Kristin Hwu is the first ever winner of a Cappex College Scholarship. She took home one of the Cappex College Tour Travel Scholarships in September.

On this edition of the CappCast, Kristin joins us over the phone to talk about what the right college feels like, and how her college search is going. She's a future nurse looking for strong schools in the Midwest that "feel like home."

For more information on college scholarships, or how Cappex can help you find your right college fit, visit www.cappex.com.

On this week's CappCast Eric Carpio of Adams State College talks about scholarships you don't have to apply for, and a program that promotes outdoor adventure.

Adams State is located in the San Luis Valley in Colorado. For the uninitiated, that's the home of huge mountains, Great Sand Dunes Natinal Park and the Rio Grande River. Adams State is in Alamosa, in the heart of the valley, and offers an Outdoor Adventure Program which organizes student trips, some lasting a weeks, to explore the surrounding area. Carpio talks about this, as well as the school's need for certain types of students. So if you're a Hispanic male wanting to teach, or anyone wanting to study sports psychology, then listen up. To get more information on getting in Adams State visit Cappex.com, where colleges apply to you.

Students at the University of Denver will get more than a good education. On this week's CappCast, vice chancellor Tom Willouhby details what's available on campus, and we're not just talking about the new lacrosse stadium.

Students receive, for example, a free light rail pass so they can trek downtown any time they wish. Also, if you can hold a 3.0 GPA then students can study abroad at no extra cost. The tuition to that specialty school in Bora Bora will be the same for the student as if they stayed in Denver. This is a popular option, as 70 percent of students at UD qualify. If you do want to hang around Denver we wont' blame you. There are six major ski resorts within 90 minutes. To learn more about how to get accepted at the University of Denver visit Cappex.com, where colleges apply to you.

On this week's CappCast you can get to know Brad Tokar, dean of admissions at Westminster College in Pennsylvania. If you're already at Westminster then you probably already know Tokar. Westminster has a low student-faculty ratio, high graduation rate and almost half of its student body participating in athletics.

Most importantly though, Westminster specializes in personal connections. Tokar, for example, talks about students visiting the homes of their advisors and getting cell phone calls from professors. To learn more about Westminster, and their experience-heavy educational program, visit Cappex.com, where colleges apply to you.

 

College. Those eight letters can mean four years, or two years, or even 16 years. College can be big or small, public or private. It can even be a university. On this week's CappCast, Carole Snow, vice provost with the University of Illinois-Chicago is hear to define college in more than the Webster's Dictionary sense. She tells you about the different types of degrees, from associates to doctorates. Then, she breaks it down even furhter with, comparing liberal arts studies with professional degrees and technical training. She even lets you know about the advantages of community colleges.

It's everything you wanted to know about college in seven minutes. Don't write your first application without this information. Then, for more information on how to get accepted at the right college for you, visit Cappex.com, where colleges apply to you.

 

The University of Illinois-Chicago reflects the city it calls home, from the diverse student body to the great food found just off campus. On this week's CappCast, vice provost Carole Snow gives the deep dish about the buzz in the big city.

She also gets specific about getting in. Tune in to find out which specific high school classes matter the most to UIC, and why your time outside the classroom matters, too. UIC is home to many students from the Chicago area, but they are also looking outside the city limits. They are especially interested in attracting women to scientific studies. If you want more information on how to get into UIC visit Cappex.com, where collegs apply to you.

 

For this week's CappCast we brought in the Rick Funk and he brought in the noise. Funk is a regional recruiter with the University of Alabama. His job is to make sure the Crimson Tide rolls across the country. Sure enough, 25 percent of students at Alabama are from outside the state. Bama brings 'em in with some lucrative scholarships based solely on merit. He tells you who qualifies and how much is available (lots!).

Alabama also offers the classic, big school experience. There are 24,000 students on the campus in Tuscaloosa and 250 student organizations. UA also is one of only two schools nationwide to have their own commercial TV station on campus. To learn more about getting into Alabama visit Cappex.com, where colleges apply to you.

 

Augustana College rocks! Why, you ask? For several reasons. First, it's in Rock Island, Il. Second, their geology program is one of the best around. Third, incoming freshmen get to see lots of rocks on a bonding trip that takes students through the Midwest and West.

On this Cappcast Kent Barnes, vice president of admissions at Augustana College, joins us for a chat about rocks and jocks.

The Cappcast is brought to you by Cappex.com, where colleges apply to you. Stop by Cappex.com to learn more about colleges and how you can get scholarship money for college.

