How to Pick the Best College For Your Child?

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1. Do not think too much about environment-Many parents are overly concerned about the right environment. Keep in mind that most schools are big enough that every child can find his or her way.

2. Prioritize academics, course offerings, and statistics. Most schools publish statistics on average standardized test scores as well as admissions to future institutions. For parents of high schoolers, insist on seeing college admissions data for the class of 2013 only. Some schools aggregate data over several years, making the statistics look better than they actually are. Also make sure to explore all of the course offerings at each school you are considering. Many high schools now offer courses in engineering, computer science, and economics. These classes give high schoolers an excellent opportunity to learn advanced topics before college. For parents of younger students, look at the list of high schools where students are admitted. Also, ask administrators about transfer and retention rates.

3. Location, location-forcing your K-12 child to commute more than 30 minutes per day creates added stress and can contribute to illness and fatigue. When in doubt-pick the local option. When considering college options, keep an open mind. If your child hates the cold weather, let them explore colleges in the south and west.

4. Don’t follow the crowd-Do not automatically look at the same 3 or 4 schools that other families are looking at. There may be more options that you should consider. Also, if a school is flooded with applicants from a single feeder school, admissions criteria can be more stringent.

5. Involve your child in the decision-whether your child is 8 or 18, all students have opinions about which schools they want to attend. Even if the decision will ultimately be made by adults, let your child feel like he or she is an integral part of the process.

Tutoring Solutions Group offers college guidance and admissions counseling to families in NYC and northern NJ. We also now offer guidance to international students. Contact Us to learn more 201.816.0248