By Robert Oldfield
Cazenovia High School Counselor
If it was December, you might say to yourself, “what a good problem to have!” But in mid-April, with decisions to make and deposits to send in, it sometimes feels like you’re starting the application process over. This is a good time to sit down with your son or daughter and re-discuss the things about a college that are most important to them, and most important to you as parents.
It might be cost or financial aid awards; it might be an internship opportunity, the option to study abroad or even distance from home. With April break around the corner, you may want to visit a couple of schools one more time to decide, or have your senior attend an “accepted students’ day.”
By identifying what your child hopes to get out of attending a particular college (and just as important is what you want them to achieve by attending) you may be able to narrow down your choices more effectively than laying out your child’s financial aid awards side by side (particularly if the cost of attendance is comparable). By having these discussions, you’ll identify the factors that are truly most important to your family.
Though the faculty members at the high school will tell you what capable young people the members of our senior class are, keep in mind, this is likely the biggest decision they have ever had to make and if there is not one obvious choice, they will need your help.
Good luck to the Class of 2016 as you finalize your college decisions!
