How Can My Child go about Choosing a College?

Colleges are located in cities, suburbs, and small towns throughout the country. Some enroll tens of thousands of students; others enroll only a few hundred. Most are public; a few are private. Some private institutions are affiliated with religious institutions.

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?

-- What area would I prefer?

-- 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.

The Nature of the Education Offered

* What is the philosophy of the particular college and what a kind of educational programs does these colleges 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 that they were trained for? 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 starting salaries of program graduates and the institution's career advising and placement services for its students.

Students who enroll in further education colleges and plan to transfer to a university should inquire about the possibility of doing so and about the number of graduates who transfer each year. Students applying to universities may want to know how many graduates go on to post-graduate or professional education.

The Quality of the College

* How many students who start at this school earn a certificate or degree? How many drop out?

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.

* 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 other facilities 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.

Admissions Requirements and Financial Aid

* What admissions requirements does this college have?

Each institution can require students to have taken certain school classes and attained certain examination levels. Make sure you know what the schools that interest your child require.

* Is this college recognized by the Department of Education?

Financial aid is available only to students attending eligible institutions. Students attending other institutions cannot receive financial aid. If you are interested in having your child apply for financial aid, be wary of unaccredited institutions and those with high default rates.

EXERCISE

College Inquiries

Help your child list the colleges he/she knows about and might be interested in attending. Write down whether they are colleges of further education or universities. Ask your child why these schools are appealing to him or her. You and your child may want to contact the colleges to get more information.