College Consulting Tip: The Final Decision
Hopefully, all of you have received more of these letters than the alternative. (Photo Credit: SolYoung via Flickr)
Hey seniors!
It's April now,and those acceptance letters should be pouring in. For many of you, the college admissions process is over and done with: you've been accepted to your first choice school and there's no question of where you'll be next fall. For others, though, you still have the most important choice still to make. Whether an unexpected rejection or wait-list has thrown a wrench into your plans or you've been accepted into so many quality programs, the final choice of which school to attend is often more difficult than families originally anticipate. There are several key areas that you need to think about when making this final choice.
1. Money, Money, Money
Obviously, the first consideration that anyone will look at when choosing a school is the financial aid package offered. Everyone's worried about the tough economic times, just as they're worried about the ever increasing cost of college. It would be a very natural idea to simply go with whichever school gives the most comprehensive scholarship and financial aid offer. While this idea works out fantastically most of the time, there does come a point where this may not necessarily be true. There are strong correlations that suggest that the more prestigious a university one attends (and these tend to give out lesser financial aid packages), the higher one's lifetime income will be. Much like with attending college at all, going to a more expensive school is a risk that can be worth it.
2. Focus on the fit
There are a lot of great schools out there, but not every great school will be great for each student. Different students respond better to different approaches and different environments. If you applied and were accepted to a school, there's a good chance that that school will be a good fit for you. So while there probably won't be any bad choices at this stage, some will be better than others. There are several things that can go into determining which school will be the best fit for you. From looking at the overall quality of the school, to the quality of your prospective major, to extra-curricular activities, to just a gut feeling. From the logical to the illogical, all of these can and will play a role in how much you enjoy your college experience.
3. Don't neglect the community
It is possible to find a school that seems to be a perfect fit, but still not have the greatest experience. It's sometimes tough to remember this, but schools do not exist in a vacuum. They're in communities, towns, and cities, and those shape how students experience college more than families initially realize. Students will spend 4 or more years in these places, a significant portion of their lives at that point. It's important that students not only spend that time at a school that will be a good fit, but also in a community that will be a good fit as well. Students will not spend all of their time on campus, so it will become increasingly important that they have enough opportunities to experience life outside the classroom as well.
If you've already made your decision about the upcoming fall, fantastic! Congratulations! But for those who are still on the fence between two or more schools, be sure that you look at all the factors that will play in to the next stage in your education and in your life. Unexpected things will always happen, but the more things you can look at ahead of time, the better prepared you'll be when the unexpected arrives.
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Do you still have questions about which school you should attend next fall? Or are you a junior wanting a head start on the process so you'll be better prepared when it's your turn to make this decision? Please contact us with any questions or concerns!