I was the middle kid in a high school graduating class of 850 students. No. 425. As, Bs, a D (geography, I still curse you) made me an average student — the average student to be precise — much more interested in extracurricular activities than academics. So, there weren’t a lot of colleges waving full rides in front of me. Actually … none.
When it came time to choose a college, I only wanted to go somewhere with a smallish campus, somewhere I could actually stand out. And then of course, there was the issue of financial affordability — tuition needed to be reasonable. So, I sat down with my high school guidance counselor, she made some recommendations, I applied, and off I went.
Fast forward to the college search for my daughter. Completely different scenario. The kid had offers. Colleges in New York, Portland, Chicago, Boston and Minneapolis all sent out feelers and financial incentive. How did these institutes of higher learning hear about her? We went to a portfolio day early into her senior year, and we attended the National College Fair both her junior and senior years. Then came the deliberation, the applications, the tours and acceptance letters.
And yes, she did feel buried in a morass of brochures, phone calls, and email queries. Our dining room table was piled high with literature for months. She did feel stressed about making the right decision, because on top of the “leaving for college” aspect was the “leaving home” aspect — which sounded great, until she realized what she was leaving behind (Wah! My kitties!). It took a lot of deliberation, a lot of weeding out — and a lot of money (application fees) to make a decision. Two years later, we are still receiving queries from some of the colleges she rejected.
In Lauren Peck’s feature, College Bound, she explores each step toward finding the right college, from initial information-gathering fairs akin to visiting a big box retailer to on-campus tours. Especially important are the tours: we thought for certain our daughter would be in Portland now … but after the tour, she knew it wasn’t the right fit.
What’s right for your child? In my opinion, get as much information as you can put your hands on … and then step back and let your child make the decision. Offer your opinion only when asked, be supportive but don’t hover, and write the check. And if you have any questions, drop me a line at kstoehr@mnpubs.com. I’ve navigated these waters, and I’m here to throw you a life preserver.
