Mr. K's College Knowledge

I’m going to stay in the Pacific Northwest, with the next college to showcase. Seattle University is a Jesuit university in the middle of stunning Seattle. It has just over 4,500 undergraduate students with a diverse population of students and a myriad of top notch programs to study. When I first arrived on campus, I was struck by the beauty of the campus and how it meshed very well with the surrounding environment. Although the campus is right outside downtown Seattle, you are surrounded by water and snow-capped mountains, and the modern and unique architecture of the school buildings is quite breathtaking. I know Seattle is far for us east-coasters, but as I talked to students, faculty, and administration at Seattle University, I realized this was truly a special place with so much to offer for students across the county, and it is a place I would feel very comfortable recommending. Here are a few fun and helpful facts about the school, so enjoy! Student Population : 4,500 Unde

College is expensive. Taking more than 4 years to graduate usually makes college even more expensive. In many situations, students are unable to register for certain courses when they need them, and have to continue at school for another semester or two. More semesters, means more credits (more tuition money) and other fees associated with staying on campus. I would like to bring to your attention, at least one school that is trying to help students avoid paying more, if they have to stay longer than 4 years to complete their degree. Temple University in Philadelphia has a program called Fly-In-4. Students, who agree to this, join a partnership with Temple to graduate within 4 years. If Temple does not hold up their end of the bargain, and the student has to come back for another semester or longer, Temple will grant that student free education for the remaining coursework. Make sure you read about the qualifications for this program, but it is definitely something to think about. Vi

The next school I would like to highlight is the University of Portland . UP is in beautiful Portland, Oregon, surrounded by a picturesque river and mountain range. It is a Roman Catholic school, and is part of the Holy Cross congregation. The two other colleges that are Holy Cross schools are Stonehill and Notre Dame. Although UP is far from the east coast, this is definitely a school worth checking out. The campus was stunning, the academics are diverse and strong, and you get a real sense of a strong and vibrant community. This is a school I would feel very comfortable recommending to my students. Below are some “quick hitter” stats about the school, and I will have my final thoughts at the bottom. Enjoy! University of Portland Stats Undergraduate enrollment: 3,320 Middle 50% for  admissions : SAT: 1610-1940, GPA: 3.64, Percent Accepted: 66% Average Amount of Merit Scholarships Awarded per year, per student: $13, 420 Average Amount of Need Based Financial Aid Awa

May 1 st has come and gone and although most seniors are very happy with their future homes, there are still students exploring alternative options.  Every year, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), publishes a list of colleges and universities across the country that are still accepting applications for fall enrollment. The majority of schools have deadlines in late winter/early spring, and the student must deposit by May 1 st , to secure a spot. However, there are hundreds of colleges still looking to get more students in their seats, and will allow students to still apply, even though we are well into May. This is a good option for students who either have not been accepted to any schools, can’t afford the schools they were accepted into, or were wait listed at many of their schools. So if you are interested, take a look at the list of schools, and if it makes sense for you, go ahead and apply! Please click here for the entire list of colleges