Whenever I speak to groups of parents and their high school students, I am always asked what are the best tips I can give them when researching and applying to college. My answer always is that they don’t necessarily need to know what to do as much as they need to know what NOT to do.
Public vs. Private: Many parents think a private education at a top university is out of their reach. The truth is that private universities have larger endowments which means more money to give to students than state schools. In fact there is a list of 64 schools published in Newsweek each year of schools who give 100% scholarships to every incoming freshman. Don’t exclude a college just because of their tuition. Instead go to the college’s website and search scholarships. You may be surprised at what you find!
Less is not More: Many times I’ve heard students or parents complain about the fees associated with applying to colleges and they hold back sending applications because of these fees. The complaint I get from most students is having to fill out all of those applications. First check with your guidance counselor and find out if you qualify for waivers for college entrance exams and college applications. Then be smart when it comes to filling out those applications. One of the best resources for filling out multiple applications is the Common Application. One application can be submitted to many colleges and universities. https://www.commonapp.org
Financial Aid: You’ve heard the expression, “First Come, First Served”. Well this expression applies even with financial aid and will affect your pocket book. For US Citizens, financial aid is awarded on a first come, first serve basis. There is money allocated by the Federal Government for financial aid to be awarded to students either through grants, scholarships or loans. The grants and scholarships are FREE money available to students. The federal application for student aid (FAFSA) comes out every year on January 1st. Knowing that the money is awarded by first come first served means that if your child is a Senior in High School, you better be filling out that application on New Year’s Day instead of recovering from celebrating the night before.
Pick up the Phone: Admissions counselors, professors and coaches are waiting for your call. They are happy to answer any questions you have about their school. They take pride in taking the time to speak with you and help you make the decision to attend their university. This is one of the largest purchases you will make in your life. You need to make sure you are making the right decision before investing your time and money. Any question, even little ones can make the difference in your decision. Each person who helps you can also have helpful tidbits when it comes to scholarship money that is available. Don’t be shy to call again and again until you get all your questions answered.
Procrastination: Students, especially boys, put off college and moving on to the very last minute. Knowing this is the first step, taking action will lead to results. It is never to early to start and it is a good idea that students as young as 7th grade begin looking at colleges, scholarships, majors, and what sport or honor they excel at. Every child is different, so what may have worked for one child may not for the next. It is important that your child starts early and doesn’t wait until the last minute or they will be left out in the dark with limited opportunities.
Lisa Paolo is first and foremost the mother of five children. Before moving to Florida with her family, she was the Principal of a Public School of the Arts in New York City. Lisa was the youngest administrator appointed in the city of New York at the age of only 31. She has spent the last four years working with student athletes and implementing programs for them to excel at the college level! Lisa is also working on a book from her experiences as a NYC Principal and the school of the arts. She expects it to be published next summer. You can learn more about her programs for student athletes at www.LisaPaolo.com
Leave A Reply (No comments so far)
The comments are closed.
No comments yet