How to Help Teens Choose the Right College for Them
These letters of acceptance are (hopefully) coming in now, and it’s time to make a final decision: where will your child go to college?
In the aftermath of the college entrance scandal, much attention has been paid to how and why our children are accepted or not accepted into the school of their choice. But it is also important to take the time to introduce our children to all the possible options; you can start by discussing these issues together.
How much is it?
For many parents, cost is a factor that we start thinking about around the time of their birth. My husband and I recently did some updated estimates of our son’s estimated cost of going to Pennsylvania State University in 10 years. The numbers were, to put it mildly, high, and we had already practically determined that he would not go to school outside the state (unless, of course, he received large scholarships).
Parents and their teens must weigh the costs of private versus public universities, and community colleges versus four-year college. What additional educational value does the more expensive option provide, and how can you afford it?
Does it fit?
Some students will thrive in a large and bustling university environment. Other students may feel at home in a smaller, more cohesive environment. Consider the size and location of your teen’s favorite things. If it is important for them to come home regularly, you need something closer or more accessible.
Of course, you will need to think about what they want to study, as well as the programs, internships, and mentoring opportunities available at different colleges. You will also want to consider their extracurricular interests, which can be athletic, musical or artistic, and whether they will have a wide range of possibilities.
Denison University President Adam Weinberg writes for Grown & Flown that the most important factor is meeting requirements:
My advice to parents: Help your child find a college where they are likely to quickly “feel at home”, become academically engaged, develop close mentoring relationships with faculty and other staff, and engage in extracurricular activities where they make good friends and develop strong life skills.
If you haven’t already, visit the campus and take a guided tour. Campus tours are often conducted by college students, and this is the perfect time to ask questions you really want to know, such as “What do you like and dislike most about this place?” and “What do students do on weekends?” and “What is the atmosphere in the neighboring town?”
What will they do about it?
Often, where you go to school is less important than what you do while you are there. The fact that your child does not go to Ivy League does not mean that his or her career will suffer; however, what will make a difference is to make the most of every opportunity while they are in school.
Denise Pope, co-founder of Challenge Success , an organization seeking strategies for better learning, highlights this point in an interview with ABC New :
“How you interact with professors, whether you study or not, if you join an activity, if you can apply your knowledge to an internship, it all matters much more,” Pope said.
Talk also about whether they will work – or how long – during their studies, and what job opportunities exist on or off campus, especially with regard to their field of study.