Helping your child apply

Helping your student find the right college or professional program is important. You want to help them find a good fit, academically and financially. Encourage them to shop around and to consider a number of different possibilities. Encourage them to be a wise consumer!

• Your goal should be to help your student find a college that is affordable, has a good reputation, offers programs appropriate to his or her needs, is the right size, and is located in an appealing place.

• Make a "shopping list" of your student's reasons for attending college, and of the expectations for what the degree will help him or her do.

• Talk with your son or daughter about college plans, and encourage them to talk with teachers and school counselors.

• Consult college guide books or computer software to help narrow choices; use our list of Web picks to do online research.

• You and your student can get a quick look at most colleges and universities online. We have a list of links to Vermont colleges and universities. For links to schools beyond Vermont, consult IPEDS College Opportunities On-Line, a site maintained by an arm of the U.S. Department of Education called the National Center for Education Statistics. You can also try Petersons online guide, or other resources in our Web picks list. (Most school Web sites are easy to find; they are usually "www." and then the name of the school followed by ".edu"). Write for college catalogs and viewbooks if a school doesn't have a Web site.

• Virtual campus tours are great, but it's important that your student take the time to visit the schools he or she is most interested in. Join them to show you're interested in finding the school that's "right" for them.

• Don't rule out a college because it seems too expensive. Consult the school's financial aid office, and VSAC, for financing information.

We offer month-by-month online planning tips for high school seniors, juniors, sophomores, and freshmen (and their parents) who are hoping to continue their education after graduation. Students and parents can find great advice about planning, applying, and paying for college or other training.