10 Steps to Picking the Right College

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The financial college loan estimator that was listed in the article only showed a result for one school out of the four schools that we put into the system and then listed advertisements for online universities. Was not a helpful tool at all.

nonya business of AL 12:55AM April 21, 2013

Do not forget the cost of going to a school a great distance from home. My daughter applied to 8 ( what I thought were reach schools ) all across the country, So you can imagine my surprise when she was accepted to all of them. Don't get me wrong she had good grades & test scores but not what I was lead to believe these schools expected ( never discount the weight of essays & recommodations ) her dream school was in California & the financial aid package was as good if not better than the schools in the Northeast, we live in PA.. She was all ready to pack her bags. But I started researching the cost of airfare to get her there & home again several times a year ( not to mention moving her things to a dorm ). I quickly realized that @ $580.00 a flight one way -her aid package was not quite so attractive. We sent her deposit to the neighboring N.Y. University.

Dee of PA 1:44AM May 09, 2012

hmm... this article is really helpful.

Sayum Khan 6:20AM April 07, 2012

This is not a bad plan. I work with high school students who are looking at top tier colleges or where mom and dad want them to go, and the truth is that it is their 4 years and the ultimate decision of where they will spend it is up to them.
I also work with students who have learning disabilities--- college should not be considered out of reach cause there are a lot of schools which can assist them. I see athletes who did not make the first or second round, but what to play their sport in college, College transfers, International Students, gap year, those who wish to take a year off to find themselves, and injured workers who find that they need to retrain to get a job.
College as Aly commented is NOT for everyone, but for many it is. The goal is to match the student with the schools, figure out the financial aid ( and we do that too with a fully trained staff), and make it so students dont come out with a mountain of debt.
While many colleges know that some students will pick majors, colleges and universities know people will change their minds, so majors are not typically declared until the end of the second year.
As a college student, your job is to maximize your free money, get through in 4 years, or as close to that as you can, and graduate.

THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT of CA 4:51PM May 19, 2011

I read this article, and I agree with some of it, but not all. The school decision has to be first, the financial aid will follow.
I meet a lot of people and when they hear the over all price of the services, they quickly say WELL! the cost, but the truth of the matter is that if you get a trained college consultant, they may cost you money up front, but save you thousands at the end of the day.
When I meet with a family, I work with the family first, learn as much about a student as I can and then start with creating a profile to match the colleges with the student, not the student to the colleges..... and then we move on the many more steps that are ahead of us.
Public Schools today cost about 30K per year.. Private Schools cost 57K-60K. People think they know what will get them into a school, but the truth is you have to find several schools like that. Yes, financial aid is an issue, but when we work with families, we know up front roughly what their out of pocket expense will be and sometimes, private schools are cheaper than state schools or even community colleges.
A good College Consultant that will work with you for 12-20 months will cost you a lot less than all the mistakes you can make a long the way cause you just did not know, and you will have a much happier experience as a result of their knowledge.

THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT of CA 4:44PM May 19, 2011

I agree with Ally. If you focus so much on reputation and what people think of you, you may miss out on a special experience. I also agree with Dan - college ought to be a time of discovering your gifts and talents - be careful about already being set on a career or you may miss discovering what you are great at but you just don't know it yet! Think it through the best you can and then choose the school that feels right. Prayer is very helpful too. ;)

Elice of AZ 2:13AM April 17, 2011

This whole college thing is overrated in my opinion. Go to the school that you think you'll be happy at because in the end your the one who has to live with yourself. And, if you go to the school that your happy with chances are you will thrive and get into any grad school you want if thats your path. Renowned schools like Harvard accepts grad students from ivy leagues, small colleges, massive state schools, etc... its not about where you go, its what you make of the opportunity and your overall performance at the institution you select. When I was making my college choice, i was getting heavily caught up on things like 'reputation' and 'what other people think,' that I realized the school on the top of my list wasn't even a school I really wanted to go to. The name isnt everything, and if you pick a school because of the name chances are you will fail. Life takes unexpected turns, so live in the present and in your own happiness. Trust me, pick a school because you LOVE it. If it turns out that you regret your choice, you can always transfer after 1st semester! If you're worrying that you won't make friends as a transfer student, your wrong because your not going to be the only one transferring! So last piece of advice, here is the cliche saying: COLLEGE IT WHAT YOU MAKE OF IT!
oh and the whole rating thing is an alright idea but again go with instinct. Ask yourself what college will make me the happiest!!?!
because chances are your will change your major so dont even consider that...
also even big state schools have small classes once you get into your major
when you think about most schools are pretty much the same other than size and stuff...
think the one that rings a bell with you... go with it... see where it takes you... and last resort.. TRANsFER!

Aly of CA 9:19PM April 11, 2011

I disagree that a student should have a career path in mind prior to choosing a school. There exist students who have very clear career goals and who will stick to those goals, but they are in the minority. Enter into college with a degree of inquisitiveness. Just because you are good at math doesn't mean you won't find music to be your calling. College is a time of exploration and personal development. Approach it as such and you will find the most rewarding experience!

Dan of PA 1:41AM April 10, 2011

Ranking your priorities is so important; when it comes to finding the right college for you ranking your priorities will help on a number of fronts. From superficial things (that matter) like clubs, honor societies, and sporting events to major things like class sizes, teacher:student ratios, and majors offered. When students start to think about selecting a college like this, it brings meaning into why they are selecting one school over another. College planning is an art that requires students to look inside themselves and attempt to plan their future, using this kind of advice can help students make plans that are based on their own priorities, their hopes, their dreams. This is a great article! Thanks!

Nathan of CA 1:33PM April 06, 2011