being said, however, the importance of a strong Christian fellowship group on campus and a student-friendly, biblically sound local church that is easily accessible should be high on your priority list.

Petersons StudentEdge
StudentEdge is a dynamic, highly personalized online resource center that helps students individually navigate the complex matrix of planning for life after high school. You will have access to a resume builder, college search, a career match, scholarships, financial aid, and online SAT/ACT test prep at no charge.

Please register for StudentEdge and set up a username and pass word. Please remember to always use passwords you will not forget!. The Geneva School Access Code is TCCUECFD

College Search

• College Board: www.collegeboard.com
• Fastweb: www.fastweb.com
• Princeton Review: www.review.com
• Peterson: www.petersons.com
• All American Colleges, Top Schools for Conservatives, Old-Fashioned Liberals, and People of Faith; ISI Books; ISBN: 1-932236-88-0 (published 2006)
• College Majors 101: www.collegemajors101.com (This site will give you virtual tours of colleges and universities. Each school is asked the same questions to help prevent bias in the presentation. They are really more like virtual profiles because the college stats are also there. It is fairly new so they are adding colleges almost every day.).
• Brain Track: www.braintrack.com Established in 1996, BrainTrack is cited by thousands of sites, including: universities like Stanford, Harvard, and Yale; libraries like the US Library of Congress; and publishers like the New York Times and Elsevier. Their site features a directory of over 10,000 higher education institutions from over 190 countries, thousands of which have original profiles. They also provide original articles on topics such as financial aid, accreditation, degrees, certifications, transfers, and studying in the US. There are no costs or registrations for linking to or using the information on BrainTrack.

College Applications

• How to Write a College Application Essay, by Margaret Metzger
• Common Application: allows a student to fill out one application form and recommendation form for filing at more than one college or university. While more than 200 selective colleges and universities accept the Common Application, many require a supplement, which can be accessed from their web sites.

How to Write a College Resume
Here is a sample resume to help you get an idea of what you may brainstorm and put into your own resume. You are highly encouraged to develope your own style/format. Everyone is different, so make it your own.

Here are some general resume builder rules:

• Format the document with a footer containing your address, phone number, and email address. This footer makes the document neater and should appear on each page.
• The document should be no longer than two pages (one page front-to-back).
• Keep it simple. Use as few words as possible (no need for complete sentences), but briefly explain anything that would not generally be understood (such as awards or your accomplisments in student government or clubs).
• Keep it neat. Choose your fonts and format wisely. This part of what makes it unique to you.

Financial Aid/Scholarships

• FAFSA: www.fafsa.ed.gov
• To apply for PIN needed for the FAFSA and CSS: www.pin.ed.gov
• CSS Profile (for list of schools who require the CSS and the application): www.collegeboard.com/css
• To calculate an estimate of your family contribution for college: www.finaid.org/calculators
• Florida Bright futures: www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/bf
• Florida Bright Futures informational chart http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/SSFAD/PDF/BFEligibilityAwardChart.pdf
• Fastweb Scholarship search: www.fastweb.com
• Paying for College Without Going Broke; The Princeton Review; ISBN: 0-375-76567-0 (2007 addition)

Student Athletics

• NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association): www.ncaa.org
• NCAA Eligibilty Center for Student Athletes

Florida Virtual School

• Online courses (no charge for Florida residents): www.flvs.net

Community Service Opportunities

• Frontline Outreach: Frontline Outreach is a leading provider of educational and leadership ministries programs for urban youths and their families in Orlando. For forty years Frontline Outreach, a Christian outreach ministry, has been serving the families of Orlando by preparing urban youth to be world-class leaders through early childhood education and character development. “We aspire to become one of America’s greatest urban ministries. The opportunities to serve are as varied as our students (from one-year-olds to high school seniors)”. All volunteer positions serve at Frontline Outreach (3000 C. R. Smith Street, Orlando, FL 32805). Please call Stephanie Lutz, Servant Leadership Coordinator at 407-293-3000 x 127, e-mail to volunteering@fl-o.org or visit www.fl-o.org click on the donate button or email giving@flo-o.org for more details.
• Florida Hospital: Visit their website www.floridahospital.com and check them out under volunteers. Students must be at leasat 15 years old.
• YMCA: Contact your local YMCA for volunteer opportunities. Check their website for location details.
• Harvest Time International: Students can come in at anytime to start, Mon-Sat 9-5. No appointments necessary. Must wear closed shoes. Also if students are under 18, need the guardian’s signature before allowing them to start. If you have any questions or need further information please contact Terry Watson (407-474-0441). Offices located in Sanford.
• SPCA of Central Florida (Humane Society): Visit their website for more details. Locations in Sanford and South Orlando.

Parent/student–Sites of Further Interest

• College Board www.collegeboard.com: a vast site with a wealth of information beyond the SAT and PSAT
• Virtual Campus tours: www.mycampusvisit.com
• Search Engine for college admissions events (plus college profiles, request information from colleges): www.mycampusvisits.com
• CareersandColleges.com: An informational site with helpful search tools and in-depth content on colleges and universities, admissions, scholarships, financial aid, loans, test prep, essays, timelines, athletics, career options, and more. Written by experts with students in mind!
• College Guide: A source providing the whole story—good and bad—on over 200 leading colleges, the new edition of Choosing the Right College 2010-11: The Whole Truth about America’s Top Schools is essential reading…and it’s now available in its entirety online.

Publications

• Dorm Brothel: An article written by Vigen Guroian and published in the February 2005 issue of Christianity Today