COLLEGE TOUR
In 2005, the Youth Achievers toured the following colleges: North Carolina A&T, University of North Carolina, Wake Forest, North Carolina AT&T, Winston-Salem & Central State, Duke, Bennett College, Johnson C. Smith & Livingston College.

In preparation for the tour, the Youth & Adult Achievers worked together to develop a strategy for selecting a college and a checklist of key questions to consider during their visit to each of the colleges.

Questions to consider before going on the tour:
What is a good strategy for selecting a college?
What is a good strategy for applying to colleges?
What are some factors to consider in college selection?
How else can you determine which is the best school for you?
What is the student /teacher ratio?
What type of financial aid is offered?
What is the admission SAT score requirement?
What is the tuition for out of state students and in state?
What local attractions are there in the area?
What safety/security standards are in place?

Options to Consider:

Location. How far are you willing to travel? Does climate matter? Do you prefer an urban or a rural setting? How often can you afford to come home once you're there?

Two-year or four-year school. Are you thinking about starting at a two-year community college and then transferring to a four-year school? Or do you want to start at a four-year school?

Burning passion for courses of study. Do you know what your life's passion is? Can you name your major? Do you want to get a more general, liberal arts degree and then consider a master's degree in a specialized field?

Type of college. Public? Private? Religious?

Living arrangements. On campus? Off campus? At home? In a sorority or a fraternity?

Extracurricular activities. Are college sports teams or nearby mountain biking or snow skiing opportunities important to you

Size of student body. Small? Medium? Large?

Faculty-to-student ratios. Do you mind classes taught by graduate students--sometimes the case at larger universities? Do you prefer that all classes be taught by a professor?

Importance of financial aid. Do you need to apply for scholarships and/or financial aid? If so, how much? Will you have to work while going to school? If so, will the school's location determine job opportunities? Will staying in state keep your costs down?

Readiness. Are you ready to go to college? Do you want to take a year off from school? Do you need to bring up some of your grades or retake some classes in order to solidify your knowledge in certain subjects?

Social life. Do you want to go to a school known for its social life? Do you want a quiet, academic setting? Do you want a college of freethinkers and nonconformists?

Testimonials from the College Tour:
"Great experience!"

"I learned the Black Achievers program is a very influential place to be."

"The College Tour was a great experience. I learned information about colleges that are of interest to me."

"I would like to express my feelings about the college visits. I had so much fun. I learned that there are many different types of colleges and minority that has to be faced when you make your decision on what college you plan on attending."