Investing in a college education or career training can
lead to opportunity and success in a
competitive economy that is increasingly
knowledge-based and global. If an individual has been offered admission to more
than one institution, it can be challenging to make a choice. Making an
informed decision involves comparing institutions on factors that enhance the
student’s academic, financial and social “fit”.
Factors to be considered by prospective students and
parents in choosing a college, university or career school include the
following:
Total cost
Scholarships and financial aid
School rankings
Distance from home
Transportation
Campus size and setting
On-campus housing options
Available majors
Work-study options
Student services
Student body
Available athletic and extra-curricular activities
Graduation data: Admission offices should provide current
information on the percentage of students who graduate with a degree or earn a
certificate of completion, and how long, on average, it takes them to complete
their programs of study.
Return on investment (ROI): When choosing a school and
possible field of study, students should consider the institution’s reputation
and the popularity of various majors, as well as their career goals and
predicted future earnings.
There are many institutional matches for every
prospective student. Individuals should keep their needs, preferences, and
goals in mind to arrive at a good post-secondary school choice. Admissions
reps, faculty members, and/or current college/career school students are
available to answer questions in order to help the prospective student make an
informed decision.
May 1 is National College Decision Day. This date is
considered the deadline for all high school students to choose the institution
that they plan to attend. The student must send the required deposit and
official notice that s/he intends to attend a single college that has offered
admission. The school will expect to receive these or have them postmarked
before/by May 1 for the student to secure a seat for fall. (Check school policy
concerning the firm deadline.)
If a senior has been placed on a waitlist(s), there are
important factors to consider.
Seat security: The student should send a deposit and
his/her decision to attend a single school that has offered admission by May 1
in order to secure a seat in the fall. Note: If the student is admitted off a
waitlist and chooses to attend that institution instead of the one where the
deposit was made, s/he will usually forfeit the deposit made to the first
school.
Cost: Some institutions may have already awarded most of
their scholarships and financial aid by the time the waitlisted student is
offered admission.
References:
Sue Hatfield is a certified school counselor who worked
in Maine high schools for twenty years before her retirement.
