How to Help My Student Choose a College and Weigh the Options
Helping your student choose the right college requires balancing academic fit, campus culture, and financial reality—and there’s no single “perfect” answer. The most effective approach starts with establishing clear financial parameters, then systematically evaluating schools against your family’s specific criteria for academics, location, and student experience.
For practical parents focused on value and ROI, understanding what scholarships and financial aid are available in the US is essential groundwork before weighing your final options.
What criteria should we use to evaluate and compare colleges for best fit and value?
When evaluating colleges, start with financial criteria as your foundation—this should be the starting point for all families, regardless of income level. From there, develop a comprehensive list that includes academic factors (majors offered, class sizes, faculty accessibility), location preferences (urban vs. suburban, distance from home), and social considerations (campus culture, extracurricular opportunities). Great College Advice uses a detailed assessment with over 100 categories, using pull-down menus ranging from “must have” to “not interested,” covering everything from specific majors to campus size to internship availability.
The key insight is to focus on “compatibility” and “preferences” rather than chasing “dream schools” or “perfect fits.” College selection always involves some compromise, and the goal is to satisfy most criteria rather than maximize every single factor.
How do we calculate the real cost of attending each college on our list?
To calculate the true cost of college, you need to understand three key numbers: Cost of Attendance (COA), Student Aid Index (SAI), and Net Price.
Start by reviewing each school’s COA on their website—this includes tuition, fees, room, board, books, and estimated personal expenses. However, personalize this number based on your student’s actual lifestyle: factor in car expenses if bringing one, technology costs, travel between home and school, and off-campus food and entertainment.
Next, use the federal Student Aid Estimator at studentaid.gov to estimate your SAI. Most importantly, run each college’s Net Price Calculator (NPC)—schools are legally required to provide these tools. As veteran college admissions expert Jamie Berger advises: “Every family should be going in and doing the Net Price Calculator for each school they want to apply to.”
While NPCs provide estimates rather than guarantees, going through this process for every school on your list gives you directional guidance on affordability. Paul Wingle, a respected voice in the Great College Advice community, reinforces this approach: “The family should be clear on what they can afford, be clear with their student regarding the number, run the net price calculator, and not count on merit unless and until merit is awarded.”
Should my student apply Early Decision if we need financial aid?
If financial aid is a significant factor in your college decision, approach Early Decision (ED) with caution. ED is a binding commitment—if accepted, your student must attend regardless of the financial aid package offered.
As Jamie Berger, a highly acclaimed college admissions counselor, explains: “If you apply Early Decision, you are bound to accept that offer. Early Action still gives you that bargaining ability. Early Decision does not. It is somewhat like buying a car—if you get four financial offers from four colleges and your top choice gives you the least amount of money, you can write to them and bargain. Early Decision eliminates that leverage entirely.”
The ED system can also subtly disadvantage students with high financial need. Qualified but not standout applicants may be deferred to the regular round so colleges can “shop around” for full-pay students. Great College Advice generally recommends that students with significant financial need avoid ED unless applying to one of the few schools that guarantee to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need.
Bonnie Hale, another trusted voice in the Great College Advice community, offers practical timing advice: “As long as all of his supplemental essays are ready, he should definitely wait until he receives the ED decision. Save money on application fees, and IF admitted, he’d have to withdraw all other applications per ED agreement.”
A better strategy for aid-dependent families is applying through non-binding plans and comparison-shopping aid packages once all decisions arrive.
How do we build a balanced college list with reach, target, and likely schools?
A balanced college list should include schools across three categories: reach schools (where admission is uncertain but possible), target schools (where your student’s profile aligns well with admitted student averages), and likely schools (where admission is highly probable).
As Paul Wingle advises: “A balanced list should include reach schools, and with reach schools comes the strong possibility of a denial or two, even for well-credentialed applicants. Hopefully, your list includes other schools where you might study your preferred major, and that those schools represent a range of selectivity.”
