Hightower Scholars, Inc.

College Daze – Finding, Paying, Staying, and Working

 

Mission

Hightower Scholars, Inc. is a small, family-owned, non-profit consulting group dedicated to education and to development in the community.  We are committed to the preparation of young people for a higher education, and to assisting colleges and universities with their recruitment and retention strategies.  Based on our experience, we encourage students to understand that academic success is directly related to hard work, and support from family and friends.

 

Hightower Scholars, Inc. encompasses over thirty years of experience in higher education, including admissions, financial aid, and academic and student affairs.  We have found that there are many prospective college students and their families who are lacking a clear understanding about the college search process.  Students are not making sound, rational, and financially efficient decisions concerning higher education.  Consequently, we are seeing increased attrition, additional transfers, and decreased retention rates at colleges and universities across the country.  We also know that recruitment means very little without a systematic strategy for retention.  This was our organization’s motivation in developing College Daze – Finding, Paying, Staying, and Working.

 

Program Agenda and Implementation

 

The Admissions Process

 

Ø      Public v. Private

Ø      In-state v. Out-of-state

Ø      Large v. Small

Ø      Liberal Arts, Research, and Technical Institutions

Ø      Predominately White, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Religious Affiliation, etc.

Ø      Campus Visits and Personal Interviews

Ø      The Application Process

James Hightower III

Associate Director of College Counseling
Phillips Academy Andover

  

The Financial Aid Process

                                        

Ø      Important Forms and Deadlines (FAFSA)

Ø      Institutional Financial Aid Forms/The PROFILE

Ø      Student Aid Report (SAR)

Ø      Scholarships, Grants, Work-Study, and Loans

Ø      Financial Aid Packaging

Ø      The Appeals Process

Ø      Money Management

Jamie C. Hightower

Acting Director of Financial Aid and Student Accounts

 The College of New Jersey

 

 

Academic Support and Campus Life

 

Ø      Student-centered Learning

Ø      Advising, Registration, Business Affairs

Ø      Academic Assistance, Time Management, Learning Resources

Ø      Student Organizations and Athletics

Ø      Off-Campus Programs

Ø      Graduate and Professional School

Diane D. Hightower

Dean of Student Academic Support Services

DePauw University

 

  

Additional College Daze Program Resources and Activities

 

Ø      College Fair, College Tour

Ø      Packets, Hand-outs, College Daze bags

Ø      Group Discussion

Ø      Monitoring and Follow-Up

Ø      Evaluation