Choosing a College

• I see college as a journey of self-discovery to grow, learn, change, hear and understand differing opinions, and gain a broader perspective on the world.
• I see college as a chance to discover some particular passions and pursue them.
• I see college as a time to develop important skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, communication, and goal setting for life, career, and independence.
• I see college as a time for preparing for a specific career/job.

• I see college as a time for a liberal arts education that may prepare me for a variety of career choices. Generally, a liberal arts education offers students the opportunity to explore a variety of academic disciplines instead of following a specific set of courses that train them for a career. 

What are some possible college majors?

• No one is asking you to choose an exact major, in fact, most students change their minds two to three times before they settle on a major. So take a moment to list a few areas that are of interest to you or simply list a few of your favorite classes in high school.
• Would you like to know what majors are available in college?
• Click the following link to find majors that interest you

• List a few possible majors or areas of study that you would like your college to offer.

• 2 year vs. 4 year program
• Honors programs
• Research opportunities for undergraduates
• Internships
• Co-op programs
• Study abroad programs
• Core curriculum
• Create your own major/interdisciplinary studies
• Credit awarded for IB and AP scores and the ability to graduate with a degree in less than four years.
• A program that allows dual degrees or bachelor's and master's degree in four years.

• Small classes, easier access to professors, more discussion oriented, classes taught by professors rather than TAs
• Large lecture hall classes are acceptable
• Academic theme dorms with smaller classes at large universities.
• Tutoring and study skills support services
• Resources for students with learning disabilities (IEP, ILP, 504)

How selective should the school be regarding admissions?

• Name or prestige of the school is important.
• I am aware that the most selective colleges admit less than 10% of applicants. See Highly Selective Colleges - I believe that I can be competitive.
• I'm less concerned about the name of the school as long as it has the programs that are best for me.
• I'm aware that I need to Balance My List with "Reach", "Target" and "Safety" colleges.

What is the cost (tuition, room and board, books and fees, transportation)? How will you pay for it?

Range of college costs: $3,000/year for a community college to >$70,000/year for some private colleges.

Click here to go to the Paying for College page.

• I know how much my family can contribute each year.
• I am willing to spend the extra time looking for and applying to outside scholarships.
• I am willing to work during the school year and the summer to help pay for my education.
• Taking on debt is a very serious decision. Are you or is your family willing to take on loans for college?
• Will you apply for financial aid?
• I understand that need-based and merit scholarships from a college rarely pay all college costs.

• Area of the country
• Climate
• Urban, suburban, or rural
• Close to home
• Travel: nearness to major airports, travel time, cost
• Campus architecture and beauty
• Campus safety
• Access to shops, movies, event centers, public transit, etc.
• Ability to do the things you love in this location (mountain bike, ski, run, visit museums, major concerts and theater)

Does size/enrollment matter in your college choice?

• I want a small college that has a close community, most students live on campus all four years, generally classes are smaller and professors are more accessible.
• I want a medium college with more choices but still a distinct community.
• I'm looking for a larger college with more choices; majors, clubs, activities, sports, diversity and possibly larger classes.

• Campus housing - theme dorms, honors dorms, housing guaranteed for four years
• Fraternities/sororities
• Sports - I want to play (club, intramural, Division I, II, III)
• Sports - I want to attend popular sporting events
• Religious interests/organizations
• Clubs that interest me
• Performing arts open to all to participate
• Special dietary requirements
• Single gender
• Strong alumni network
• Volunteer opportunities and community involvement
• Study abroad and international experiences
• I want a college with________________________________

• I want a strong sense of community; student involvement, a feeling of belonging.
• I want a college with a strong campus spirit.
• I'm looking for an atmosphere of academic rigor.
• I'm looking for colleges with less drugs and alcohol.
• I want a college with major athletic events.
• I'm looking for a college that values integrity, character, and the importance of giving back.
• I'm looking for students that enjoy philosophical discussions and are lovers of ideas.

An online resource available to all BVSD students.  See Step 2: Make a List for more information on using Naviance to research colleges.

