U Sphere Asks High School Students: Have You Considered Attending a College That Is Off the Beaten Path?
As America Gears Up for Office Pools, Startup Offers Tips for College-Bound Students Who Aren't Ivy-Bound, Haven't Decided
EVANSTON, Ill., USA — 13 March 2006 — One question on the minds of a good portion of American basketball fans: Where is Belmont University? (Answer: Nashville, Tenn.)
One question on the minds of the estimated 1.5 million college-bound students in the US: How and why does a student decide on a school such as Belmont?
U Sphere is a web-based tool for students who are deciding about their choice of college. The service aims to match students and colleges through a portal that offers "college admissions made easy."
Through U Sphere membership, available to all US high school students free for a limited time at www.usphere.com, attending a school off the beaten path — and one that may be ideal for just the right students — becomes something much more tangible.
"With an estimated 400 students for every guidance counselor in the country, it's easy to see where the name schools, the state schools and the parents' alma mater become higher priorities for kids' application dollars," said David Van de Walle, president & CEO, U Sphere, Inc. "What most kids don't realize is that there are many, many other schools outside of the mainstream that could be right for them."
U Sphere offers to match students with schools — students just need to fill out academic information and answer demographic questions. And, instead of an essay, a key advantage to U Sphere membership is the U Sphere Personality Profile, where questions such as "tell us your world view in ten words or less" can help college admissions counselors to get a better picture of the complete student.
Students can then be matched with colleges where they meet admissions requirements and may potentially be a good fit. "A student who visits U Sphere and wants to stay close to home will only be matched with nearby schools," continued Van de Walle. "From there, the matchmaking process begins, and schools can offer qualified students a spot in the Freshman class."
About U Sphere, Inc.
U Sphere, headquartered in Evanston, Ill., works with member schools throughout North America. More information is available at www.usphere.com.
News Release from U Sphere, Inc.