Your child's choice of a college should be just that: his or her own personal choice based on unique talents, interests and career goals. But that doesn't mean there's no part in the selection process for you. On the contrary, you can play an important role as a sounding board and a source of encouragement, support and information. Start by suggesting that your son or daughter rate all prospective colleges, keeping these five key areas in mind.
Academics and Reputation
First of all, your family should only consider accredited schools. Accreditation guarantees the academic programs meet certain standards. It may also impact your ability to obtain financial aid and even your student's ability to get into graduate school. Other academic considerations include:
- Quality of the faculty
- Opportunities to participate in research as an undergraduate
- Opportunities to study abroad
- An outstanding department in your child's chosen field, or a strong core curriculum of liberal arts courses to aid in choosing a major
- Student support services (such as tutoring and mentoring programs)
- Internships
What is the school's reputation with potential employers and graduate schools? How about its alumni? Are they actively involved with the college, so they could be a helpful network after graduation? And speaking of graduation, what percentage of students graduate in four years? How many return for sophomore year?