A few weeks ago, the Xavier college counseling department traveled to the Cleveland area and visited 11 colleges and universities. It was a great trip, which allowed us to get a good feel for schools I have never been to before. I thought it would be great to put down some notes and observations from each of these schools. Take a look, and if any seem interesting, I urge you to investigate them further! Over the next few days, I will write about a few of the schools and I will put the location of each school, the size of each school, the middle 50% for the SAT’s (average scores for acceptance), and a few facts. Enjoy!

John Carroll University: University Heights, OH

3,000 students-SAT: 1460-1790-Total COA $44,520:

-40% of graduates come out with more than one major

-Maximum class size is 29

-D3 Sports, 13% of students involved in Greek Life, and 20% of students commute from home

-Most families only pay between $10,000-$15,000 out of pocket

-Last year, out of 370 Jesuit High School Students that applied, 320 were accepted

Counselor thoughts: JCU seems like it would be a good fit for many of our students. It had a great community feel, and everyone there is available to help students succeed. JCU had a gorgeous campus, with a vibrant student life atmosphere. A quiet neighborhood surrounds the campus, but the school is less than 30 minutes from downtown Cleveland.

Hiram College: Hiram, OH

1,400 students-SAT: 1340-1790-Total COA $40,000

-Although founded in 1850 by the Disciples of Christ, Hiram is a not a Catholic institution

-40% of students are 1^st generation college students

-Average class size is 16

-They have 2 (15) week semesters. 12 weeks are traditional classes with finals, and then 3 weeks of specialty work of the student choosing, such as internships or study abroad.

-Tuition guarantee, so whatever you pay as a freshmen, that price will not increase

-Strong sciences and management programs, and a solid pre-nursing program

Counselor thoughts: With 60% of the students hailing from Ohio, it may be tough for our students to find this school a good fit. However, it is obvious the faculty cares deeply about the success of their students, and if a student is looking for a close-knit community with the ability to be very active on campus, it may be worth checking out this small college.

Case Western Reserve University

4,300 students- SAT: 1865-2165-Total COA $50,000

-Top notch nursing and engineering programs

-“Single-door admissions”-accepted into CWRU, student can enroll in any major

-Nursing program starts right away, giving student clinical hours early on. Students finish with nearly 16,000 clinical hours (near double the national average)

-Engineering program is not a traditional curriculum, looking ahead for new way of engineering, and wants students who can think ahead, think critically, and have good oral and written communication

-School has its own Think Box with a 3D printer

-Professional atmosphere throughout college/campus

-Utilizes ‘University Circle’, which has been named one of America’s best college areas with beautiful surroundings, and numerous museums, hospitals, and music venues, where students can gain free admission.

Counselor thoughts: CWRU is a top-notch institution, and any student thinking about engineering, nursing, or even business should consider this school. They have access to incredible facilities, and students are pushed to perform at high levels. Situated in a beautiful and active part of Cleveland, there is always something going on to keep students busy…when they aren’t studying.

The College of Wooster

2,000 students-SAT: 1640-1985-Total COA $48,000

-Nationally recognized as the top school in undergraduate research and senior capstone. Each student does one full year of research with 1 professor.

-City of Wooster is a growing, safe, culturally diverse and has a vibrant downtown

-1/3 of students participate on Varsity sports

-Study abroad very popular and school has its own entrepreneurship center

-11:1 student to teacher ratio and zero teacher assistants

Counselor thoughts: Wooster is a fabulous college. The students there are very serious academically, but it does not seem overly competitive. Students looking for personal attention, and a chance to research and explore an area of interest, should seriously consider this school.

-Joseph D. Korfmacher, MA