Name: __Emma Taviano_______

Career Development College / Technical School

Exploration Project
Career Development Spring 2017

ASSIGNMENT :
Choose three colleges or technical schools that interest you. Use Naviance, college websites, College Board.com
and any additional college resources available in the library. As you research, remember to keep in mind your
personality and your career goals. Refer to the Myers-Brigg Personality Profile and the other Interest Inventories
that you have taken this semester.

FORMAT/REQUIREMENTS :
(60 points) Complete the form with complete sentences. If a box has more than one question, answer all parts.
(15 points) Talk with your parents and get them to SIGN the completed form. This signature is worth points.
(10 points) Include your works cited list as the final page
(15 points) Write your reflection in business letter format and submit it with your completed form.
o Consider (but dont limit yourself to) these personal questions in the letter
What schools did you research? How did you select these schools?
How do the academic offerings, location and social experience correlate with what you
would like at your future school?
Does the school you are going to choose have the major you would like? Will you go in
undecided?
Can you afford this school?
Are the schools you researched reach, safety, or middle of the road schools?
What is required for entrance to this school?
What specifically do you need to do between now and application time?
Make the connection between these three schools and what you know about yourself and your
goals/dreams.
Tie this into our discussions about personality types, values survey, and your Myers-Brigg profile. How
did these play a role in your decision-making process?

My son/daughter__________________ ___________________ (name) has researched these 3 schools

_________________________________________________, ________________________________________

______, and _________________________________________. My signature indicates that we have

discussed these choices and the cost of these colleges with our son/daughter.

__________________________________________________________________
Printed Parent/Guardian Name

________________________________________________________________ ______________
Signature of Parent/Guardian date

Emma Taviano
Glen Mills, PA 19342

May 19th, 2017

Mrs. Perry
Garnet Valley High School
552 Smithbridge Road
Glen Mills, PA 19342

Dear Mrs. Perry:

I took the time to research three of the schools I have always wanted to attend my whole life. The first
school I decided to look into was Saint Joseph's University. Some of my family members attend SJU and I have
been there a couple of times for lacrosse clinics. The school is very pretty and is in a great location. I have gone
to their basketball game a couple of times too. My older sister was also interested in going to Saint Joe's, but
later decided not to. Saint Joseph's is very close to my house, and I would really like to go close to home but
also still be able to live there, and I think SJU is perfect for that. The second school that I researched was
Villanova University. I love everything about Villanova, I think the area is very nice and I could really see
myself going here. Villanova honestly is one of my top schools although it is my reach school, it is close to
home and has a beautiful campus. The last school I looked at was Penn State University. My whole life I have
been surrounded by huge PSU fans including my whole family. Some of my older friends are going/go to PSU
and when I visited it I loved everything about it I definitely would love to go there. The only issue is that it is
further from home, not too far but still at least a three and a half hour car ride. These schools are all serious
possibilities to where I would like to pursue my education in two years. All three of these schools are not the
easiest to get into, you definitely have to try your best in high school. I think I am on the right path right now to
getting accepted, I just have to really stay consistent and continue to work hard. Also these are all pretty big
schools and that is what I want, I want the whole experience of being apart of a big school.
What I think these three schools all have in common is that I was grown up with people who went there
and watching the sports teams and being fans of all of them. Also the connection between these schools are
location, while Penn State is a stretch from SJU and Villanova it is still not that far and I will be surrounded by
lots of Garnet Valley graduates. I would like to know that I have the option of just hopping in my car and being
able to go home for a weekend if I need to. Another connection between these schools is they all have good
sports teams, I know plenty of people who have went to theses schools and played sports here. I want to
continue to be a part of the fan section and support the school teams. I also know that all of these colleges have
good rates for jobs right out of college so that is a bonus. In order to take action of this benefit I need to work
hard and put myself out there. Nursing programs at these schools are hard to get into, but are great and very
helpful for future nursing jobs. I have a shy attitude at first, but later I get more comfortable which will help me
with getting some of these opportunities. I would like schools where I am forced to feel uncomfortable and have
something new in my life. These three colleges can challenge me to develop as a person and as student. Saint
Josephs, Villanova, and Penn State University would help me become a better student because of their great
tutoring centers, would help me to develop different friend groups and meet more people, and would give me
lots of opportunities in order to become successful.
Throughout my research I have gained the positives and negatives of each school, it has narrowed down
my college search. For example at first I was worried about how the expenses of certain colleges, but after
talking to my parents I feel better. Also that Penn State is a little further than I am looking for, and it may be too
big for me even though I want big it still might be a little too big. Through research I learned there is a lots of
things to enjoy at each school and I would not be missing out. Also once I realized that lots of other Garnet
Valley people would be at Penn State, the distance is more comforting. Other colleges also came into mind
during this that I would also like to look more into but this was a good start to the college process. It was good
for me to learn the benefits of each school and all the resources that can be offered. Im glad I completed this
project so that I have a headstart in my college process.

Sincerely,
Emma Taviano

Keep a back-up file of all of your work!

