寻找大学的小贴士

• Expenses – What is the family’s current or projected financial situation? How much tuition, room and board can the family afford? This is an excellent time to explore available financial aid, 基于家庭收入和其他变量. What about the expenses associated with finding a college, 比如旅行, 入学考试和申请费?
• Location – What are the pros and cons of schools that are close to home or far away? Are particular locations more conducive to your student’s long-term goals? 多远才算太远?
• Family Tradition – Is a family member’s alma mater being considered? 遗产和传统重要吗? 如果有，给谁，为什么?
• Self-Reflection – Does your student learn best with small or large groups? 她喜欢多大的校园? Does she want to live in an urban, suburban or rural setting? Is a particular region of the country more appealing or conducive to her career goals? Has she identified a major or field of study? 她想做什么运动吗? At what level of competition (Division I, II or III)? How important is a college’s religious affiliation?
• 讨论其他不可协商的事项.

• Create a Timeline – Refer to our college planning timeline for a schedule of activities recommended for your student’s junior and senior years.
• Make a 日历 – Know the institution’s application and financial aid deadlines, 以及什么时候会收到录取通知.
• Compile a Checklist – Know what items are required in the application process (transcripts, 建议, application supplements) and how to submit them.
• Maintain an Address Book – Gather contact information for the institution, as well as its identifying codes (for the SAT, ACT和FAFSA).
• Keep Up with Applications – Make copies of paper application that are submitted by mail, and check the status of applications submitted online. Confirm with colleges that applications are complete.

It’s easy to get lost in the many publications that address colleges and the college search process. Choose a diverse range of sources, but don’t feel obligated to look at everything. 最好的资源是:

• High School Counselors and Guidance Libraries – Counselors are familiar with the many college-guide books and sites (like The Common Application, 大学委员会, 普林斯顿评论, 和改变人生的大学), and they can steer your student to the most helpful publications.
• Websites – College search sites are springing up like mushrooms, and their quality varies widely. Help your student evaluate sites to weed out the gossip from the good advice. One helpful non-commercial site is the Department of Education’s College Navigator (nces.ed.gov / collegenavigator).
• College Materials and Admission Counselors – Students should request information (viewbooks, catalogues) from colleges of interest and talk to their admission counselors. 经常, students can learn about multiple schools at events like college fairs, 高中访问或地区招待会. Parents and caregivers are also welcome at these events.

• Be the guide, but allow your student to make decisions.
• Choose one day a week to sit down and get an update on the process from your student. 不要每天都问.
• Avoid a crisis at the end of the process by making sure that your student applies to a variety of colleges. If your student resists a college you think needs to be on the list, suggest that visiting or applying isn’t a commitment—it’s just an option in case others don’t work out.
• Spend some unscheduled time exploring a campus when you visit. Don’t hesitate to start a conversation with students. They are usually very excited to share their experiences with visiting families.
• Don’t dismiss a college due to “sticker price” on the front end. 考虑是否合适, and if an expensive college is a terrific fit, find out if scholarships or financial aid will make it affordable.
• 如果你的学生在网上申请, she should print the acknowledgment screen that appears after a successful submission. Sometimes students fill out an entire form, but neglect to hit the “submit” button. If you find that a college has not received the online application, your printed copy of the acknowledgment form will be very helpful.
• If you believe all application materials have been sent to a university, but your student receives a notice that something is missing, 不要惊慌! 一般, there is a grace period during which outstanding documents can be found (if misfiled) or faxed (if they were lost in the mail).
• Don’t believe everything you hear about parents who have “negotiated” more scholarship funds or financial aid. 一般, new information or a change in circumstances are required for additional aid to be awarded.
• Allow the process to be one of discovery and growth for your student. 如果你发现自己在说, “we are applying to …” or “we are going to take the ACT…,” you will know that it is time to relinquish some control.

Nothing helps solidify a decision about college like getting a feel for the campus. There’s no better way for your student to see whether they will feel comfortable with the school’s people, 文化, 和环境. 了解更多关于访问365betapp下载岛的信息.