This is the company that administers the SAT exam. In addition, they have a database for college information. From the home page scroll down to the Big Future option which will contain variety of parameters for searching colleges.

Use this site to help identify colleges that give a substantial number of non-need based merit scholarships, specifically to see what % of enrolled freshmen in a particular college had no financial need and received merit aid and the average $ amount of the merit-based gift (a monetary gift from the college itself, administered as a tuition discount.

In addition, COLLEGEdata also has data on Admissions, Academics, Campus Life, and Students.

This is not a website, but a standardized report that all colleges complete each year and submit to external organizations such as College Board and US News & World Report. As such, it is used in compiling college rankings and the data collected is published on various websites that students may use when researching colleges.

Data reported includes such things as SAT/ACT test scores, Regular vs. Early Decision admission statistics, Waitlist statistics, 6, 5 and 4-year graduation rates, male:female ratio, % students that live on campus, % involved in Greek life, detailed break-out of class sizes, % of graduating class by major, financial aid statistics, etc. To find a particular college's Common Data Set, google "common data set" followed by the college's name e.g. "common data set Tulane University". Hint: Common Data Set reporting is usually handled by the college's Office of Institutional Research (OIR), so that is usually the best link to click on when looking at the list of google search results. To see a blank common data set report and more of what kind of information is included, click on the link to the left. You can select to see it as a Word, Excel, Adobe Acrobat or HTML file.

Note: There are a small number of schools that choose not to openly publish their full Common Data Set.
 

College Rankings

NOTE:  While we don't recommend choosing a school based on rank alone, we do think these lists can serve as a reference point to start becoming familiar with college names. If you are considering rank, be sure you understand the methodology used. The way things are weighted may not be the way you value the different factors. 

Annual ranking of US colleges. Divided into categories of national universities, liberal arts colleges, and regional schools. Click on school name to get more detailed statistics such as most popular majors, gender distribution, 4-year graduation rate. Further subcategories include rankings of undergraduate engineering programs and business programs, rankings of public universities, and more.

Annual ranking of US colleges. Different methodology than US News & World Report, meaning a particular college may have a higher or lower rank on this list. In addition, rather than creating separate rankings for national universities, liberal arts and regional colleges, Forbes groups them all together.

Annual rankings survey with results published in August, this one has a creative and fun approach, albeit perhaps not so scientific, with categories such as happiest students, got beer/got milk, most conservative/liberal, vegetarian, Birkenstock wearing/Preppiest, etc. In their words, “See which colleges came in tops for "Great Financial Aid", “Best Campus Food," "Best Career Services," and dozens of other widely-watched categories.”

Subjective

This website, originating from the book of the same name, highlights schools that focus on character building. 

Registration required, but free

Student reviews and “grades” on predetermined topics such as academics, housing, and social life for 100’s of colleges

If you search more than 3 schools in one day on the same computer, it will prompt you to register. Registration is free. Similar to College Prowler.

Advice

Peter Van Buskirk's Best College Fit

Educational consultant and former college admissions officer, his free online newsletter is particularly helpful. Typically a specific issue is highlighted or he shares and answers parent questions. Sign up to receive the newsletter on the homepage.

He also travels the country to present “The Admission Game”, an interactive talk he created to enlighten students and parents as to how the admissions process works and how to prepare for and target schools that are a good fit for you.  BVSD sponsors this talk for the Boulder Valley community; once scheduled, the date will be publicized on the Fairview High School Counseling & College/Career Center website. In the past it has been held on a weeknight at Monarch High School’s auditorium. Free.

Nationally recognized college expert, higher-ed journalist, consultant and speaker, her College Solution Blog is full of very useful information and tools for conducting research.

As required by the Clery Act, data for both on and off-campus criminal offenses (sex-forcible, robbery, etc.), hate crimes, arrests, disciplinary actions (drug & alcohol) & fire statistics. Keep in mind some campuses “sweep things under the rug” whereas others are vigilant about reporting and taking action.

