Should tuition be a factor in college visits?

Northstarmom
Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:46:54 +0000

Take a close look at the financial aid and scholarships part of the web sites of colleges that may fit your son. Also use a financial aid estimator such as the one linked from CC’s home page, and pay the $15 to access US News premium on-line web site, which provides detailed financial aid (and other) info for most of the colleges in the U.S.

If a college is a longshot for your S obtaining the aid he needs, then don’t bother to take him to see it. Why risk having a student fall in love with a college that you’re unlikely to afford? Better to not have such a college on his list at all.

Also, help him build his list from the bottom up by having him see first schools where he’s likely to gain admission as well as whatever aid he needs.