College Prep 101

Choosing the right school is personal—and sometimes stressful. We offer tips on how to stand out in the admissions process.

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College of St. Scholastica

Total enrollment: 3,593

Tuition: $26,324 (2008-09)

What are your criteria for accepting applications? Mainly high school GPA and either the ACT or SAT, but we view the students holistically rather than as two sets of numbers.

What do admissions counselors look for in a good application? Someone who has worked hard to establish a high school resume, meaning someone who proves by what they have on their application that they are going to succeed in college based on prior experiences and successes.

How do you keep your competitive edge? St. Scholastica does two main things to stay competitive: We always keep our Benedictine heritage top of mind when it comes to our daily lives and making decisions that will affect the College, and we stay nimble and proactive when dealing with the desires of the marketplace.

Little-known fact: Modern medical records-keeping had its professional beginnings at St. Scholastica, where the first academic program was created in the 1930s. St. Scholastica is still a national leader in its successor profession, Health Informatics and Information management.

1200 Kenwood Ave., Duluth, MN
800-447-5444
www.css.edu
 

Gustavus Adolphus College

Total enrollment: 2,573

Tuition: $29,990 (plus room - $4,710, meal plan - $2,750, and fees - $410).

What are your criteria for accepting applications? The Gustavus Office of Admission has a holistic approach to admission, which means we evaluate all the information in your application—not simply “the numbers.” That’s much fairer to the students and a much better way for us to build a class. That being said, a student’s coursework is the most important component when making an admission decision, followed by GPA, experiences outside the classroom, writing ability, and recommendations. Submitting standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) is optional.

What one comment do you hear over and over again about why students choose to attend your school? Beyond the important statistics like average class size (15), four-year graduation rate (80 percent), and post-graduation placement rate (98 percent), many families cite the welcoming atmosphere and observable “friendliness” of Gustavus. Far from being a superficial show, this friendly environment represents the mutual understanding and support among members of the Gustavus community. To experience the personality of Gustavus and learn about anything else that is important to a prospective student, a campus visit is the most important part of the college search.

800 West College Ave., St. Peter  507-933-8000
www.gustavus.edu
 

Luther College

Total enrollment: 2,423

Tuition: $30,920

What are your criteria for accepting applications? We try to look at all parts of a student’s application, including grades, level of classes taken, involvement, ACT/SAT scores, leadership roles, etc. The most recent class entered Luther with an average ACT score of 26, with 50 percent of students’ scores falling between 23 and 29.

What one comment do you hear over and over again about why students choose to attend your school? “This place is beautiful! I had no idea the campus is surrounded by bluffs and prairie, or that it has a river running through it.”

Little-known fact about your school? Luther consistently ranks as one of the top schools in the nation for the number of students studying abroad each year.

Would you like to add anything else? Luther College is a residential liberal arts institution in which over 90 percent of faculty live within five minutes of campus. Twenty percent of our students participate in intercollegiate athletics; over one-third take part in music ensembles; and over 90 percent of the student body is involved in a cocurricular activity. Luther College is quite unlike any other.
 

700 College Drive, Decorah, IA 800-4 LUTHER
www.luther.edu
 

Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Total enrollment: Approximately 800

Tuition: $14,100 per semester (2008-09)

What is the overall vision of your school? Our mission: MCAD educates individuals to be professional artists and designers, effective leaders, and active citizens and, through this work and other activities, advances the cultural life of its community. Our vision: In the quality of its program and what it achieves for its students, MCAD is committed to be among the finest of professional visual arts colleges in the world.

What is the deadline for receiving applications for classes beginning in fall of 2009? All applications must be received by Feb. 15, 2009 (physically in the office no later than 5 p.m. that day).

What do admissions counselors look for in a good application? A balance of artistic merit and academic achievement.

What one comment do you hear over and over again about why students choose to attend your school? Our students feel MCAD is a community of artists and value their peer relationships as part of the learning process.
Little-known fact about your school: MCAD is one of only three colleges in the country that offers a major in Comic Art.
 

2501 Stevens Ave., Mpls., MN 612-874-3700
www.mcad.edu
 

Normandale Community College

Total enrollment: 14,400

Tuition: $4,607 (for 2008-09)

What is the overall vision of your school? To continue to be the best educational value in the Upper Midwest based on our unique combination of academic excellence, affordable cost and strong reputation with both employers and four-year colleges seeking our students as transfers.

What one comment do you hear over and over again about why students choose to attend your school? Hands-on, quality instruction; transferability of credits; excellent academic support and student life programs, and; our diverse faculty, staff and student body.

What, from an admissions standpoint, are ways in which students can best present themselves to the school of their choice? Visit campus, speak with an admissions professional, and find out how your educational and career goals can be met by that institution.

Little-known facts about your school: An education at Normandale is still very affordable. Normandale credits transfer to four-year colleges throughout the Upper Midwest and those four-year colleges aggressively seek our students as transfers. Research shows that students transferring from Normandale excel at the four-year institutions, academically even outperforming students who start at those colleges as freshmen.

9700 France Avenue South, Bloomington, MN
952-487-8201 www.normandale.edu
 

Northland College

Total enrollment: Approximately 700

Tuition: $22,500

What is the overall vision of your school? Northland College offers each student a unique educational experience from faculty who really care. Our environmental mission is a part of every academic program, from Business to Science to Outdoor Education.

What do admissions counselors look for in a good application? A good application is one where the essay is written for the specific college and not a simple search and replace of the college’s name within the same essay. If you are interested in the college, tell us why; we know we have a science program but let us know what about our program will help you realize your dreams.

How do you keep your competitive edge? Northland has been an environmental liberal arts college since 1971. Over the years, we have made changes to our program to always offer classes that are innovative and relevant. To maintain our leadership, Northland College faculty has performed a complete review of our curriculum to ensure that we are preparing students to respond to today’s issues and make the world a better place.

1411 Ellis Ave., Ashland, WI
1-800-753-1840
www.northland.edu