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A Pocket Guide to Choosing a College:
Are You Asking the Right Questions

NSSE has revised and updated its pocket guide to exploring colleges. Our new guide, "A Pocket Guide to Choosing a College: Are You Asking the Right Questions," was created as part of an ongoing public awareness campaign to refocus the national conversation about what constitutes quality in the college experience.

The guide lists a number of questions that research over the last 30 years has shown to be positively related to high levels of student learning and development during college.

It is intended to get prospective college students and their parents to start thinking more about these types of questions during the college decision making process.

A Spanish version of the pocket guide, "Una Guia de Bolsillo Para Escoger una Universidad", is now available.

The pocket guides can be requested by school counselors, educational organizations, and college admissions offices in varying quantities. Parents and students can either check with their counselors for a copy or download a copy in PDF format:

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English Language Version (PDF)

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Spanish Language Version (PDF)


Ordering Information for High School Guidance Counselors, College Admissions Offices, and Education Organizations
Comments
"Thank you. I love to show off your powerful little brochure. I tell families, 'it's probably the smallest thing in your packet but probably one of the most important.'"
? High School Counselor, Ann Arbor, MI

We use the Pocket Guide "...to help train admissions volunteers (tour guides, alumni volunteers, etc) and to give to junior visitors beginning their college search during our junior open houses."
? Associate Dean of Admissions, Portland, OR

"I give these to families every year. As a former school principal who saw the link between student achievement and good teaching, I think the NSSE data is the most valuable tool we have in identifying good fits for students at the college level."
? Educational Consultant, Oakton, VA

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