One of the most important steps in beginning the college admissions process is getting the right advice, but are our public schools failing our children?
Because of our changing economic conditions, the college admissions landscape has been drastically altered, and these changes will last for years to come. “We feel that it is important that parents and students are properly apprised of these changes so that each student can get into the ideal school for his or her situation in order to prepare for a successful life,” says Mr. David Kim, co-founder of C2 Education, a premier education support center. “Not to sound overly dramatic, but the three to four years that children spend in high school really will help to determine the next thirty to forty years of their lives.”
The road to college is a winding path that can be very difficult to navigate. In recent years, high schools have begun to place an emphasis on providing college advice for students. However, amidst drastic budget cuts, the best college advice is rarely available at most public schools. The statistics regarding college counseling at public high schools are alarming. On average, a single public school counselor is now in charge of nearly 1,000 students. Moreover, statistics show that college counseling rates a distant third on the list of guidance counselor priorities. At the average public school, counselors spend the majority of their time making sure that students graduate from high school and addressing disciplinary problems, with only 23% of their time spent on college counseling. In order to cope with their overwhelming responsibilities, many public school counselors simply advise their students to apply to local state colleges and universities, without taking into consideration a student’s particular needs. It is a one-size-fits-all approach: Since the economy isn’t doing well, just apply to a more affordable state school.
Unfortunately, there are many fallacies behind this silver-bullet approach. First and foremost, common sense dictates that cheapest does not necessarily equal best fit. “For a student to find the school that best fits his or her needs, numerous factors need to be taken into consideration, not only tuition costs,” Mr. Kim says. “For example, an introverted student likely wouldn’t do well at a huge state university; no matter how low the tuition may be such a student wouldn’t get the bang for his or her buck.” In addition, tuition price tags are often misleading. Even a school that is known for having a high price tag can be affordable for a student with financial need because scholarships and grants may help to offset cost. “During the economic recession, private universities, which historically have higher sticker prices than their public counterparts, have been more aggressive in providing more aid and scholarships in order to draw in stronger students,” says Mr. Kim. “These kinds of trends are often ignored when such a one-size-fits all approach is used to guide students on their road to college.” Students and parents can do their own research to find out what financial aid opportunities might be available. The first place to start is often www.fafsa.ed.gov, the application for federal financial aid, but the search shouldn’t end there. Other helpful resources include www.finaid.com and www.fastweb.com, sites which offer advice about financial aid and scholarships.
Finding the right college can be a difficult balancing act. Many different variables need to be taken into consideration and students often need help finding the right information and advice. With help, a student can find the perfect college for his needs. “We had a student whose story is the perfect example of why college counseling is so important,” Mr. Kim says. “This student had a great interest in engineering. His lifelong dream had been to go to MIT, but he found the cost too prohibitive and had decided to simply apply to the more local and affordable Georgia Tech. Tech is a great school, but we felt that this student could find a better fit. Instead, we recommended the little known Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, which is the top ranked engineering program in the country and which offers its students free tuition. Admissions are competitive, but with this new goal in mind, the student worked harder than ever and was able to gain admission to this prestigious school, something he never would have done without the right advice.”
Next week, Mr. Kim will share information that every parent should know about college counseling. For more information about C2 Education and their programs, please call 1 (800) 777 – 7000 or visit them on the web at www.c2educate.com.
