Higher Ed trivia: 15 fun facts for 2014

Professors at Columbia University make the highest average salaries.

In addition to providing a fascinating profile of today’s undergraduate students, the Chronicle of Higher Education has compiled a wide range of miscellaneous statistics for its 2015 Almanac.

Some bits of trivia are entirely predictable but others leave even the most experienced professionals scratching their heads.

For example, it’s not surprising that business was the most popular field of study for earners of bachelor’s and master’s degrees in 2012.  Health professions came in at a distant second.

And nearly three-quarters of last fall’s freshmen assess their academic ability in the highest 10 percent or above average, but more than half reported spending less than one hour per week reading for pleasure per week during their last year of high school.

Liberty University continues its mind boggling growth, increasing enrollment 865% in the ten-year period between 2002 and 2012—only to be outdone by Western Governors University which grew by 6020% in the same period. Both schools no doubt reap the benefits of a strong online presence.

For those who don’t have a subscription to the Chronicle of Higher Education, here are 15 "fun facts" you may find interesting or at least useful conversation starters:

1. The most bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2012 went to business, management, marketing, and related support services (365,272); the fewest went to precision production (37) and military technologies and applied sciences (45).
2. Among freshmen, 21.2 percent characterize themselves as “conservative," while 27.7 percent are "liberal."
3. The highest paid presidents at public colleges (total compensation) were to be found at Ohio State ($6,057,615), Texas A&M ($1,636,274), the North Dakota University system ($1,311,095), and the University of Georgia ($1,295,954).
4. Over 19 percent of college freshmen hope to earn a Ph.D., while 11 percent want to join the medical profession as doctors, vets, or dentists.
5. Enrollment at 4-year private nonprofit institutions increased by two percent between spring 2013 and spring 2014.
6. Among freshman enrolling at four-year colleges in the fall of 2013, 11.4 percent reported spending less than an hour per week doing homework during their last year of high school.
7. Full professors make the highest average salaries at Columbia University ($215,500), Stanford University ($215,200), University of Chicago ($210,700), Harvard University (207,100), and Princeton University ($206,200).
8. Slightly over 10 percent of freshman reported spending over 20 hours/week working “for pay” during their last year of high school.
9. The average “sticker price” for an in-state student living on campus at a public institution was $8,893 (tuition and fees); the average “sticker price” for a private college student living on campus was $30,094.
10. The most popular “probable” field of study/major among freshmen is biological science (14.7%), and the least popular is physical science (2.4%)
11. Over 60% of freshmen reported tutoring another student in the past year.
12. Well over half of new acquisitions at all academic libraries in the 2012 fiscal year were e-books.
13. Slightly over 46% of freshmen lived more than 100 miles from home, while 12.5% reported living 10 or fewer miles from home.
14. About 84% of freshmen expect to complete their degrees in four years—down 3% from the previous year’s survey.
15. Pennsylvania drew the most out-of-state freshmen with New Jersey, New York, and Maryland contributing the majority of these students.

Top 20 list of most beautiful universities in America—public or private

University of Virginia

Beauty may be in the eyes of the beholder, but for independent educational consultants (IEC’s) asked this week to name the most beautiful universities in America there were a few clear favorites.

In an opinion poll circulated to members of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), the University of Virginia came out on top of almost 100 university campuses nominated for the honor.

Barbara Rapaport, an IEC based In New Jersey, cast her vote for UVa “…mostly for Jefferson’s rotunda and ‘academical village,’ both for architectural beauty and historic significance.”  While Pam Pik, an educational consultant from Connecticut pointed out, “They are pouring lots of money into restoration.”

Princeton University

Tied for second place were Princeton and Stanford, two very different campuses appealing to very different tastes in architectural style.

From there, the list of beautiful universities included campuses in every corner of the country—a fair representation of the many miles traveled by educational consultants each year in service of their client families.

“I’ve visited 30 colleges in the past year and I feel like each campus has something truly unique to offer,” explained Kristina Dooley, a Cleveland-based educational consultant.  “I find that you need to look beyond the beautiful trees and buildings to get to the true beauty of a campus:  the community.”

And that’s what drives IEC’s to put in the miles and visit even the remotest campuses in America—the desire to learn firsthand what makes individual colleges and universities unique.  This information is then used to inform the kinds of specialized counseling provided by IEC’s to college-bound students.

Stanford University

“You can tell a lot about a campus community by the number of random ‘hellos’ you get while strolling the walkways and by the variety of activities promoted on fliers scattered on billboards,” adds Ms. Dooley.

But there’s something even more valuable about looking beyond what’s provided on a webpage or in a

view book and actually “experiencing” a college community.

“At MIT, I had the good fortune to be walking down the Infinite Corridor when students were changing classes,” said Jeana Kawamura, whose consulting practice is in Newport Beach, California.  “As students emerged from their classrooms to go to their next, the energy was electric.  Students engaged with each other in animated discussion about the topics of the day—this was probably the most profound moment I have had on a college campus.  The eclectic mix of architecture paled in comparison to the beauty of higher education engagement.”

