Asking the right questions is key to putting together a manageable list of possible colleges to further explore. Sit down with your child and discuss the following:
- What size student body would your child feel comfortable with?
- Does he/she prefer a women’s or men’s college or co-ed?
- What size class is he/she comfortable in?
- What type of campus she he/she looking for – urban, suburban or rural?
- What majors is he/she interested in?
- What activities does he/she want to try or continue?
- How far is it from home?
- What resources are available to help him/her choose a major/career?
- How much does the school cost?
- What types of student aid are available?
Once you’ve answered these questions, you should have a list of 5-10 schools. If you need additional help, there are books and software available (such as College Board and Princeton Review) to help you.
Take a Peek at Each School's Web Site
Most colleges have fantastic websites that can help you get a feel for the school before you plan a visit. Be sure to check out a site’s virtual tour and housing pages, as these will help you become familiar with the school and decide if a visit is worth your time.
Schedule Your Visits
Most schools offer open houses a couple times a year (typically in the fall and spring) and individual tours. Open houses typically feature large numbers of prospective students and parents meeting with school administrators, professors and students in some format of presentations, panel discussions and question-and-answer sessions followed by a campus tour. They are very informative but can be overwhelming for a nervous student, and it can be difficult to make yourself known to the school representatives you most want to speak with.
Individual tours are usually just campus tours, although you may be able to schedule time to speak with school officials, professors and/or students depending on availability. If these people are unavailable when you visit, you can probably schedule a phone consultation with them or e-mail them with your questions. Consider bringing a camera with you to take some photos to keep each school fresh in your mind once the visits are complete.
Get Your Child's Impressions
Now that you’ve researched and seen each school, what does your child think of it? How do your impressions match with his/hers? Did you find out anything that made certain schools unattractive or did one or two emerge as favorites?
Make the Decision
Once all the questions have been answered, it’s time to make a decision – will he/she apply to these schools or cross them off the list? Be sure to let your child know that just because he/she applies to a school doesn’t mean that he/she necessarily has to attend that school – sometimes the admissions decision will help decide where your child will attend.
Be aware that every college has a fee for application and it’s a good idea to have a calendar handy to mark down all applicable admissions dates.
In summary, answering a few key questions should give you a good list of colleges to visit. Once there, find out any further information that will help you decide to apply or not. Then confer with your child to discuss impressions and be sure all questions were answered.
Once you have done all this, making a decision should be fairly easy. Enjoy the process...it's an exciting time!
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