Making the Final Decision

With the May 1st deposit deadline approaching, many students feel a new kind of pressure. In April, colleges are hosting open houses and weekends for admitted students to entice them to enroll, welcoming them to campus with open arms and lots of fanfare. The good news is that the tables are now turned and the visit has a new feel as accepted students approach campus knowing they have been admitted and that it is now up to them. After a long fall and winter, students are finally in the driver's seat.

I suggest you read this valuable article to evaluate your choices. In addition, you can use this worksheet to compare your financial awards and costs. I also suggest you consider those things that were important to you when you put your list together and go to each of the schools websites to compare these factors. For example, were you looking for a school that offered a lot of activities on campus, and clubs to join. Go to each website and find a club that looks interesting and learn more about it: does it have lots of members, meetings and activities? How about the upcoming schedule for the weekend on campus: are there interesting events? What do the housing options look like, and what required courses will you be taking as a freshman. It is better to find all of this out now, rather than when you are enrolled. While you may have investigated this early on, your preferences may have changed. Comparing these items in a clear list with your final choices can help you determine which is the best option for you.

Another helpful tool can be social networking groups like Facebook. Students can use this to share comments within a specific college group, or to discuss and/or read about other colleges between which students are deciding. Your college choices may be very similar to other students, so sharing this insight can provide a new perspective and help you learn more about those who could be fellow classmates.