So here are a few words of wisdom that were posted on previous threads to get us started …
I’ll share my mantra…LOVE YOUR SAFETY.
Mom from class of 2021 here chiming in…For those of you who are perhaps making a final decision between a BA and a BFA program… bottom line…sometimes it’s not just BA vs BFA, but it’s about opportunities as well. Weigh everything! Also compare credits in the major. There is a big variation within BFA programs as well as within BAs. Some BAs come pretty close in credits to some BFA programs.
Each school has a Net Price Calculator, use it for list building. Hurdle #1, getting in, and hurdle#2, paying the bill.
When I started, I used the lists of schools to which people applied, you can look at the current year’s thread, and previous years, it’s a good starting point. I also made a spreadsheet of basic information, freshman performance, study abroad, etc. so I could compare. If I were to start this journey again, I would have started with the BIG financial picture, other kids/retirement, etc, and determine up front a financial strategy. Are we willing to take out loans, if so, how much? How much can we pay each year? What is our EFC (Estimated family contribution) and do we want to pursue merit aid, need aid, or both? The answers to those question informed the list just as much as the program for our family. I spent WAAAAYYYY too much time researching programs we could never afford.