 

Augustana College puts its faith first without leaving academics behind. Nancy Davidson, vice president for enrollment at Augie, as the alumni call it, breaks down the school's Lutheran roots and high academic standards on this week's CappCast. Augustana is a place where students can wrestle with faith in the classroom and then wrestle on the playing field.

With five minor league sports teams in the Sioux Falls area this school has strong sports-related majors. Most impressively though, may be their Viking mascot, Ole. For more information on getting in to places like Augustana College visit Cappex.com, where colleges apply to you.

 

Everybody needs at least one, so where's yours? If you don't have a recommendation letter for your college application yet Nancy Davidson is here to help. She's the vice president of enrollment at Augustana College in South Dakota.

On this week's CappCast, she unveils the secrets to getting a great recommendation letter. She tells you who to ask, how to ask and, because timing is everything, when to ask. For more information on getting in places like Augustana College visit Cappex.com, where colleges apply to you.

 

Fort Lewis College is a place where students might spend the weekend in Purgatory. That would be Purgatory Lodge, the ski resort on Durango Mountain located right next to Fort Lewis College. On this week's CappCast Fort Lewis director of admissions Andrew Burns talks about Purgatory and the other skiing, mountain biking and river rafting opportunities near his school.

He's also just as excited about their academic programs, including the common reading experience. This program distributes the same book to all incoming students, faculty and staff to help build a shared bond and dialogue. Of the incoming students, about 18 percent are Native American at this school with a deep ties to the surrounding lands. Learn more about how to get into Fort Lewis at Cappex.com, where colleges apply to you.

 

Check the stats and you'll find that Edgewood College fits the profile of many small, liberal arts schools. There's a low student-faculty ratio, picturesque setting on the waterfront and a strong academic tradition. In this week's CappCast, Edgewood's director of undergraduate admissions, Christine Benedict, tells you everything you didn't know about Edgewood, like the big school benefits they offer.

Edgewood students live and study in Madison, Wis., the state capital and home to the University of Wisconsin. Good relationships with the political community and the Badgers means that Edgewood students can take advantage of big school facilities and big city work experience. For more info on how to get in Edgewood, visit Cappex.com, where colleges apply to you.

 

Austin Peay State University is the fastest growing college in the state of Tennessee. On this edition of CappCast, director of admissions Ryan Forsythe offers insight to what makes this school in Clarksville so popular. For example, the university's 9,200 undergraduates study in a city with a median age under 30. Austin Peay also offers a top ROTC program, brand new student rec center and roommate guarantee. For more information on how to get schools like Austin Peay to apply to you visit Cappex.com.

 

Flashpoint Academy is a new school in Chicago, Illinois, that caters to those who are serious about recording technology, film, computer animation and game technology. Howard Tullman describes how the cutting-edge world of high-tech media requires practicing professors.

The Flashpoint Campus occupies 70,000 square feet in downtown Chicago. Students are hands-on using state-of-the art technology that is in use in the industry on a daily basis. Flashpoint is designed to get a student in and out in two years. While some students may choose to go on to obtain a four-year degree, many will be in a position to immediately enter the industry.

Students at Flashpoint work together and bring all the disciplines together to build their portfolios hone their talents. They work 40+ hours a week on real projects learning real skills.

 

Direct from Tiffin, Ohio, Lindsey Sooy, Director of Admissions at Heidelberg College, tells CappCast the advantages of a small, rural college. Heidelberg College is a self-supporting community that exists in harmony with the small town of Tiffin. Part of the Ohio Athletic Conference, Heidelberg has very competitive sports with over 45% of the students involved in sports. Student athletes can even major in sports management. Students are very well-rounded and highly involved on campus in one of the 70 different student groups and clubs.

Famous for the Center for Historic Military Archeology students have the opportunity to study in a former civil war prison on Johnson's Island in Lake Erie. Heidelberg is also well-known for forensic science.

 

Lindsay Sooy, Director of Admissions from Heidelberg College, explains that small college campuses can offer a level of intimacy and nurturing that is simply not available on a larger campus. Students enjoy small class sizes and easy access to professors. It is not uncommon for faculty to actually list their home number on their syllabus.

Classes at large schools are often taught by graduate assistants instead of tenured professors. At a small school the classes are usually taught by professors.

The differences are even apparent during the admissions process. Small schools tend to spend much more time on each application.

 

Most admissions professionals agree that visiting colleges is one of the most important parts of the college search process. It is important to start looking during your junior year. Gary Rold, Director of Admissions for Elmhurst College, tells juniors to even visit schools that may not be on their list. It's good practice and it gets you ready for visits to your top choices.

