A Better Way to Search for Colleges
Every year, about 2 out of every 5 first year college students (40%) drop out or transfer, often because the school wasn't what they expected.
At some campuses it's closer to 50%!
Maybe they chose based on ranking, reputation, or sports standing. Maybe they chose because friends recommended it, or they liked how the campus looked and felt, or they met someone at the campus tour that they imagined would be their best friend. Maybe they expected easy classes or friendly and engaged faculty and found the opposite. Whatever influenced their decision, they were wrong.
College marketers have perfected the art of persuading students and families to make decisions based on emotions, focusing on fancy amenities, shiny new buildings, promises of belonging and life-long friendships, or the romanticized vision of living on campus and the campus social scene. They know how to choreograph a campus visit to get students to make emotional bonds with each other and aspects of the school knowing students are more likely to apply and attend if they do so.
None of that is in the student's best interest. What students and families need are tools that help them make rational and informed decisions about colleges. That's where Cogi shines!
The Ideal College Profile is a simple but crucial tool for students and families in their college search process to improve decision making.
Organizes, simplifies, and personalizes the search process
A clear set of criteria helps students filter through thousands of options more efficiently and accurately
Streamlining the search process reduces stress and feelings of being overwhelmed among students and parents
Clarifies priorities and preferences
It helps them avoid emotional bias in decision making by making priorities and preferences explicit, helping facilitate rational and informed decisions instead.
Net Cost Threshold - establishes a clear maximum Net Cost to help narrow options, reduce student debt, and avoid financial strain.
Uses Cogi's Student Assessment data to identify the type and size of colleges best suited to the student's individual academic and socio-emotional characteristics.
Helps students to get the most aid in the form of scholarships and grants
Identifies schools where the student's GPA and Test Scores are significantly higher than average making the student a more attractive prospect and more likely to get substantial aid.
When money is not an issue, it helps identify schools where the student is most likely to be among others at or near their own level of academic ability and engagement.
Enhances financial planning
When there are no options that meet the desired Net Cost Threshold, it allows families to begin financial planning with the knowledge they will need to access additional funds.
Helps set the student up for success
The inclusion of preferences helps ensure students most important interests and needs are accounted for in the decision.
Knowing how well a college matches up to the student's level of academic and socio-cultural characteristics allows students to enter less-than-perfect-colleges with a success plan as a means to compensate.