And this is what it’s all about.

Thanks to hundreds of IEC’s who also cast votes earlier in the week for the most beautiful liberal arts colleges, the following represents counselor picks for the top 20 list of most beautiful universities in America:

1.  University of Virginia

2.  Princeton University and Stanford University

4.  Duke University

5.  Yale University

6.  University of Colorado Boulder

7.  University of Chicago

8.  College of William and Mary an Pepperdine University

10.  Indiana University, Vanderbilt University, University of Washington, UCLA

14.  Elon University, University of San Diego and Dartmouth College

17.  Lehigh University and Northwestern University

19.  Rice University

20.  Miami University and Wake Forest University

Counselors’ choice: The 16 most beautiful liberal arts colleges in America

Swarthmore College

Members of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) were asked this week to name the most beautiful college campuses in America.

And who better to ask than a group of professionals dedicated to making “best fit” matches between high school students and colleges?

In fact, independent educational consultants (IEC’s) rack up literally hundreds of thousands of miles each year visiting campuses in every corner of the country on fact-finding missions to gather information and learn what makes individual colleges special or unique.

“In 2013, I visited 53 colleges/universities,” explained Emily Standish, whose consulting business is headquartered in Portland, Oregon.  “To date this year, I have visited 30.” 

Sandy Clingman in Virginia reports that she’s visited over 70 colleges in the past year, and Abby Siegel, who maps her visits on her website, is nearing 300 campus tours in her career as an IEC.

And they come from all over the world.  “I visit at least 15 institutions a year and have been known to visit 35 in one year,” said Laura O’Brien Gatzionis, who annually travels all the way from Athens, Greece, to scope-out colleges for her students.

These trips constitute an important part of the job of an IEC and are a key component of the value-added IEC’s bring to the college advising process.

As a result, it’s fair to say that no other group in the college advising business can boast of having as much “on-site” experience as the corps of IEC’s who can be found sitting in information sessions, following along tour guides, chatting with students, or eating lunch in the dining hall. 

IEC’s take seriously their responsibility as the eyes and ears of college-bound students and their families, budgeting considerable time and money to support regular travel to conferences and tours.  A recent tour of Virginia colleges sponsored by HECA filled within ten minutes of posting—and that’s not unusual.

University of Richmond

IEC’s don’t receive reimbursements for these trips or time-off from their responsibilities. They are year-round travelers anxious to squeeze one more campus into an otherwise full schedule. 

And even vacations aren’t off-limits, as it’s not unusual for IEC’s to take college detours while on family trips.

“I always tell my husband that one day we will rent a silver Windstream mobile home and drive across the country visiting all of the schools I have missed! Not sure that sounds like a great vacation to him but it's like a trip to Disney for me!” said Kristina Dooley, of Estrela Consulting, in Cleveland, Ohio.

But it’s more than just “seeing” a campus that drives IEC’s to make college tours a top priority.  It’s because the only way to experience the culture and “vibe” of a college is to be here.

“To me, all college campuses are beautiful. It's not the location or the architecture, it's the combination of youth and ideas, research and history—combusting into the flame of knowledge!” explains Ann Scheder-Bieschin, of Carina College Admission Counseling, in Cotati, California. “The energy on many campuses is exciting. “

And when asked about her list of beautiful colleges, Jeana Kawamura, an IEC based in Newport Beach, California, adds, “I think that the real beauty of a campus is when they open their doors and embrace a student's search for a positive and appropriate place to learn.”

Dedicated IEC’s have ongoing love affairs with colleges.  When asked to nominate the most beautiful liberal arts colleges in America, they generated a list of over 90 institutions.  Of these, 16 exceptionally attractive schools came out on top (check this column on Friday for America’s Most Beautiful Universities):

1.  Swarthmore College and the University of Richmond

3.  Pomona College

4.  Lewis and Clark College and Middlebury College

6.  Kenyon College, Rhodes College, and Wellesley College

9.  Scripps College

10.  Furman University

11.  Sewanee:  The University of the South

12.  Bucknell University and Colgate University

14.  Colby College, Rollins College, and Vassar College

College fairs offer something for everyone

Virginia Tech will be represented at many fall fairs

Fall is in the air, and college reps are once again crisscrossing the country to stage a series of prospective student recruitment events.

In addition to scheduling off-campus interviews, admissions folks are active participants in local college fairs.  And you are cordially invited to attend one or several fairs depending on where your favorite colleges or universities happen to visit this year:

Alcanza College Fair
George Mason University will be hosting the 14^th annual Alcanza College Fair as part of an effort to inform Latino high school students about higher education opportunities.  Over 100 colleges will be in attendance on Tuesday, October 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  Lunch is provided to all registered groups of students.

