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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.
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