Choosing a college
How to help your child
Colleges are located in big cities, suburbs, and small towns throughout the country. Some enroll tens of thousands of students; others enroll only a few hundred. Some are public; others are
private. Some private institutions are affiliated with religious institutions; others are not. Some schools enroll only women, others only men. So how can you help your child to make the best choice? Find some tips here!
The type of institution best suited to your child depends on his or
her individual needs and talents. Your child can begin focusing on
the choice of a college by considering the following questions:
- Why do I want to go to college?
- What do I hope to achieve in college?
- Do I have some idea of what I want to study or for which job I want to prepare?
- Do I want to live at home or go away to school?
- Do I prefer an urban or suburban environment?
- Would I be happier in a small college or at a large university?
In order to choose a college, you and your child should ask the
following questions about the nature and quality of the schools in
which your child has an interest. (Ask these questions when you
meet staff in the admissions office of the colleges. You may also
find answers to these questions in the colleges' catalogs or in
reference books on colleges.)
The Nature of the Education Offered
- What is the philosophy of the particular college, and what
kinds of educational programs does this college offer?
Ask about the college's specialties, which types of classes the
school offers, and in which fields students can earn a degree or
certificate. How many students study in each area, and what do they
do when they graduate?
- How long does it take to earn a certificate or degree at this
college?
Students should know how much time it takes to complete a program
before they enroll in it. Programs can last anywhere from a few
months to several years. Also ask whether the time involved
reflects full-time or part-time attendance.
- What do students do when they graduate from this school? Do
they get jobs in the areas for which they were trained? Do they
pursue further education?
Job placement rates are particularly important for vocational
programs. If a very low percentage of students are employed in
their area of training a year after completing the program, there
may be a problem. It can also be useful to ask about beginning
salaries of program graduates and the institution's career advising
and placement services for its students.
Students who enroll in two-year colleges with plans to transfer to
four-year colleges should inquire about the possibility of doing so
and about the number of graduates who transfer each year. Students
applying to four-year colleges may want to know how many graduates
go on to graduate or professional education.
A high drop-out rate may suggest that students are dissatisfied
with the education an institution provides. Be particularly careful
about having your child enroll in a school that graduates a very
low percentage of its students. Also ask about tuition refund
policies for students who drop out in the first weeks of an
educational program.
What is the loan default rate at this college? Do students
repay their student loans?
The default rate is the percentage of students who took out student
loans to help pay their expenses but did not repay them properly.
A high default rate may suggest that students who borrowed never
completed their educational program, or that they were unable to
find jobs and repay the loans when they graduated. Colleges with
consistently high default rates may be barred from student loan
programs, and students attending these institutions may thus be
ineligible for Federal loans.
Have other students who have gone to this college liked it?
What has their experience been?
Colleges should be able to refer you to current students or recent
graduates of their programs. These individuals can give you their
opinion about classes, facilities, the faculty (teachers), and the
skills they have learned.
What kinds of facilities does this college have? Are they
adequate for my child's needs?
You and your child should consider the condition of classrooms,
libraries, and dormitories when choosing a college. The types of
facilities appropriate for a college depend on the type of
education provided. For example, a college offering classes in the
sciences should have modern laboratories, and an institution that
offers computer education classes should have adequate computer
facilities.
- What admissions requirements does this college have?
Each institution can require students to take certain high school
classes and submit certain items with their applications. Make sure
you know what is required by the schools that interest your child.
- Is this college accredited by an agency recognized by the
Secretary of Education and eligible to participate in Federal
student aid programs?
Federal financial aid is available only to students attending
eligible institutions. Students attending other institutions cannot
receive Federal financial aid. If you are interested in having your
child apply for Federal financial aid, be wary of unaccredited
institutions and those with high default rates. You can call the
Federal Student Financial Aid Information Center
toll-free to find out if a particular college is an eligible
institution. The number is 1-800-4FED-AID.
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About this article: This information was provided courtesy of the U.S. Department of Education.
