Keeping Your College Options Open
As an educator who works with many high school students, I know how overwhelming it can be to choose the correct college for your needs.
It seems every graduating high school student has a number one school that is near and dear to their heart, but it usually comes with a couple of drawbacks. Perhaps it is a long way from home and you are not ready to be so far away from your family.
Or maybe the cost of tuition, books, and boarding for that institution is equal to the United States’ gross national product. The main thing to remember is not to put all your eggs in one basket. Having other college options is essential for making the right decision for the student and their family.
Future high school graduates should apply to at least five colleges at which that they feel they could be successful. With a bit of luck and hard work, they might even be accepted at all five. And this is when it gets interesting. For each college where the student is accepted, it’s important to make a list of the positives and negatives. Below are some of the most frequent items that have appeared on my students’ lists when choosing the correct college.
Finances
Certain colleges are more likely to be attractive to students based on their financial situation. No one should be emerging as a college graduate four years down the road with student loans that will prevent them from living their life for several years after. Is it worth attending that college if after you graduate you have $80,000 in loans and will be forced to live with your parents for the next five years?
Figure out which of the colleges is the least expensive. Determine at which ones you may qualify for student aid, or better yet, scholarships. If it comes down to your dream college costing $25,000 a year out of pocket or another college that is not as attractive but that will only cost you $5,000 a year because you acquired some scholarships, what is the right decision to make? Finances should be playing a major role in deciding the right college.
Close to Family
Some kids purposely attend colleges because they are far away from their parents, while others only want to go to a college that is close by. Whatever your case, this could be a major part of your decision. Attending an out-of-state college can be much more expensive, so keep that in mind. And if you are really set on living a long way away from your family, hopefully, you are responsible enough to be making it on your own.
Right for Your Major
There are certain colleges that are known to be great for engineers, educators, computer programmers, or any sort of career field. Keep this in mind when you are making your final decision. Most of the time in the real world, where the degree comes from is not that important. Just having the degree in the first place will be what opens doors later on. Your personality, work experience and skills will determine whether you are hired by a company much more than where you attended college.
Not Sure?
Sometimes the best things that happen in life are not ones that you have actually planned for. If you don’t get accepted to the college that you would like, or you just aren’t positive yet on which one you will choose, attending a local junior college first to get all the basic courses out of the way can be a great thing. Junior colleges are much less expensive, you can still live at home but have a bit of separation from your family if needed, and it will help you determine if your major is definitely right for you. Many college students switch majors at least once at some point in college.
If you, or your future college student, are worried about achieving the test scores needed for college, iAchieve Learning can definitely help. We offer test prep tutoring that may be the difference between being accepted at certain schools. In any case, speak with family members, teachers, and counselors when determining the right college option. It will help you to make a wise choice that you won’t second guess down the road.
Written by Ryan Crawley
Interested in working with a private tutor? Contact us today to learn how our tutors can help you prepare for essential college tests such as the ACT or SAT.
RELATED POSTS
You may also like
Upcoming ACT Changes in 2025: A Guide for Parents and Students
9 Ways to Improve Your Math Score on the ACT
