How many Harvard or Yale alumni have left their alma mater with the attitude that one day their son or daughter will one day also grace those hallowed halls? Though there are a number of young people who follow in the footsteps of their parents and grandparents when choosing an institution of higher learning; this is not always the best way to make the selection. Choosing a college or university can be quite an undertaking and provides a family with a large number of stressful moments as the decision is made.
First of all, when is a good time to start? When it comes to preparing for college financially, about ten years prior to Junior's conception would be a good idea. With regard to selection of the ideal school, no later than the junior year of high school, but preferably earlier.
What criteria should go into the selection process? In addition to cost, consider what the student wishes to major in. If Michael or Michelle has yet to decide on a major, the local junior college might be a good place to start with the basics. Some other criteria to consider would be: location - how far from home; public vs. private school; scholarships; campus and class size; housing options and social life.
After the particular criteria are chosen, the selection of schools can be narrowed down somewhat. The Fiske Guide to Colleges and other resources can help with information about individual schools. College fairs allow parents and teens to meet with representatives from various schools to ask questions and gather additional information. The school's website can also be a valuable resource.
To obtain a real feel for the campus, a trip to the school is a good start. A visit to the campus will allow the prospective student to take a tour, meet other students, pick up a copy of the campus newspaper and maybe spend a night in the dorm. In this way, the student will be able to determine whether or not they 'feel at home' on this campus.
When deciding how many schools to apply to, the list is usually divided into three sections: 1) dream or 'reach' schools, 2) two or three schools they can expect to be admitted to and want to go and 3) at least one 'safety' school where it is a sure bet they will be admitted.
After applications are sent off and you wait for the postman to return with the responses, start digging for buried treasure. The scholarships are out there, but you are going to have to find them. They will not show up on your doorstep.
Once you have the list of the schools that have offered acceptance, take a closer look at the financial aide offers presented. If the school that is your first choice offers financial aide at a lower level than you need or requested, contact the school and present a counter offer. If handled right, you might find they are willing to negotiate. You have nothing to lose by trying. The worst thing they can do is say 'no'; however, you also have a 50% chance they will say yes.
Article by Steve Boulden. Steve has diverse knowledge with personal development skills in self-help and career and college planning. |
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