Name : Emma Taviano

General Information

Question Villanova Saint Joseph Penn State

1. Where is this college
located? How long would
it take you to get there
from Garnet Valley?
How do you feel about
this distance?
2. How many
undergraduate students
attend this school? How
many graduate students?
3. List three sports,
clubs, and/or
organizations that the
school offers that interest
you. Consider Greek life
(fraternities/ sororities),
campus ministry, study
abroad opportunities,
community service
organizations, etc.
This university is located Saint Joseph is located in Penn State is located in
in Villanova, Philadelphia, University Park,
Pennsylvania. It takes Pennsylvania. It takes Pennsylvania. It takes a
about 30-35 minutes to about 2 hours to get here little over 3 hours to get
get here from Garnet from Garnet Valley. I am here. This is a little over
Valley. I like this ok with this distance how far I want to go, but
distance because it is a because I am still able to it isnt too far.
easy ride home and not come home when I have
too far. to.
There are about 7,000 Saint Josephs University There are 41,827
undergraduates enrolled has an undergraduate undergraduates and 6,430
at Villanova and about enrollment of about 5,000 graduates.
3,00 enrolled as graduate and about 3,000 graduate
students. students
Villanova offers field Saint Josephs University Penn State offers study
hockey, lacrosse, and offers 9 varsity sports, and abroad programs,
sororities. also club athletics, greek lacrosse, and sororities.
life, they have plenty of
opportunities for academic
clubs and community
service programs, and
have a campus ministry.
4. What kind of Villanova provides an Saint Josephs University They have one of the
internships/externships internship program that offers internships and largest alumni programs
are available to students allows students to apply externships in local in the country and have
of this school? for multiple internships. hospitals, the nursing connections with an
Try to find the answer to program offers these and unlimited number of
this question for your you can receive credit for businesses
prospective major. it.
5. What is the campus Villanova is more of an urban/suburban campus, The campus of Penn
setting (urban, suburban, urban campus, there are trees to hangout State is suburban. The off
rural, etc.)? What kinds Philadelphia is located under, but also places in campus experiences
of off-campus right outside of the the city to go to available are downtown
experiences are available campus and there is lots and the town of State
to students at this school? of things to do College.
6. What are three majors 1. Biology 1. Education 1. Biology
that this school offers that 2. History 2. History 2. Medical
you would like to 3. Environmental 3. Psychology Technology
consider? Science and 3. Environmental
Studies Sci

Financials (use the net price calculator from the school website or College Board)
https://professionals.collegeboard.org/higher-ed/financial-aid/netprice/participating-schools

Question School 1 School 2 School 3

7. How much does this T&F: $49,430 T&F: $35,200 T&F: $17,900
school cost per year? R&B: $13,066 R&B: $12,890 R&B: $11,860
Include: B&S: $1,100 B&S: $1,200 B&S: $1,840
Tuition and Fees Trans: $850 Trans: $500 Trans: $1,599
Room and Board PE: $1,450 PE: $1,200 PE: $3,222
Books and Supplies Total: $65,896 Total: $50,990
Transportation
Personal Expenses
Total Cost of
Attendance

8. What is the Estimated $34,865 $30,165 None

grant/gift aid?
9. What would be your $9,500, in student loans $7,000, in student loans Around $4,000 in student
Expected Self Help? In and student work and student work loans
what form is it?
10. What is the remaining $21,531 $13,825 About $32,000
cost?
11 What is this schools N/A N/A Job placement rate is
job placement rate for 68%, the student loan
graduating students? default rate is 5.7%
What is this schools
student loan default rate?
 Application Materials and Deadlines

Question School 1 School 2 School 3

12. When is the Early Action deadline is The admission deadline is The deadline for early
application deadline? Nov 1st, regular decision February 1st and early action is November 30th
deadline is Jan 15th action is November 15th
13. Does this school yes yes yes
accept the common
application?!
14. What are the The SAT requirement The SAT requirement is The SAT requirement is
SAT/ACT requirements average is 1370. 1210, ACT requirment is a 1160-1360.
for this school? 25
15. What are the Villanova likes to have Weighted GPA of 3.5, Penn State accepts the
GPA/Class Rank students from top of the class rank requirement top half of the students in
requirements for this class at schools, the was not available. their class rank, the
school? average GPA is about a average GPA should be a
3.9 3.5-3.75 or higher.
16. What other Requires SAT, college Requires SAT, personal Requires SAT, essay, and
admissions requirements essay, transcript, teacher statement, 2 letters of letters of
are there? SAT 2, letters recommentdation recommendation, and recommendation.
of recommendation, other documents
personal statement,
interview, audition, etc.?
17. Is this school Safety This is my reach This school is my safety This school is my
Reach or Middle of school school. middle of the road.
the Road?

Campus Life/Services on Campus

Question School 1 School 2 School 3

18. Where is the Health The health center and The Student Health Center The university health
Center and/or Counseling counseling center is is located on the first floor services are located next
Center located and what located on campus, an of Sourin Residence Hall. to the career services
are the hours? How do appointment can be made Monday: 8:30-5:30 tower. It is open 9-5
you make an appointment over the phone. Tuesday-Friday: 8:30-4:30 most days.
at the Counseling Center? Saturday and Sunday
closed
19. What are the hours for I couldnt find the hours Monday through The writing center is
the Writing Center? Do or website for the Thursday: 10-6 open Sunday-Thursday
you need an appointment Writing Center Friday: 10-1 until 5pm
or can you just drop in? Appointment is needed
20. What academic Writing Center, tutoring, They offer walk-in For the major sports
supports/curricular and Special ed programs tutoring and appointment teams the athletes are
accommodations can to help students. tutoring, so there is easy forced to go to team
students with special access to schooling. study sessions and they
learning needs receive? have team tutors.
Special ed students can
apply for tutors and get
help from the professors
assistant

http://www1.villanova.edu/main.html
https://www.sju.edu/
http://www.psu.edu/
https://www.naviance.com/