Picking the Right College for You -- and Your Wallet (For Parents of College-bound kids)

For many college-bound students, choosing just the right school can be even more stressful than taking the SAT exam. How do you choose, from among more than 3,500 American colleges and universities, the place where you'll live and learn for four years?

Savvy students and parents should start by pinpointing what they most want and need in a college. Make your own customized list or check a few Internet sites for ideas.

Specifications for schools

Some sites, such as The Princeton Review, allow you to plug in specifications and get a computerized list of schools that match your criteria. Some factors you should consider:

• Two-year or four-year school: Two-year schools, such as community colleges may offer smaller classes, professors who are better at teaching since they're not hired to do academic research and a chance for less-than-star students to wipe out a not-so-great high school record. Financially, two-year colleges can be a bargain, too. Four-year schools might be a better choice for students who want to be surrounded by mostly A- and B-grade students; want a college with great resources, like a big library and lots of cultural and athletic activities; want a school where most students live on campus; and enjoy a college with a strong sense of community.

• Academic strength: Colleges usually disclose the average SAT scores and high school grades of their incoming freshmen. Families can use these statistics to decide whether the school is academically challenging enough, or perhaps too rigorous, for their student.

• Price: This information can be hard to find on a college's Web site or in their admissions brochure, especially for private colleges. These institutions know that tuition prices tend to scare off incoming students and their families. So dig a little. Some Web sites, such as The College Board, let you search for colleges by their price tags. You can also find out which colleges in your price range offer need-based financial aid and outright monetary grants in areas such as academics, athletics and leadership skills.

• Size: Is the school small or large, based both on number of students and acreage? If it's a large school, does it offer any living/learning programs? These are like small colleges within large universities.

• Surroundings: Does the student prefer a school located in or near a big city? Or would a rural area be a better fit?

• Specific states or regions: Some students might want to live reasonably close to home, so they can visit high school friends or go home to do laundry. Other students may be interested in a totally new living experience -- a warm climate if they've always lived in a snow zone or a big city if they've grown up in a small town. Keep in mind that travel costs during summer vacation and on breaks will vary significantly, depending on how far the student must travel to and from school. Be sure to work that into your annual college budget.

• Majors: Does the student prefer a school that offers a wide range of fields of study or one that specializes in one or two high-profile programs?

• Attitude/religion: Is the school known to be conservative/traditional; diverse; or liberal and/or unconventional? Is the college secular or does it have strong religious ties?

Early decision, early action

Some schools offer what are called "early decision" and "early action" programs that give students the chance to apply -- and get an answer -- before the regular admissions deadline.

This may be something you want to consider if you have one school that's your top choice. The problem is that with early decision you are making a commitment to attend that school if accepted. By making that commitment, you are giving up your ability to compare financial aid packages you might be offered otherwise.

Most schools acknowledge that you have a better chance of getting in early decision rather than regular decision, so if you think you're on the cusp of admission to your dream school, it may make sense to apply early decision. And the whole college-decision thing is a nail-biting process, so some might think it's worth it just to have it done with months earlier than other students.

In some cases you also have a better chance of getting in "early action," which is similar but doesn't require that you commit to attending if you're accepted. "Unrestricted" early action means you can apply to other early-action schools; "single-choice" early action means you can't.

These scenarios may benefit the college more than the student. After all, if a student applies early decision and gets admitted, there's really no incentive for the college to offer a spectacular aid package or extra scholarships, because the student is bound to come. There is still some chance to do some negotiation, but a student isn't in a strong position if he or she applied to the dream school and a very similar school regular decision, and used their respective financial aid packages as a negotiating point to get the best possible deal for the dream school.

In any event, keep in mind that early-action or early-decision applicants are usually highly qualified, so if you're a less-than-stellar student, you may be hurting your chances and wasting time by applying this way.

Think twice about high-priced colleges

After you've narrowed your list of preferred colleges, a simple way to save money on tuition is to choose a school that isn't overly well known and expensive to begin with.

Many of the so-called "brand-name" colleges earn their reputations from professors who do a lot of high-profile research. But research-heavy universities can sometimes end up compromising the quality of their undergraduate education. Consider, for instance, the prestigious schools that offer auditorium-sized classes taught by graduate student aides, rather than actual professors.

Another drawback of expensive schools: They leave students with big loans to repay after graduation. It might not make sense, for instance, for a student who will pursue a modest-paying social work career to pay back loans for a prestige-school education.

The bottom line: As long as students are clear about the qualities they want in a college, they can get a top-quality education without paying top dollar.

