Factors to Consider When Making College Decision

For students who maximized the opportunity to apply Early Action and/or Early Decision to colleges, the decisions are coming in.  Now, the ball is in their court.  While many students go with their emotions when choosing which college to attend, there are several factors that should be considered.

Of course, the decision has already been made for students who, within the next ten days, find they are accepted Early Decision to their college of choice.  They can now celebrate and enjoy the holiday season. But for many students, especially those who are collecting acceptances to several colleges, there are important decisions to be made.

First of all, students need to remember the purpose of college.  It’s certainly intended to make students more educated, in general, and more aware of the world and the issues surrounding them.  But, more pragmatically, most students attend college with the goal of preparing for a career that will support them for the rest of their lives. So, the best choice college is often the one with the strongest program in a student’s intended field of study.  A little research will reveal salary information of alumni from each of the colleges under consideration, as well as the acceptance rate to medical and dental schools, law schools, and graduate programs.

Finances also come into play, and students (and their parents) should realize that the financial aid package offered by any particular college can often be negotiated.  If a student’s dream college offers less money than another to which the student has been accepted, there’s no harm in contacting the admissions office at the preferred college and requesting that the grant money (the “scholarship” portion that does not get paid back) be reconsidered.  Let the #1 college know of the other, better, offers.

Students typically do not have to make their big decision until May 1st.  So they should take advantage of the “Accepted Students Day” offered by all of the colleges under consideration.  This is the perfect opportunity for students to get another feel for each college, ask any questions that are still on their minds, and consider all aspects of each school, including the food, dorms, activities, campus, and surrounding community.  Usually, after doing their research and visiting each campus (one or more times), students have a good sense of which college is the “right fit” for the exciting years that lie ahead.

Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of Collegebound Review that, for the past 25 years, has offered PSAT/SAT® preparation and private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362