Archbishop Spaulding College Fair
Scheduled for Tuesday, October 21 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, the Archbishop Spaulding College Fair typically attracts 180 colleges and universities.  In addition, this year’s fair will include workshops on Admissions, Financial Aid, and the NCAA Clearinghouse. ASHS is located in Severn, MD

Arlington County Public Schools College Night
Representatives from more than 150 colleges, universities, and trade schools will be available to answer questions about the admissions process, academics, and campus life.  This year’s APS College Night is scheduled for Thursday, October 23, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, at the Washington-Lee High School.  Hint:  this could be an alternative to the very hectic FCPS College Fair (see below).

FCPS College Fair and Night
Students and their families are invited to attend the 2014 FCPS College Fair and/or College Night. Both events provide opportunities for college-bound students and their families to gather information from several hundred participating colleges and universities. This year’s college fair will be held on Sunday, October 19th, at Fair Oaks Mall. College Night will take place the following evening at Hayfield Secondary School and will also feature a series of useful workshops. For more information or to download a College Fair Ticket with barcode, visit the FCPS website.  Be warned however, the College Fair traditionally draws about 10,000 students and families. Try to be strategic and arrive early.

Harford County Public Schools ‘Education after High School’ College Fair
Parents and students in all grade levels are invited to attend and meet representatives from more than 120 colleges and universities, on Wednesday, October 15, at the Harford Community College. This year’s event is scheduled to run from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. and will also include representation from trade and technical schools.

JET College Nights
Twenty-eight Jesuit colleges and universities located in 19 states work together to schedule "regional" Jesuit Excellence Tour (JET) College Nights. In the coming months, the tour will be in every corner of the country including Las Vegas, Cincinnati, Boston, Chicago, and New York—to name a few host cities. Locally, two events are scheduled for the beginning of March—one in Baltimore and the other in DC.

JCC Annual College Fair

All are invited to the JCC Annual College Fair, scheduled for Sunday, November 16 at the Rosenbloom Jewish Community Center, located on Gwynnbrook Avenue in Owings Mill, Maryland.  Representatives from an impressive list of over 40 colleges and universities will be available to meet with students and parents. 

LGBT College Fairs
Campus Pride’s national LGBT college fair program includes events in every corner of the country.  Free and open to the public, these fairs offer students the opportunity to learn more about LGBT-friendly colleges and universities. Future dates include fairs in Vancouver WA (October 25), New York (November 7), and Tennessee (November 15).   For more information, visit the Campus Pride Website.

NACAC’s National College Fairs
Free and open to the public, NACAC’s National College Fairs are organized to promote interaction with admissions staff representing a wide range of postsecondary institutions. During the day, workshops are scheduled covering a variety of topics including financial aid, essay writing, NCAA eligibility, and students with disabilities. In addition, college counselors are available to answer questions and help with college search. Online registration is available for many National College Fairs, including Baltimore, scheduled for October 27-28, at the Baltimore Convention Center.

NACAC’s Performing and Visual Arts (PVA) College Fairs
PVA College Fairs are specifically targeted to students interested in studying theater, visual arts, graphic design, music, dance or other related disciplines. In addition to providing information on educational opportunities, admission requirements, and financial aid, staff is available to provide advice on portfolio development and auditions. PVA College Fairs require no pre-registration although the opportunity to register is offered online for many fairs.

National Christian College Fairs
Over 120 fairs are scheduled to take place in the US and Canada this fall.  A complete list of venues and dates may be found on the National Christian Fair website.

NOVA College Transfer Fair

The College Transfer Fair provides students the chance to learn about a variety of 4-year institutions.  This year’s Alexandria campus program will be held on Wednesday, October 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in the Ernst community Cultural Center.  High school students and counselors are welcome to attend.  Other fairs are scheduled for the Woodbridge campus (October 21) and the Annandale campus (October 23).

Portfolio Days
National Portfolio Days are specifically for visual artists and designers. These events are not so much college fairs as opportunities to meet with representatives from colleges accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design. Portfolio Days require no registration and operate on a first come, first served basis. Local events are scheduled for Saturday, November 22, at the Corcoran College of Art & Design; or Sunday, November 23 at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

Tri-State College Night

Allegany College of Maryland will host the annual Tri-State College Night on October 14, from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.  More than 60 schools will be represented at the event, which ordinarily attracts students and parents from Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania.   Four high school students attending the event will be awarded by random drawing scholarships totaling $1,400. 

Washington County College Fair

The Annual Washington County College Fair will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, at the Hagerstown Community College Athletic, Recreation and Community Center (ARCC).  Representatives from over 100 colleges, universities, and technical schools will be on-site to meet with students and their families.

Tip:  College websites usually include lists of fairs, special presentations and interview opportunities they have scheduled throughout the year.  Be sure to check with colleges on your list to see where they may be appearing in the coming months.