Prestige without the price

Many public colleges are actually equal to or better in quality than some of the best-known private colleges. Public schools are cheaper only because they are subsidized by our tax dollars, not because they are inferior in some way.

In fact, some public colleges actually are considered as prestigious as Ivy League schools, but are much, much cheaper. Examples include the University of Virginia, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University of Michigan.

Other public colleges are smaller than average, and offer a great education. Examples include Mary Washington (Va.); California Maritime Academy (Calif.); and Evergreen College (Wash.).

Additional places to get a top-quality education at a bargain price are the military service academies; honors programs within public colleges; and even Canadian colleges. Canadian schools are heavily subsidized by the Canadian government and can be a great deal even for non-Canadians.

Final step: Choose a "financial safety school"

Even if you have a handful of great schools you're sure will accept you, it's always smart to apply to a school that fits your needs AND that you can afford, such as a good state college. That way, if you get financial aid offers from all of your top schools and find that you still can't afford any of them, you'll still have a safety net.

Others got the scholarship who went to non-competitive schools where English was a second language.

That's why I'm pushing mine to keep in the top 10%. Right now with colleges pandering to illegals that law is the only thing that will guarantee there's a desk available for my child. It's to the point, I just want the desk and I'll worry about the $$$ later. I know there won't be scholorships that amount to anything because she's not a minority or has some sob story to tell them about life in the mother country. I just want her admitted. Look at most any US college web site and you'll see they cater to illegals. While scouting out universities for my child who happens to be a white AP honor student and #4 in the class, I'm seeing lots of preferential admittance for those from lower socio-economic areas, underserved regions with particular emphasis on southern Texas, bilingual, educationally disadvantaged (excuse me, this from the medical field?), race/ethnicity, success in overcoming adverse family experiences, and they almost come out and state they will turn a blind eye to residence status.

Heard of Grove City College? They need a good look from anyone sending a child off to college.

Yes I have. They fought a case all the way to the Supreme Court in the 1980's to prevent the Feds from imposing on them. Since then, they have refused all Federal aid and are still THRIVING. Tuition Fee (including board and lodging ) is somewhere in the range of above $17,000, and if you can demonstrate financial need, they'll even cut it further.

Their campus is gorgeous and every student gets a free laptop HP computer and colored printer, and their job placement record for graduated students are unsurpassed. 91% find a good job within 6 months, 100% of their pre-med students go to medical school and 100% of their education majors find jobs as soon as they graduate. TOP THAT for a private college with no aid from Uncle Sam !

Hillsdale College in Michigan is another one. Their endowment is SUPERB and they pride themselves in being independent. Plus, their core curriculum dispenses with all the fluff nonsense you see in a lot of celebrated colleges.

I can think of others as well but these two are the cream of the crop.

A few caveats abiout Grove City College -- it is an unabashed Christian school, so if you are not into that stuff, you might not like it as they require students to attend chapel 16 times a year. Also, it isn't easy to get in, the entrance requirements are very competitive plus they require a face to face interview. Other than that, this is a hidden treasure.

We told our four the same thing! Oldest got a full scholarship at UMass, then went on to law school, where he got loans, too. But he's now an attorney in Boston, so he can start paying those off. #2 son wanted Carnegie Mellon, and now has the loans to show for it. He did get financial aid for the first couple of years, so that kept the total down somewhat, but it's still a chunk. He also finished in 3 1/2 years with two majors, because he'd taken so many AP courses in high school that he went in with almost a full year's credits. He in Grad school now, on a Fellowship, and he'd dearly love to teach college, but he'll likely go into the corporate world for a few years at first, so he can pay off the loans.

#3, and our only daughter got a 3/4 scholarship to a small, private, Catholic university and loves the place. #4 and youngest son is in his Senior year, and mulling over the options. He's thinking, to save money, he'll live at home for the first couple of years, attending a local state college. He can use that time to figure out a major, without racking up huge loans. Then, he can either finish at that school, or transfer to another for his upper level work.

I realized a long time ago, watching fellow students, that those who paid for their own education were MUCH more serious about it than those whose Daddies were footing the bill. We also told our kids that we'd paid for twelve years of Catholic school, so now it was their responsibility to invest in their own futures. Besides, we wanted some money on which to retire!

This works to a point...

#2 wants to be a nurse. She took much of the prerequisites at the local CC, has her EMT, was a member of a volunteer fire dept when we lived in MD. Its an informed choice.

