Can you see yourself here? |
May 1st is around the corner and that means high school seniors must send their housing deposit to the college of their choice. If a student fails to inform a school by this date, colleges will no longer guarantee their admission. Here are a few tips for a high school senior to make a proper decision on which college to attend.
Social Fit
As an 18 year old high school senior, it is hard to imagine making a decision that will impact the next four years of their life. The first step to make sure the school is the proper social fit. Having hopefully already visited campus, this on-campus experience should have provided the student enough knowledge to make an informed decision. But can the family envision the student on campus, participating in the activities in the quad, eating in the dining halls or sleeping in the dorms rooms? If they can, this is a good sign. If they cannot, perhaps a last minute follow-up visit to the campus might be in order.
Financial Fit
By now, the soon to be college freshman has received a plethora of acceptance letters and financial aid awards. Reexamine each of the acceptance letters and financial aid awards and ask yourself, “Can I afford to send my son/daughter to this school?” If the answer is a clear cut yes, then compare each of the school’s finances together. Think about the programs they offer and your likes/dislikes about each school to make a proper decision. Select the school that you feel is the best fit for your family.
If there is some hesitation in affordability, here are some things to consider regarding the college:
- How many loans will the student have to take out?
- What will the final amount of loans be when the student graduates in four years?
- Can my son/daughter receive the same quality education at a school that is not their first choice, but offering more in terms of financial aid?
- Is the scholarship they are receiving a one year scholarship or renewable for four years?
- What are the qualifications to be renewed?
These are important questions to discuss as a family this weekend, remember May 1st is next week!
Eliminate Friends From Decision
You can meet new friends at school,
such as
the Colgate Raider!
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Many high school seniors are afraid to leave their comfort zone. Many adults are like this too; it is only natural. Making their college decision based upon where their friends will be attending is not a recommended way to make a decision. With Facebook, Twitter, text messaging, Skype/Facetime and email (snail mail to teenagers) students will easily be able to keep in touch. This is a great time for students to learn to think for themselves, be an individual and make an adult decision. They should choose the college that best fits themselves academically, socially and financially; not those of their friends. Young adults are resilient, they will be able to find their routine by keeping in touch with their high school friends while also making a campus full of new ones.
Common Application
While I was writing my blog post, the Common Application posted this on their Facebook page. I felt it was only fitting to add this to my post:
Choosing which college to attend is an intensely personal decision, and you probably don’t want anyone second-guessing your choice once you’ve made it. Just remember it’s a two-way street. It’s far more important for you to celebrate and support your friends’ decisions than it is for you to understand them.
Well said Common Application!
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