Choosing a college is often the first really important decision your son or daughter will make on their own.  At least that’s the way it should be.  Starting in their junior year students will start to gather information of colleges and universities they are interested in.  Now let me warn you, some of these choices will not be based on rational things.  They will choose an institution based on the weather, their boy or girlfriend, the team’s mascot, and perhaps the major they are pondering.  You can try to steer them in the direction you want, but be forewarned; like most things, teenagers will do the exact opposite.  As much as you would like them to go your alma mater, they would probably rather die, and as for college costs, well, that just won’t matter.  Just stand back, and see how their decision making process works itself out.

I always suggest that students and their parents make a checklist of the factors that are important to them.  Of course, these items should include such things as major offerings, cost, and location.  As the process continues more questions will reveal themselves.  If they are committed to going away to college, the living arrangements will become a major consideration.  If not, will commuting to a closer campus be a hindrance?  All of sudden living “away” from home even at the local college may be worthwhile.  You might be surprised at the compromises your student is willing to make.

In their senior year it is imperative that students and their parents visit as many campuses as possible.  I cannot tell you how many decisions that looked great on paper fall apart as soon as they hit the campus.  What a student experiences during the campus visit is the single most influencing factor.  That last school that you squeezed in on Easter break may just be the one that speaks to them.  Many students tell me that as soon as they were on the obligatory campus tour, they just knew.   Here are a few things that should occur at a campus visit:

·         Go on a campus tour, preferably student led.

·         If the school is residential ask to see a dorm room or apartment.

·         Speak with as many students as possible, restricted access to current students is a warning sign.

·         If time permits have your student sit in on classes or shadow a student host. The ideal situation is to do an overnight visit.  Most students are actually amazed at the amount of things a college student has to juggle in any given day, none of which include keggers at a frat house.

·         Have the student speak with faculty in their area of interest.  Many students fear that faculty can’t or won’t relate to them.

The college choice process will be a rollercoaster, but remember how fortunate you are that your son or daughter is even interested in going to college.  They could be joining a cult or hitting the road with their garage band.  Relax, that comes later – around their sophomore year.