To get into nursing school is a real problem these days. Waiting for several years with a lottery for admittance seems to be the norm. We took a different path...expensive private school. We looked at the time to required to get in, the costs to house her while she waits, lost income, etc vice a 2.5 year straight run. I decided to write large checks for the next few years. It makes sense from an area under the curve perspective.

Its not a choice everyone can make, but it works for us. She is living with family to minimize costs, and we do not require an outside job (her job is to get good grades).
As a Nursing student the military will give her a scholarship upon request in exchange for 4 years service, which may be an option for others.

Nursing is a special case, but at least in our case, the right answer was to bite the bullet.

Yes, mine is/will be taking AP and dual credit classes so should have at least enough hours to be classified a sophomore by the end of high school. However, here you must pay for the AP test and there is a couple hundred dollar fee for the dual credit class so it’s not all free.

What’s this state merit scholarship? The National Merit Scholarship is only $2500.

and don’t forget the Pell Grants - they have done more to help kids from financially strapped families than any program in history. And - they must keep their grades up - unlike Mom and Dad who keep shelling it out regardless of what their poor grade, partying, spring break orgy young’uns do.

Nursing is a special case, but at least in our case, the right answer was to bite the bullet.

She chose the right profession. America's Demographics will all but ENSURE that she will have a job for life. Also note this -- THIS IS ONE JOB THAT CAN NEVER BE OUTSOURCED ( unless they can design a robot nurse ).

In fact, Nurses are in need AROUND THE WORLD.

The shortage in NY State is so acute that they are IMPORTING nurses from overseas. Anyone who can pass the US Nursing board exam gets a work permit and eventually a green card. Now that's LEGAL immigration based on a need that isn't going away ( and nope they aren't paid slave wages. They're paid the PREVAILING NURSE's WAGE ).

I have two younger ones in private school

My oldest daughter will be at Lipscomb College in January, the younger at Belmont.

Both not far from where I am typing.

I hope to get at least 50% reduction from non-income dependent grants and maybe student loans beyond that some.

I would rather help them pay off the loans than just peel off all that cash now but we’ll see.

When I went to Ole Miss in 1976, tuition was 500/semester and dorms/meal ticket were another 150 bucks

Education costs have outpaced inflation by multiples.

Crazy....too many kids going to college.

Here in TN, we have lottery grants, it’s a racket for many minority kids and their white trash homeys...they go to community school, wreak havoc on the classes and defer, defer , defer and then get the check and quit.

What a waste.

Plus...i had never heard of a college class where the teacher could not keep order till my girls took some filler classes at Nashville State

“Also, because of the way financial aid works, it can sometimes be cheaper to go to a private school than an public one.”

I found this to be true, sort of. Depends on the student, I guess. But for the two I have in college right now, the cost of private and state schools was very comparable, when the full aid package was on the table.

In Florida it’s called Bright Futures, in Georgia it’s called The Hope Scholarship. It pays tuition to a state college (for instance UF, FSU, etc. in Florida; GaTech or U of GA in Georgia, and all other state 4 year public colleges) for up to 21 hours per term, for four years, as long as the student maintains a certain grade average. The student/parents must be residents and it is earned primarily through SAT/ACT score, GPA, etc. It also includes a small stipend for books ($300 which covers the cost of books for a couple classes, at least.)

http://www.gsfc.org/hope/
http://www.floridastudentfinancialaid.org/ssfad/bf/

Gone are the days where an English major could settle into middle management and work his way up. No, you’re working at Starbuck’s or something now while you figure out that you could have gone into property management or some other field that doesn’t require a college degree AND that you forewent all that extra income you could have had!

This comment must be at least partially autobiographical. Who but an old-line (pre-deconstructionist) English major would know how to say "forgo" in the past tense?

And who but a refugee-from-the-liberal-arts-turned-computer-geek would then dare to point out that you misspelled it?

Try not to worry too much about your honor student child who is #4 in her class. She is doing exceptionally well in high school and will do the same when she gets to college and later out in the world of work.

Hands down the best students I’ve dealt with are those who needed to work while they were in school. Some of them even had to take a leave of absence for financial reasons. While away they would take courses at the local community college (at a very low cost) and transfer those courses to their more expensive university. That way they were able to graduate with their class but save A LOT of money at the same time.

Remember to help her look at the schloarships available from VA, military and semi military sources(Officer Wives Club, AAFEES, etc) due to your past military experience. This is a source I bet your daughter wouldn’t think to check.

My dad was in his 60s collecting SS when I was in college. Didn’t realize that i was able to get some money from Social Security. I was still considered the same as a family member under 18 since I was at college.

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