The college search doesn't have to begin and end with the Ivies and the name brand schools. There are many schools out there to choose from — some known and some less known, all worthy of your attention. Ultimately, you’re looking for a “home” for the next four years where you can be happy. There are many people out there who would love to help you make the right decision.

Here are some suggestions:

• Family members and close friends – talk to your family members, particularly those that you interact with regularly. Sometimes it's hard to recognize your own strengths and skills; your family and close friends are a great sounding board when it comes to outlining your talents and tapping into your passions and often they will know others outside of your family circle that might be helpful resources.

• Your school counselors – If there ever was a time to chat with your counselor, this would be it! Even if you don’t think they know you well because you’ve spent little or no time with them, they can provide some great insight based on your record in high school. Fairview counselors are trained to help students figure out what they want to do with their lives and how to go about achieving their goals.
• The staff and volunteers in the Fairview College/Career Center – There are very few people with more information about the college admissions process from start to finish than Carol Diebel, CCC Coordinator. Stop by the CCC anytime and take advantage of her insight. There are also many volunteers in the CCC that can help you find the information you’re seeking.
• Recent Fairview graduates who are attending a school you’re interested in – need a name or contact info? Stop by the CCC for help.
• Teachers – Chat with your favorite teachers about what you might be interested in. They’ll have thoughts on your strengths and weaknesses and where you might be most successful. They also might be able to suggest other teachers and/or staff members to speak with who attended one of the schools that you’re considering.

• If you work, talk to your manager and co-workers. Tell them what you are thinking about doing or studying.
• Friends - this doesn’t necessarily mean the people you hang out with on the weekends. If you have older friends and/or adults in your life that know you well, talk to them about their post-high school experiences and any advice they might have for you. If they went to college, what did they study? Looking back, are they happy with the decision? Do they know anyone who attended one of the schools you’re thinking about?
• People you admire and professionals in fields that you’re interested in – If there’s someone in your community or in a field of interest to you that you admire, talk to them! Even if you have never spoken to them, find an email address or other way to contact them and ask for advice! Most people would be happy to help you and it never hurts to ask. The worst thing that could happen is that they ignore you or say “no”. If you can’t figure out how to contact them, stop by the Fairview CCC and ask for some help.
• Anyone who attended one of the schools you are interested in – if you’ve been networking along the way, you may have a names and contact information of people who attended one of the schools that you’re interested in. Use it!
• College Visits in the CCC – literally hundreds of colleges and universities visit the CCC each year, mainly in the fall, to present information about their respective schools. The college representative that leads the discussion is often a member of the admissions office staff and may even be the person who reads all of the applications from Fairview for that school.

• Admissions office staff – find the contact information for the admissions staff member responsible for your part of the country (contact the admissions office for this information). Most schools assign their staff by state (or even by city for higher population areas). There might even be more than one person assigned to your area depending on the college and its popularity. Use that person as your resource for any questions about the admissions process. Remember that that person also likely will see you application and probably will participate in whether or not your application moves forward in the process.
• Financial Aid office staff - If you make the assumption that you cannot afford college based on the sticker price of tuition, you might miss out. It is difficult to talk about money, but if you investigate all the options and ask for help and advice, you will find affordable choices. College and university financial aid websites and office staff offer useful information and links as well. Investigate early and ask for help.
• Current students and faculty in fields that appeal to you – most people love to tell you about things they are doing that they are passionate about. Don’t hesitate to ask for contact information in the school/field that you are interested in at one of the colleges you’re looking at.

Lastly – remember to say thank you to anyone who helps you along the way. Professionals and others that you correspond with via email would appreciate just a brief “thank you” email. You never know when your paths might cross again if you might need more assistance down the road.

Subjective/Opinion Guides

A guide to the nation’s 378 most academically outstanding institutions that will inform you about the unique opportunities these schools offer and what it is really like to be a student at that university. In addition to providing basic academic, student, and financial statistics, this book will tell you “what students and the school itself say” about the university, what life and student body are like, and interesting inside information on admissions. 

