Comments on: How to Make the Right College Choice

By: Mary Fallon

Mary Fallon — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 17:06:34 +0000

For many students, money is a huge factor. A great start for helping compare colleges on all aspects is a personalized College Cost & Planning Report which is based on your academic and financial circumstances. It calculates and compares side by side your financial aid eligibility, net price, and up-front out-of-pocket expenses. It comes with detailed college profiles – all the important but difficult to find info like retention and graduation rates and how fast tuition is going up as well as demographics, test scores and distance from campus to your home.

Net price will become a big topic among parents because all colleges that provide aid – and that’s just about all post-secondary institutions – must by federal post a net price calculator on their Web sites by next October. Net price is Sticker Price minus merit and need-based aid.

The College Cost & Planning Report goes one better and also shows what students will get in work-study and loans so they’ll know the up-front, out-of-pocket costs (what they have to pull out of savings) to pay for college.

On average students receive $10,000 in aid a year so it’s worth knowing before spending time and money applying just how much aid you’ll receive to help pay for college. Once you have a good handle on which colleges will offer you the best deal, then visit and apply.

By: Sophie

Sophie — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:32:29 +0000

Julie:

Thank you for your in site! This is exactly how I chose what college I decided to attend. I visited a few different colleges and noticed which ones I felt the most welcomed to. Ironically even thought I wanted a warm campus college; Initially I looked at Florida and California colleges, but I discovered that a college in MUCH colder weather fit me better and it was in, Chicago Illinois. This college offered me the best financial option, yet in the end this was the best option for me and once I set foot on the campus I Immediately felt at home. I knew that I would be comfortable, flying in over a very green landscape and being introduced to a VERY warm people made all the difference over the other places I’d considered.
I have to say this is what makes me call Chicago home even to this day, over 15 years later. I even wish I’d been born here.

So all that to say this, being comfortable with a college is just as important as making sure you have the right financial package.

Julie is so right:

* Visit
* Make sure you’re comfortable
* Be sure you’re finances are compatible

Money isn’t everything, but it’s very important!!! So as you consider your college options look at everything.

Sophie

By: Kristen - Butler University

Kristen - Butler University — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:08:27 +0000

Great article! Your fifth point about financial aid and weighing the costs are extremely important. Schools like Butler University can seem expensive but a majority of our students are on some kind of aid which, in the long run, is less expensive than a public school. I look forward to passing this along to our prospective students.