URBAN UNIVERSITY

101Jessica King, Senior Admissions Officer

Amberly Miller, Assistant Dean

University of Cincinnati

2010 OACAC Spring Conference

CHOOSING A COLLEGE Role of school counselors Input from family Culture of the high school Availability of programs in areas of

interest Financial considerations Campus community and feel Finding the right “fit”

Has anyone counseled a student hesitant to consider urban universities in their search process?

URBAN [PUBLIC] UNIVERSITIES University of Akron University of Cincinnati Cleveland State University The Ohio State University University of Toledo Wright State University Youngstown State University

Urban: of, pertaining to, or designating a city; living in a city

FLAGSHIP PROGRAMS Architecture Performance arts Engineering Business Veterinary Pharmacy Nursing

WHY ARE STUDENTS HESITANT?

WHY ARE STUDENTS HESITANT?Some of the most common reasons we

encounter:

1. Size2. Crime3. Difference

SIZE Sound familiar?

“The campus is too large”“I would just be a face in the crowd”“I’ll never find my way around”

You can make a big campus smaller, but you can’t make a small campus larger.First Year ExperienceResidence LifeHonors ProgramsMajors and departments

CRIME Sound familiar?

“The neighborhood around the campus is scary”

“The campus has a bad rep” Separating perception from reality

Right to KnowAsking questions, doing research

Urban Living 101Common sensePrevalence of “crimes of opportunity”Police and community partnerships

Crime isn’t endemic to urban areas

DIFFERENCE Sound familiar?

“I’ve never lived in an urban environment”“This doesn’t look like anything I’m used to”“I don’t think I would fit in”

Fear of the unknownApplies to students considering moving

from urban to suburban or rural areas, too Best resolved through research

College websites and recruitment materialsVoluntary System of Accountability (VSA)

http://www.collegeportraits.org/

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE Do students have different associations

based on the type of university?Are they more inclined to consider private

universities in urban areas as compared to public universities in the same setting?

What influences these considerations?

POWER OF DIRECT EXPERIENCE Campus visits

Added layer of importance when concerned about overall environment

Connect with current studentsLearn their perceptions, how they have

changed Spending time in the city and

surrounding communityDiscover what both the university and the

city/community can offerAsk admissions representatives for help

There is no better way to determine “fit”

OPPORTUNITIES Professional development

Internships, co-ops, networkingWhat are students’ long-term goals?

Will they require movement to urban areas eventually?

Cultural events and activitiesMuseums, festivals, concerts, special events

Life within AND outside of the “college” community

INFORMED DECISIONS How else can we guide students through

the process? Urban campuses are NOT for every

student…but what information do they use to make

that decision?