This guide contains essays on more than 300 of the country's best colleges and universities. Each essay systematically covers specific topics from academic climate and student body composition to social scene.

Majors/Areas of Study

The primary goal of The College Finder is to expand the pool of schools that students should consider by cross referencing a variety of lists pertaining to college life. Academics, cost, location, admission, campus facilities, career opportunities, athletics, and more are all covered in this book. The College Finder provides a comprehensive approach to college hunting by itemizing many features about schools. The lists in this book give you several hundred ways that colleges are ranked and viewed by experts. 

Special Learning Needs

Hundreds of thousands of students with learning disabilities head to college every year. This comprehensive guide makes it easy for those students and their families to tackle the daunting process of finding the school that best fits their needs. This book includes more than 350 school profiles with information on services, admissions, and policies; admissions requirements and graduation policies for learning disability programs; services available to learning-disabled students at each college, including tutors, note-takers, oral exams, and extended test time; and advice from learning disabilities specialists.

This handbook offers teens with learning disabilities the confidence, strategies, and guidance they need to effectively choose a college, get prepared for university life, and make the most of their collegiate experience. The book covers pertinent topics such as understanding the rights and responsibilities of students with special needs, talking to professors and peers, getting involved, asking for and receiving accommodations, and utilizing one's strengths to meet and exceed academic standards. This unique reference book also includes advice from current college students with disabilities to empower future students and provide them with hope for success.

When it comes to researching colleges, there is nothing better than seeing your options first hand. Just setting foot on campus can often be an instantaneous confirmation of how you feel about a school, and whether or not to apply.

If you cannot physically visit a campus consider a virtual visit to get a feel for the school.

No matter how brief your visit might be, always register with the admissions office to let them know you were there. The fact that you made the effort to physically visit a campus demonstrates an interest in the college. This can possibly make a difference in the eyes of admissions.

Make notes about your visit during and immediately after. Include things like your general impression as well as details that might help jog your memory later.

On Campus Visit

• Planned Visit

If you are able to plan a visit,  check the college’s website to register for a tour.  Some colleges have “visit days” when students can spend an entire day touring the campus, visiting classes, hearing about activities, visiting the dorms, and eating in the dining hall. You don’t have to wait until junior or senior year to start visiting colleges. While you may wish to visit while students are present, go when you can.

• Unplanned/Brief Visit

Drive or walk around campus. Maps and brochures typically can be found at the Admissions Office and/or Student Union and most schools have free apps that include maps and other information online. 

• Admitted Students Day (In-person and Virtual)

If your school offers one of these events (typically in April), this is a must. Even if you've seen the campus before, this is where you can meet the students you may be spending the next four years with. Many schools also have virtual admitted student days if you can’t join in person. Once you're admitted to a school, accept the invitation to come back to campus or join the online program for admitted students.
 

If you have time to do more than just walk around on your visit, check out this list of other things to do. You can always contact the admissions office to get more information about any aspect of your visit.

• Visit the Admissions office and let the personnel know that you were on campus.
• Visit the Academic Departments of the subjects you may want to study. 
• Arrange to attend a class in an area of your academic interest, if possible.
• If you have Special Learning Needs, visit the academic support center and ask the questions provided at this link: College Programs: Special Learning Needs.
• Visit the Student Center - What sort of activities do you see? Are your interests represented?
• Tour the Athletic Facilities – Is there a gym/workout facility that is available to all students? 
• Visit facilities of special interest — For example, the library, the bookstore, the art museum, dance studio, campus theater, or music hall.
• Visit/Eat in a campus dining hall — What meal plans are available and how do they work?
• Tour a dorm – Are dorms single sex or co-ed? How many students per room? How large are the rooms? Are the bathrooms co-ed? What is security like?
• Pick up a recent copy of the student paper — What are the current issues that are making the headlines?
• Stroll the campus and surroundings — What’s the vibe? Can you picture yourself fitting in? 
• Check security on campus — What is the crime rate on campus? In the community? Is there a security escort service available 24 hours a day?
• Drive or walk around the community surrounding campus to get a feel for life off-campus. What kind of options are available for things like groceries, entertainment, restaurants, etc.

