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?