Database & Search Tools

The Origins And Evolution Of Our College Database,
Personal Assessment And Academic Merit Profile…

… Otherwise known as QC500 PLUS, PASS & AMP

Our database traces its origins to 1990 with multiple updates over the ensuing 19 years. Each year, college financial aid, scholarship and total cost of attendance data were updated via published information and the experience of our clients.

We continually monitored competitive issues, changes in standardized testing and application procedures and then adjusted our database approximately every other year.

Over the course of the last two decades we have utilized almost fifty independent sources for our college research.

These can be categorized as: a) works of prominent authors, b) annually published guide books and c) research conducted by public and private institutions. Initially we focused on 3 national magazines, 6 nationally recognized college guide books and 3 prominent educational authors. In addition, we reviewed over 100 college videos and made on-campus visits to 75 colleges and universities.

Continuous research has led to systematic updates and refinements in the database.

1990-92: Researched 1600 Colleges & Universities. Established An Approximate Concensus Of 365 Quality Institutions

We compiled a list of quality colleges that represented an approximate consensus of our source documents. Each institution we included was characterized as a quality college (rated three or better on a five point scale) as judged by at least 3 of the resource publications.

A selected school was also accessible to a broad range of students whether locally or nationwide and was an institution that satisfied at least four of eight of our own screening criteria which addressed the following:

1. Extent of academics offered (minimum four year program)
2. Degree to which the mission, program or facilities were unique
3. Nature of financial support provided
4. Institutional professionalism and reputation
5. Contribution to mix of size, location and heritage
6. Financial aid and admissions procedures and policies

1992: Initial Research Completed, Database Published In Conjunction With Personal Assessment (PASS)

Upon completing our research, we launched the original QC300 PLUS database with 365 colleges and universities.

*Note: The actual size of the database changes as college performance and acceptance values vary.

We did not rank them 1 through 365.

Rather, we established color codes to reflect groups of institutions that reported similar admissions criteria (i.e. incoming Freshman SAT and GPA data).

We also incorporated each school’s academic offerings, social environment, size, location, setting, returning students, social activities on campus and institutional heritage.

Concurrently, we authored a personal assessment (PASS). Through the PASS the student defines his/her personal preferences, traits, and learning skills. PASS is integrated with the student’s academic performance to shape the list of candidate colleges in terms of size, setting, areas of study. and academic intensity.

1994-95: Study Of Real World Placement Data For 50,000 Students Inspires Creation Of Academic Merit Profile (AMP) To Complete Integrated College Search System

We studied specific college placement data from one of the largest and most highly rated high school systems in the country. That data refined our thinking with regard to admissions competition at quality post secondary institutions.

It showed the GPA and standardized test levels for acceptance and rejection of almost 50,000 students by specifically named colleges and universities. It also demonstrated the different outcomes for a quality school district versus the overall average acceptance data posted in publications.

The placement data, provided the basis for the Academic Merit Profile (AMP)… a proprietary tool that we created to give students a better estimate of their competitive position.

To create a truly integrated college search system, we linked the AMP to our database color codes.

Ongoing Review & Fine Tuning

1997-98: Conducted Correlation Study To Validate Search Method (Using PASS, AMP And Database) vs. Our Own Client Outcomess For 1995-96

1999-Present: Dramatic Change In Number Of College Admissions Applicants Increases Competition At Quality Colleges

2001-Present: To Manage New Competitive Pressure, We Assess Detailed College Attributes And Incorporate Results In The Database To Help Clients Identify A Broader Range Of Alternative Quality Colleges

The database and personal assessment were originally published by Tom McGrath in a 1992 guidebook, “The Keys to College”. Subsequently they were updated and the AMP was developed while in partnership with Todd Fothergill at Strategies For College, Inc.