Make notes about your visit during and immediately after. Include things like your general impression as well as details that might help jog your memory later.

• Niche
• CampusTours

Keep in mind that virtual tours may often be promotional videos created by the colleges. However, for an initial look at a school, virtual tours still do a good job of giving a feel for the campus community.

If you are unable to travel for college visits, you can get an idea of what the size and atmosphere of a campus might be like by visiting some similar campuses right here in Colorado. You can visit Colorado College in Colorado Springs to see what a small, private, liberal arts campus of about 2,100 students is like. You can experience a medium-sized private campus by visiting the University of Denver, a campus in a residential section of a major city, with a student population of about 5,700. Or, you can check out the life on a large campus by visiting the University of Colorado in Boulder, or Colorado State University in Fort Collins, each with over 25,000 students.

A college's website is the place to go to thoroughly learn about the school, what it offers and how to apply.

• “About” section that tells you a college's mission, it's history, facts, maps of the campus and various other information about the place.
• “Academic” section, you will find the departments or majors offered by the college, the professors and usually links to their websites, course catalog, and special programs offered at the college.
• “Apply” or “Admissions” section will give you the information you need to apply to that school as well as the application deadline dates for early and regular decision.

• Research to see if it has the majors and/or programs you want to study.
• Make sure you understand the school's curriculum and requirements (e.g. all freshman are required to take a year-long introductory humanities class, a senior thesis is required to graduate).

In your application to a college, the admissions readers want to see your interest in their school and this is conveyed by your knowledge of the school and how it fits with your goals.

1. Use Naviance, College Board and the Common Data Set websites to determine the GPA and test scores of the most recently admitted students.
2. Compare the test scores. Most admission decisions are holistic and will include a review of your GPA, transcripts, essays, extracurriculars, recommendations, and honors, but academics grades and test scores are often of primary importance.
3. Try to have a balance of schools you are applying to. The following information can be found on the College Board Website.

A balance of Schools should include:

Note that due to low admission rates, highly selective colleges should always be considered reach schools.

For more in depth analysis of best fit schools click here.

Naviance Scattergrams show anonymous admissions statistics of former Fairview students who have applied to colleges in the last several years, and whether they were accepted, wait-listed, or denied. Review of this information can help students assess the competitiveness of their own chances compared to previous Fairview students.

• If you are near the intersection of the x and y axis, it is a target school.
• If you are significantly above and to the right of the the intersection of the x and y axis, you are a competitive applicant and this may be a safety/likely school.
• If you are significantly to the left and below the intersection of the x and y axis, it is likely a reach school.

Please remember that the applicants represented are only Fairview students. Please also be aware that final admission data is voluntarily supplied by Fairview students and may not be complete.  The average GPA and test scores of admitted students may differ from the overall applicant pool. Check college-specific websites for more information.

Sample Scattergrams: Colorado College  See below:

Naviance also offers another visual for students to use as an aid in assessing how competitive they may be at being admitted to a particular college. A student can enter their scores (GPA, SAT, ACT) and the site compares the student’s scores to those of students who applied from their particular high school. To view this graphic, log into Naviance, Go to “Search for Colleges” on the left. Enter college name and click “Go”. Scroll to the bottom of the overview tab to see “odometer” that factors in all the scores of students admitted to that school from Fairview so that you can assess your own odds.

Are you on track to meet a college’s application requirements, or  do you need to adjust your plan? How do you compare to students who got  in and enrolled at colleges you’re interested in?

