Decision Making Guide for Parents

Decision-Making Guide The waiting is over, and you got in! Of course, if you have been accepted by more than one college, you will have to choose. Here are some tips to help during the final decisionmaking process.

Prioritize College Characteristics You should start with some soul-searching to determine what you really want in a college.

Is it more important to attend a college with a good English department or one that offers fraternities? You should create a list of college characteristics, and then rank these characteristics in order of importance.

Compare Colleges You can use the College Board's College Search to compare basic characteristics of up to three colleges side-by-side. See differences—from distance to cost—at a glance.

Visit College Campuses Visiting a college campus can help break a deadlock if you can't decide between two colleges. At this point, a campus visit should be less about facts and figures than intuition and whether or not you "click" with a particular college—you should ask, "Will I be happy on this campus? Can I really picture myself here?" You can get a good feel for the school by talking to students, sitting in on a class, and dining in the cafeteria.

Your colleges might also offer open houses, receptions and other on-campus events for admitted students. Take advantage of these events to visit campuses for the first time or for a return visit, and meet students, faculty, and administrators.

Compare Financial Aid Award Packages If you received offers of financial aid, use the College Board's Compare Your Aid Awards page to compare: The total amount of aid awarded; The family share of costs; and The percentage of gift aid (grants and scholarships) vs. self-help aid (work-study and loans) for up to four schools side by side.

Students and their Parents need to Share in College Financing Discussions If family finances or other circumstances will affect the decision, you and your parents need to discuss this candidly. You should be aware of any sacrifices, financial or otherwise, that will be required to make college a reality. Decisions about financial aid, such as whether to take a student loan or work-study job, should be made as a family.

Decide and Reply Once you have made a decision, you should send in your acceptance letter before the reply deadline. Be sure to inform the other schools that offered admission that you will not be attending—this frees up places for other students.

Don't feel pressured to find that one, perfect school. Many colleges may fit the bill. The right college is one at which you will feel happiest and be prepared for a lifetime of learning and success.