Finding the right college is about balance

A recent guest column written by a North High School student in The Denver Post recently caught my eye and helps to capture one of the critical decisions students face when deciding on college.

 

In her article, she compares two opinions shared with her colleagues about paying for college. The first opinion is that money and the ability to pay for college should not be a factor in a student’s decision. The second is that cost should absolutely be a consideration when determining what school to attend. To her credit, she found truth in both these statements.

 

When I meet with my clients, my goal is finding the right college that best meets the family’s budget. While investment into a college degree will typically pay dividends in the form of future higher earning potential, families shouldn’t have to sacrifice their current lifestyle, go broke or saddle both the parents and the student with a lifetime of debt.

 

I’ve spent over a decade helping parents and students bridge the divide between the right college and the right price. The challenge is that the path to and through the best college is rarely the same. The advantage that I bring is that I work with families to map out and guide students on the best path and negotiate the best financial aid package available for each of the targeted schools.

 

The author of this opinion piece is correct that students and families should collect as much information as possible. But, it also helps to have an experienced navigator with them along the way.

Packing for your next adventure: College

As summer winds down, students across the country start to transition from time outside to time inside the classroom. While most students gear up for the next year in their current school, high schoolers transitioning to college are packing more than just a backpack.

 

For students heading into their upper-classmen years, the mental packing list should begin knowing that high school is also winding down and college is coming. In addition to their studies, these students also need a plan for college targets, ACT and SAT tests, scholarships and financial aid and the application process. For a more thorough checklist, visit TheCollegeStore.net.

 

For both out-of-state and in-state college students-to-be, they're packing for more than just an overnight trip. They’re packing for life away from home for months at a time. While dorm life does help transition from the comforts of home, it still adds greater responsibilities on the student to wash their own clothes, feed themselves and manage their schedules.

 

To fit this new lifestyle, these students need to be efficient with packing what they have and also preparing for what they might need. There’s no simple checklist since packing depends on the new school’s climate, amenities offered by the new living spaces and a student’s personal needs.

 

Recently, The Denver Post tapped the expertise of its interns to offer advice on what students should bring to college. Time magazine also chimed in with its own list of what NOT to bring to college.

 

Students should also check with their peers and older siblings who may have visited the same or similar higher education facilities. This first research project will help kickstart your college education and better position students for success away from home.

Manage expectations for your future college student

For parents of high school upper-classmen and even college-bound students, the reality of their kids moving on to college is becoming more real. For years many parents have pushed the college conversation and prodded their kids to plan and prepare for what college they will attend. Now that the fruits of that labor (no pun intended) has paid off and your “baby” will soon be off to her next life adventure and even closer to adulthood.

 

With days or weeks left before your student heads to the dorms, you’re probably focused on the material items they need to survive away from home. While their microwaves, laptops, bedding and gaming consoles are important, don’t forget to prepare your newly independent child with your expectations.

 

As Anne Reeves, a columnist with PennLive.com, reports transitioning your child from under your roof to college isn’t easy and even goes on to say, “The transition will sting.” But she confidently says you’ll get through it and offers some sound advice.

 

In particular, she mentions three important pieces of advice that might be overlooked. First, she reminds parents to discuss your student’s finances before she leaves. Between loans, work study and your hard-earned dollars helping to fund the effort, make sure your student knows her budget and her financial obligations while she’s away. This will help make sure everyone’s operating under the same beliefs.

 

Second, she reminds parents to review expectations. Certain scholarships and financial aid packages require minimum grade point averages, attendance levels and usually conclude in four years. If any of these expectations aren’t met, the institution may no longer be a viable option if their financial aid dries up.

 

Finally, she simply states, “Have the talk.” Many of us remember the movie Animal House was about a rowdy group of college students that may have seemed fun when we were younger, but breeds fear among us as parents. While some of the challenges of college may manifest themselves in high school like underage drinking, sex and drugs, it’s always good to remind them to be safe and act like responsible adults.

 

College remains a great learning experience both in and out of the classroom and serves as a unique primer for life as an adult. Does miss any opportunity to better prepare your student for this once in a lifetime experience, so she can maximize her time.