Use the Academic Tracker tool to find out. Here’s how:

1. Look up any college on BigFuture. You can search for a college by  name using the search box at the top of this page or find colleges that  match your wants and needs in College Search.
2. Click the See if you’re on track link that appears at the  top of any college’s profile, or use the Go to Academic Tracker button  on the right side of the profile.
3. Use the Am I On Track? and How Do I Stack Up? tabs  to see charts that let you compare your academic stats to the college’s  requirements and to the stats of students who got in and enrolled at the  college.
4. Enter your own info and the charts are instantly personalized so you can compare:

• High school classes you’ve taken or plan to take
• Tests you’ve taken or plan to take
• Your grades
• Your SAT and ACT scores
• Your class rank

5.  Save your information to use Academic Tracker with other  colleges. Just create an account — it’s free and lets you do other things, like save a list of your favorite colleges.

Use this tool as a guide, but keep in mind you're more than your  numbers — colleges care about your character and what you bring to the  campus. Learn more about what colleges are looking for.

• If the college you are applying to uses the Common Application, you will need to sync the Common App with your Naviance account. For instructions on how to do this, read the section on the matching process in the Common App, FERPA, and Syncing to Naviance Instructions.

1. Click on the red "Not Needed" message on the lower right corner of your Colleges I'm applying to page.
2. Click on "+ Add Colleges to the List".
3. Click "Lookup" to find the name of the college.
4. Click "Add Colleges" box.

NCAA schools participate in one of three divisions - DI, DII and DIII. These divisions are based on size of school, level of athletic commitment and competition. Athletes may be recruited by colleges but most often, the student initiates interest in an athletic program. Talk to your coach about the possibility of playing at the college level and read the NCAA publication, Guide for the College Bound Athlete, to familiarize yourself with eligibility requirements and recruiting regulations.

If you are interested in playing for a D1 or D2 school, you should register online with the NCAA Eligibility Center no later than the beginning of your sophomore year in high school. 

Click HERE to see a list of what information you will need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.

And click HERE to see a list of Frequently Asked Questions about NCAA eligibility. 

Quick Links:

• NCAA
• NCAA Eligibility Center
• Guide for the College Bound Athlete

• NCAA Division I
• Play Division I Sports

There are more than 350 Division I schools that field more than 6,000 athletics teams and provide opportunities for more than 170,000 student-athletes to compete in NCAA sports each year.  DI athletics is the most competitive NCAA division and athletes interested in playing at the DI level should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center no later than their sophomore year in high school.

• NCAA Division II
• Play Division II Sports

Division II is all about balance. Students participate in highly competitive athletics, have the best access ratio to NCAA championships of any division and can earn athletics scholarships, but their college experience includes so much more than sports participation. The balanced approach in athletics, academics and community engagement allows Division II student-athletes to focus on their academic pursuits, internships, studies abroad and all that interests them.  Athletes interested in playing at the DII level should register with the NCAA Eligibility Center no later than their sophomore year in high school.

• NCAA Division III
• Play Division III Sports

Division III is home to more than 440 institutions and 195,000 student-athletes — the most in any division — who can earn the opportunity to compete in 28 national championships. The Division III philosophy ensures athletics are an integral part of a well-rounded college experience. The athletic experience allows student-athletes to focus on their academic programs and the ultimate goal of earning a degree. The four-year journey is designed to complement time spent in the classroom and pursuing other activities — some related to coursework, others extracurricular. While Division III doesn’t permit athletics scholarships, roughly 80% of Division III student-athletes receive some form of academic grants or need-based scholarships. Athletes interested in playing at the DIII level do not have to register with the NCAA.

Many DIII schools offer generous financial aid packages (including a number that offer grants that do not need to be repaid upon graduation) and merit-based scholarships.  Endowments at these schools can be quite large and these schools want the best and brightest.  While the path to financial aid may be less well advertised than the DI athletic scholarship, DIII schools offer some of the best quality education in the country, and student athletes are not bound to the school by an athletic scholarship.  They are students first and athletes by choice.  Playing DIII athletics can give the student athlete an amazing opportunity to play the sport they love and have the academic rigor of a great college. 

