COVERITLIVE.COM

12:00

becky - Welcome to this LIve event on the working through the best process to find a great college match. This is Becky Callow. I will be available on line to answer questions on the topic and our book The College Selection Compass: Helping Families Navigate a Difficult Course.

12:01

[Comment From christine]
My daughter is a sophomore. Any thoughts on how to start the process? She's not sure what she wants to do, or what she's looking for in a college experience, and we're feeling overwhelmed. thx

12:03

becky - This process can indeed be overwhelming. One of the advantages of our book is that is breaks down the process into manageable pieces. For example, as she begins her junior year be sure that you meet as parents and later as a family with her guidance counselor. This should establish a basic beginning to finding the kinds of colleges that would interest her.

12:04

[Comment From Michael]
How much autonomy, in general, do you think kids should have in selecting a college? I mean, I'm worried about money and my kid is looking at private schools in NYC.

12:07

becky - A great question. Finances have become a real issue in this economy. Financial aid and their packages are still widely available although more difficult to acquire. Some schools which have large endowments still have need blind admissions programs but many do not. Go online and find out how resource friendly financial aid is at the colleges your student is considering. Finaincail aid is indeed more difficult but not impossible to procure. We suggest being open with your child and work together to locate the best match of several criteria.

12:08

[Comment From mark]
When I started college, my Mom told me that when you find the right school, you'll know it. I never exactly felt that so I just picked an option, now I'm 2 years in at a school I don't like, and looking to transfer. How can I be sure to find that right school, and is it really a gut feeling?

12:12

becky -

It is morew than a gut feeling. You have 2 years done already and you are better aware of the things you need in a college. The choice of a major helps define the college list as well as location, cost, student body profile and extra curricular activites. Assess what you did not like about the college you are now attending and try to find an institutions that fits who you are. Try exploring the online sites and match your current identity to perhaps the identiy you aspire to. Does the college profile match your values for example. Ask questions - contact the head of the department of the major in which you might be interested.

12:13

[Comment From gmk]
What are some of the ways parents can lessen the stress kids feel?

12:16

becky - The objective of the book is to pattern out a timeline and a framework for the process to lessen the stress and meet deadlines in an organized fashion. How does one eat the elephant? One bite at a time. The process starts with a simple check in a counselor and moves to researching colleges, their locatiosn, sizes, costs and acdemic requirements. Stress sometimes comes from a feeling of a lack of conytrol. Process can provdie a better sens of control. Try not to compare your situation or experience with that of other people. Concentrate on what you and your student will benfeit form the most.

12:20

becky - Journalism is a great choice. In fact today's environment may make it all the better choice four years from now as the industry is changing to meet the needs of a new markeplace of consumers. That being said be sure that you look into schools which will provide other options as well as journalism as you may change your interests while in school. Exploring schools which have three or four peaks of excellence is a suggestion.

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