Each college has a different appearance, feel, and allure when you and your kid research, examine, and your potential universities of interest. You’ll like some of them. Some you won’t, All of that is a step in reducing the field.
You can use the following information to rank your options and ensure that you and your kids make well-informed judgments. Some of you might rate each college on items 4 through 11 using a five-point scale. Then, parents and students can compare colleges on specific items and scores more quickly. If you think it would be helpful, you can add more items. But long before you start looking at universities, you should discuss and agree upon the first three items on this list.
- Consider Your Financial Situation – Do You Have Children? How much can you afford to spend on each child’s college education? Can and is the student willing to work a part-time job?
- Think about Cost-Reduction Alternatives – Since most parents worry about money, students should consider community institutions and less expensive four-year universities. Check out those colleges in Sacramento and reputations, but do so. It benefits to enroll in a reputable university. Then, if you have strong grades, you might be able to transfer to a four-year institution with a higher ranking.
- Evaluate the High School Performance of Your Student – Be truthful. How well-regarded was the high school your child attended? The top universities will take this into account.
- Financial Aid – Before everything else, you should consider grants and scholarships rather than loans. Some loans are easier to repay than others. Before you agree, make sure you fully comprehend all loan requirements. Be aware that you could have a more extended repayment period for your student loans than twenty years.
- College Ratings – Most universities have national, state, local, or international reputations. What is the standing of the colleges your student plans to apply to? Which colleges have a reputation in the area that your student wants to study? The most excellent colleges can be beneficial when it comes time to hunt for a job.
- Career Services – Is there enough staff in the Career Services office to offer peopleized help, classes, and training to every student, or do they only supply information on their website? Can they help students with all facets of the job hunt, including a goal, a plan, assessment tools, research, networking, resume, interviews, references, and more? Can they assist students in acquiring summer jobs, part-time work, and internships? Can they point students in the direction of graduates who are currently employed in their chosen fields?
- Numbers on Job Placement – Colleges are pretty astute in how they display their statistics. Many institutions claim that within six months of graduation, 95% or more of their graduates find employment. However, these figures do not indicate how many students are employed in their chosen fields or whether they are making a living income.
- Campus safety and security – Every college has security and safety concerns. What were the figures throughout the previous four years? Request information about homicides, rapes, assaults, stalking, thefts, and break-ins.
- What types of counseling services are provided? What kind of counseling is your student most likely to require? Students frequently seek counseling for problems with their academic performance, careers, eating disorders, drug use, and anxiety and despair. To what extent do these services take? How frequently have students used each service in the past? What are the rates of success?
- Parent Association: Which colleges have one? If they have one, you’ll be able to discuss any concerns with other parents. Analyze each college’s family- and parent-friendliness policies. You’ll discover that although some are open to parent input, recommendations, and participation, others are not. Some institutions merely require your tuition and yearly gifts.
The application process can start once you’ve narrowed your choices to four or five universities that pique your curiosity, are appropriate given your child’s qualifications, and satisfy your financial needs. Many students use a tactic to increase their chances of getting into institutions that suit their needs and preferences. They submit applications to one or two universities they think are a stretch, two or three where they are convinced they will be accepted, and one or two where they believe they have a good chance of getting in. This is significant given the fierce competition for high-quality, affordable universities. However, keep in mind that some universities accept just 20% of applicants.
