2012 college night volunteers - Tulare County Office of Education

TULARE COUNTY COLLEGE NIGHTwww.tcoe.org/collegenightBEYOND CALIFORNIA:ATTENDING COLLEGE OUT OF STATEExplore your options a little further than you have before, and you might discover a collegethat fits all of your needs—out of state!There are so many reasons to look at colleges out of state. The one reason that keeps many students from exploringthis option is the myth that it costs more to attend an out-of-state college. This is not true! When comparing thetotal costs of attending out -of-state colleges with those in California, often the cost is comparable or even less.WHAT ARE SOME OF THE REASONS TO CONSIDER GOING OUT OF STATE?LOCATION: You may want to experience a different part of the United States. Different geogra phy, different climate,different cultures, all these things would enhance your educational experi ence. Do not overlook the positive aspectsof trying someplace new when considering a college. What would Oregon, Arizona, North Carolina or upstate NewYork be like to go to school?PROGRAM: You may want a particular type of program or opportunity to learn (such as a study-abroad program)that may not be available in California. How does taking one class at a time on a “block” system sound? This iswhat Colorado College in Colorado Springs has been doing for over twenty years. Want to go into physical therapy?You may want to look at Pacific University in Oregon or University of Washington. How about aviation? Embry-Riddlein Florida or Arizona is tops in that field.RELIGIOUS: If you have a religious affiliation that you would like to have as part of your college experience, thenconsidering an out-of-state college may be your best option. There are many private religious schools in the UnitedStates. Many are loosely affiliated with a church or religious organization. Others have strong ties. For example, ifyou want to attend a school associated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, look at Brigham YoungUniversity- Utah, BYU- Idaho, or BYU- Hawaii. If you want to attend a college associated with the Catholic Church,you have several to choose from nationwide, from the small, independent Regis College in Denver, to the famousUniversity of Notre Dame, in Indiana.OTHER: One option many students never even consider is going to a single sex college. There are many advantagesto going to an all-girls college, or an all-boys college. You may be looking for other options such as a college that hasessentially no tuition and has a special program for you to work and go to school, such as Berea College, in Berea,Kentucky. Sometimes you increase your ability to be accepted at a college (particularly if it is a popular one) bygoing out of state. Col leges are always looking at diversifying their student populations and coming from out of stateis a guarantee of that!COSTS: For many students, the costs of attending an out-of-state college may be even less than staying in state. Itmay be no more expensive to attend Yale University, in Connecticut, than to attend the University of Southern California,in Los Angeles. A student can spend less to go to Freed-Hardeman, in Tennessee, than staying in the valleyand going to Fresno State. At Berea College, mentioned above, every student is “guaranteed tuition through grantsand scholarships.” There are no colleges in California that can make that promise.Does it cost more to attend college out of state? Not necessarily! This is a myth. If you truly explore all the optionsavailable, you may find the right college for you is out of state, and that the cost is comparable or perhaps even lessthan attending a California school.52