Interview Questions

Mr. Wanous, Counselor
1. Have you seen a major difference in where students are applying?

"There are more students going to in-state schools, mainly because they are cheaper. There is also a trend toward more public schools over private. The tough economy makes them hard for many to afford."
2. Have college application prices gone up lately? What has this done?

"Everything about college has gone up, so there have not been any dramatic increases in application price. 10 years ago they used to be about $20-$30, and now they are $40-$50."
3. Where are the most students going, and why is this?

"The most common public schools are the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, North Dakota, UofM in Duluth, Eau Claire, and Madicon. The most common private school is St Thomas, mainly because of their business program and it is close and not as expensive as some other private schools."
4. How has rising tuition rates impacted students' decisions?

"More students used to go out of state, but now more go in state. There are so many choices in state now as well"
5. What trend do you see in the future for applications and college attendance?

"There will continue to be a 5%-10% increase every year in tuition. There will not be a cap on tuition, but some might scale back a bit. More students will be taking student loans, so they will accrue more debt. This will not stop them from going, however. More students might go to 2 and 3-year colleges, along with community colleges."

Matt Gantz, Senior
1. Did you pay a lot of attention to the application prices when you applied?

"No, I applied to where I wanted to and didn't apply to places I didn't want to go to...pretty simple."

2. How much did the college tuition price impact where you applied?

"Not really, colleges bombarded me with "don't think it's too expensive, we have plenty of scholarship opportunities!!!" I trust them for the most part'
3. Why did you apply where you did?

"I applied to the colleges I wanted to go to, colleges that had the academic opportunities I needed for majors and whatnot as well as ones that looked somewhat fun to live at"
4. Are you more likely to apply to a well known expensive school or a lesser known cheaper school?

"Neither, I applied to a lesser known expensive school because I liked the courses it had as well as the geographical setting (the ocean)."

5. Do you know how you will pay for college? Have you discussed this with your parents?
"I have a bank account with a large sum of money, the rest will have to be paid via scholarship or student loans...I'm really hoping to avoid student loans as much as possible"

Sarah Malaske, Senior
1. Did you pay a lot of attention to the application prices when you applied?

"No, all of the applications seemed about the same price, so it didn't matter"
2. How much did the college tuition price impact where you applied?

"It did not matter in the beginning process, the tuition was relatively equal for the schools I looked at. Tuition will become a bigger deal as I am choosing where I will actually go"
3. Why did you apply where you did?

"Academic standing and location"
4. Are you more likely to apply to a well known expensive school or a lesser known cheaper school?

"The well known expensive school because getting a degree from a place with name recognition goes a long way, especially in this tough economy."
5. Do you know how you will pay for college? Have you discussed this with your parents?

"I will be paying for my college, and I am going to use scholarships, the work study program, and student loans. My family and I have discussed it."