Selecting a School


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Selecting a College
By Jim Burns, PhD.

What follows are ten practical tips you can follow regardless of where you are in the “college search” process . . .

1. Pray about it. The college years are typically when a person makes some of the most important decisions in life – whether or not to marry, what kind of career path to pursue chief among them. These are decisions not made lightly . . . so it’s important to bathe the “college issue” in prayer before deciding where and when to attend.

2. Ask others about their experiences. Scripture reminds us “There is wisdom in the counsel of many.” Do you know anyone who is already attending a school your child is interested in? ... Ask them what it’s like to attend the school they’re attending. Practical experience will tell you more about a college or university than any handbook or brochure ever will.

3. Visit the campus. This one might sound obvious, but you’d be amazed at the number of children – and their parents – who make decisions about where to attend college based on a brochure or a web site.... Take a weekend – preferably when school is in session – and walk the campus. Sit in on a class or two. Talk to some of the professors and support staff. Really “try the place on.”

4. Read everything you can about the colleges. This is another “obvious” point too many of us parents miss. Just because you have good memories from your days at “good old State U” doesn't’t mean it’s right for your son or daughter. Get the brochures . . . surf the Internet . . . do your homework!

5. Start saving now. You know what they say – “There’s no time like the present.” And that’s especially true when it comes to saving for college. Whether your child is 17 years old or 17 months old, it’s never too late (or too early) to start saving for college. ... and start doing it now.

Selecting a College (con 't)

6. Look to the military. Even during a time of war. The different branches of the military offer tremendous financial incentives to college students . . . . It’s a great way to serve our country and pay for college. So look into it – you just might be surprised at what kind of financial assistance you’ll find.

7. Remember that grades do count ... Many scholarships are based on a student’s GPA. So stress with your child the importance of earning good grades and maintaining a solid grade point average.

8. Don’t pay for any scholarship search companies. There are plenty of free scholarship search engines available online. It takes some time to search, but there is private scholarship money out there.

9. Apply early to schools. There are many times when what is considered as “institutional financial aid” – that is, the college or university’s “own” money – is given to those students who apply and are admitted early. For this reason, it is in everyone’s best interest – both the student and his or her parents – to apply early!

10. Meet deadlines! Many times, state and federal government aid is contingent upon a student getting their FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in by a priority deadline. Families can start filling out the FAFSA for the upcoming school year as early as January 1 of that year . . . but the deadline for filing is often not long after that.

For more information on how to find financial aid and scholarship money online, log on to: http://www.fastweb.com

Article used with the permission of HomeWord Ministries. Visit them at:
www.homeword.com
Encouraging Parents, Building Families

 
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