Some high school seniors are accepted
at every college where they applied. If you're one of those
with an embarrassment of riches, congratulations.
Believe it or not, having a pile of acceptance letters from
colleges you like can pose a problem. It's a happy problem,
to be sure, but a difficulty nonetheless.
Perhaps you were accepted to your clear, first-choice college
in August, through an Early Decision application. Maybe, in
your pile of acceptance letters, there is one that suits you
perfectly, making all the others inconsequential. If either
of those situations is yours, there's no problem.
What should you do, though, if you have three or four acceptances
and none is a clear favorite?
This happens more frequently than you might imagine. The solution
to finding the right one lies in doing some careful review and
consultation with your family.
If considerations such as location, student-body size, program
offerings, and reputation are all about equal (and you detect
no true preference stirring in your heart), then money has to
be a major consideration. With your acceptances come the financial
aid packages. Examine them carefully. Ignore the "sticker
price" of the schools for a moment and go straight to the
bottom line.
Which school's offer puts the smallest drain on your family's
finances?
Is there a clear winner now?
If there's no other criterion for deciding, then money should
make up your mind.
Don't forget that you can earn some extra financial aid sometimes
with just a phone call to the college's financial aid office.
After you have satisfied yourself that you have the best-possible
packages, then decide.
Remember, too, that you could make a quick visit between now
and May 1, the traditional enrollment notification response
deadline. Visits can sometimes sway the undecided. Please keep
your parents involved in your decision. They maintain a large
stake in your college education. Even though most parents respect
their child's decision on college selection, they can provide
valuable perspective for that decision.
Regardless of where you end up going to college, compliment
yourself on a college admissions process well done. |