Ask the tough questions and listen carefully to the answers. Ask about specific programs, financial commitments and try to get past any positive spins the admissions department might be presenting.

 

Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Ill is the perfect place for students who have no idea what they want to do with their lives. Elmhurst understands that, as a high school student, you may not have your whole life planned out. They offer a unique curriculum that helps you learn more about yourself and how you might help make the world a better place.

Located just a short distance from Chicago, Ill, Elmhurst offers an intimate setting with a refreshing perspective for students. They offer a variety of practical degrees. Gary Rold, director of admissions, invites musicians to apply and learn more about their Music Business degree.

 

In 2003 the US Supreme Court upheld the right of colleges and universities to consider race in the admissions process. This landmark case provides a backdrop for our discussion with Jon Boeckenstedt, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management for DePaul University in Chicago, Ill. The decision to allow colleges to consider race stems from the idea that diversity will improve education and, therefore, proactively building a diverse student body is an important part of the admissions process.

In spite of the advantages that diversity brings to campuses, Jon outlines why colleges must make sure that race is not the only factor in considering applicants and that in no case should unqualified minorities be given an advantage in the admissions process.

 

Donna Virklan, College Counselor from Niles North High School in Skokie, Ill recommends that juniors start compiling a list of prospective colleges in the spring of their junior year and then getting on the road and actually visiting schools. Many high schools will give you a day off and many colleges have special visiting days just for juniors.

Also, Donna suggests that you take some time now, before application season begins, to put together a resume and a personal statement. These two documents will be used over and over again the application process and having them handy will be an important part of the process. She asks all her students to go over their personal statements with their guidance counselor who can provide valuable feedback.

 

Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry, New York is here (close to home), there (in the big, bad city) and everywhere (online). It offers a wonderful choice for students who are looking for a diverse college experience. With a variety of different campus settings and an online campus Mercy students can choose the college experience that works best.

Jay Murray, Director of Admissions, says Mercy offers a unique mix of degree programs ranging from Associates and Bachelor's programs to PhD and Professional schools, Mercy attracts students who value a private, liberal-arts education but don't want to pay private school prices.

Mercy has historically drawn an unusually large number of transfer students, but is looking to grow its freshman class.

 

Mary Chase, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Director of Admissions and Scholarship for Creighton University tells Cappex.com that getting out to visit colleges during the spring of your junior year is a critical part of getting ready to apply.

Most high schools will let you off for a day or two to go visit colleges. Mary recommends going during the week while classes are in session and to make sure you contact the admissions office before your visit.

If you can't make it to campus there most schools have online tours. Whatever you do, start early and get on campus!

 

Mary Chase, the Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Director of Admissions and Scholarships for Creighton University-- one of the most complex and well-respected universities in the Midwest-- tells us why in Omaha, Neb, is the "Maui of the Midwest".

Creighton is one of the few institutions that offers both undergraduate and graduate schools (including medical school) on one campus. They offer over 50 different majors yet they are small enough to offer personal attention.

Creighton is well-supported by the local business community. Their business program has more internship opportunities than they have students.

As a Cappex.com college, Creighton is looking to attract business students, science majors and even Hawaiian students.

 

Scott Friedhoff, Vice President for Enrollment at Allegheny College in Meadville, Penn tells Cappex.com about the unique mix of talents and skills that are inherent in Allegheny Students.

At Allegheny students have interests that are "Wonderfully Weird". If you are someone that likes yoga and biology you might be a good fit for Allegheny.

As a Cappex.com participant college, Allegheny is looking for different types of students- especially those who respect the environment. Allegheny's Green campus is committed to sustainable energy.

Allegheny is also interested in inviting students from the southern states to come to Meadville and enjoy the great winters that feature all sorts of sports in their 100 inches of snow.

 

Scott Friedhoff, the Vice President for Enrollment at Allegheny College, joins the CappCast hosts in the Cappex kitchen to discuss what to do if you are that hapless senior who didn't get into college.

If you are one of those poor souls- cheer up! There is still a very good chance you will be off to college in the fall. Scott recommends taking another look at colleges that you may have taken off your original list as they probably still have room. Many colleges actually save spots for late applicants (a little known fact).

Also, check with your guidance counselor. Many counselors keep tabs on which colleges still have spaces. The National Association of College Admissions Counselors (yes, they have an association) circulates a list of colleges that are still making offers to students.