For students who want to participate in athletics at a competitive Division III school, the most important thing to do is to keep your grades up and take challenging classes.  As there are no DIII scholarships, each athlete must fulfill the admissions requirements for that school.   Coaches will typically not even look at a potential student athlete if they do not have the grades and test scores to gain admission.  Start by filling out the prospective athlete form online at the colleges’ website. Next, take the initiative and contact the coach.  Coaches usually want you to email relevant information - what position you play, relevant stats or times, game/race video if appropriate, height, weight, etc.  

While in most cases, coaches have very little pull in admissions at DIII schools, athletics can provide a student an inroad into the admissions process at desired schools.  Some schools have admissions “slots” for athletes.  This means that if the coach wants you to play at their school and you have the grades and test scores to get in (and there are no negative surprises in your application), you will have a better chance of getting into the school.  Keep in mind that many coaches want prospective athletes to apply Early Decision in order to get their help in the admissions process.  Early Decision is a binding agreement where if the student athlete is offered admission, they must accept (financial aid awards are the one exception to get out of this binding agreement).

For students who would like to experience a military environment while getting a first-class education, the five Service academies (listed below) offer an outstanding education and full four-year scholarships. Tuition, books, board and medical and dental care are all fully paid for all four years.

• High school academic performance
• Standardized test scores (SAT or ACT)
• Athletics and extracurricular activities
• Leadership experience and community involvement
• A congressional letter of recommendation (not required by the Coast Guard Academy)

It is important to understand all the requirements early so you have time to accomplish all the necessary components.

Graduates of all five academies receive a Bachelor of Science degree and are commissioned as officers in their respective Service branch. In all cases, there is a service obligation of a minimum of five years.

If you are interested in one of the academies, consider applying for that academy's summer program to experience a week of classes, military and physical fitness training at the academy to help you make a more informed decision on your college choice. These programs are open to juniors in high school and are highly competitive.

Quick Links to US Service Academies and their summer programs:

• US Airforce Academy    Colorado Springs, CO   Summer Program
• US Coastguard  Academy   New London, CT  Summer Program
• US Military Academy   West Point, NY   Summer Program
• US Naval Academy   Annapolis, MD    Summer Program
• US Merchant Marine Academy  Kings Point NY

ROTC programs are offered at over 1,000 colleges in the US. With the exception of the Coast Guard, each service branch has its own program; Army ROTC, Navy ROTC and Air Force ROTC. Each has its own requirements and features. 

Admission Options:

1. 4-year ROTC scholarship recipient

This is a highly competitive process that requires you to apply for this merit-based scholarship through your selected ROTC branch of service. The application may take place in the spring of the 11th grade or the fall of the 12th grade and requires applicants to state a U.S. college campus where the scholarship will be applied upon acceptance to that campus. The scholarship is given in exchange for a set time commitment of service.

2. ROTC college program participant

You join the ROTC program offered at your college campus as either a freshman or sophomore, and participate in the weekly ROTC classes and exercises in addition to your regular school schedule. During that freshman year, you can apply for a 3-year scholarship, or after sophomore year, you can apply for a 2-year scholarship. Both are in exchange for service upon graduation. If you wish to continue with the program beyond the sophomore year and are endorsed, but do not want to go the scholarship route, you can commit to service upon graduation in exchange for a monthly stipend for those last two years of college. The service commitments can vary in length depending on the option chosen, but all of these routes will lead to the goal of becoming an officer.

• ROTC Programs   Links to the ROTC programs in each Service branch.
• University of Colorado's Naval ROTC Program  An example of the University of Colorado's Naval ROTC program.

• Military Careers and Profiles - all branches
• Army ROTC
• NROTC (Navy)
• NROTC (Marines) leads to a post-graduation commission as a second lieutenant
• Life after ROTC (Airforce)

• Texas A&M University
• Norwich University
• The Virginia Military Institute
• The Citadel
• Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
• North Georgia College & State University
• Mary Baldwin Women’s Institute for Leadership

Every cadet must participate in the ROTC program, but only those cadets who receive a ROTC scholarship are required to enter military service following graduation.