The key is ensuring your student would be genuinely happy at every school on the list, including the likely admits. Great College Advice recommends around 8 to 12 schools as an ideal range—this allows strategic coverage without the diminishing returns of over-applying. Jamie Berger puts it directly: “If you make a good list, you don’t have to make a huge list.”
For each category, ensure schools meet your financial parameters by running Net Price Calculators. If your student is unsure about their major or has multiple areas of interest, prioritize schools with strengths across those potential fields, making any future major change easier.
Avoid the trap of applying to eight highly selective schools hoping statistics will favor you—think about your individual chances at each institution rather than aggregate admission rates.
When should we make campus visits, and what should we look for during tours?
Campus visits are among the most important moments in college selection—schedule them strategically during the fall and spring of junior year or the summer and fall of senior year for initial exploration, then revisit top choices after acceptances arrive.
When visiting, go beyond the polished admissions tour. Let your student take the lead—they should ask questions, take notes, and capture photos to aid memory later. If multiple tour guides are available, consider splitting up: the student goes with one group, the parents with another, then compare notes afterward.
Beyond the standard tour, check the campus events calendar for lectures, performances, or sporting events during your visit. Eat in the dining halls, explore the surrounding neighborhood, test public transportation, and locate basic necessities like grocery stores. The more time you spend on campus, the more information you will gather and the better sense you will get of the college.
Most importantly, develop a list of criteria-based questions before you arrive—rather than passively absorbing information, actively gather data points that matter for your specific decision. Virtual visits can supplement but rarely replace the visceral feel of spending a full day on campus.
How can we negotiate or compare financial aid packages from different colleges?
Once you receive multiple admission offers, carefully compare financial aid packages by looking beyond the bottom line. Examine the composition of each package: how much is grants and scholarships (free money) versus loans (which must be repaid) versus work-study (which requires your student’s time)? Federal subsidized loans are more favorable than unsubsidized loans.
For negotiation, Jamie Berger explains the process: “If you get four financial offers from four colleges and your top choice gives you the least amount of money, you write to them. Can you approach that? Can you help us in any way? We really want to go to Villanova. You can bargain with them.”
Present competing offers respectfully, emphasizing your student’s genuine interest in the school. Be specific about the gap you’re asking them to close. Some schools have formal appeal processes; others handle requests informally. Timing matters—don’t wait until the May 1st deadline approaches.
As Paul Wingle counsels families waiting on decisions: “Do not make an enrollment commitment before costs are known. Do you have any other active applications out at other schools? Do you want to compare aid offers?” Never deposit until you fully understand your costs after aid.
How do we weigh academic fit against financial considerations when choosing a college?
Balancing academic fit with financial realities requires honest family conversations and clear prioritization. Parents should consider the higher education investment as an investment in their student, rather than as an investment in a particular university or a particular major.
Your student’s personal characteristics, work ethic, and network-building will ultimately drive career outcomes more than institutional prestige alone. For ROI calculations, recognize that earning potential depends heavily on location choices, industry selection, and individual attributes, not just the degree. Payscale.com provides earnings data by major as a starting point, but these are averages that may not reflect your student’s specific path.
When weighing options, ask: Will this school support my student’s academic interests and career exploration? Can we afford it without crippling debt? Does the campus culture fit my student’s personality and learning style?
If a school excels academically but creates financial strain requiring excessive loans, that “better” school may actually produce worse long-term outcomes. The Great College Advice philosophy emphasizes that students often thrive at many different institutions—finding a compatible environment that’s financially sustainable typically outweighs marginal prestige differences.
Below, a graduate of Rhodes University in Memphis recounts how she chose her college.
“I followed the money. When looking at schools, I sought out schools that had good reputations for liberal arts and hands-on instruction. Although I was accepted to my top picks, I ultimately chose the school that offered me the most money, even though it was at the bottom of my list.
Was this a good choice? It’s hard to say. I do believe that students should ultimately follow their gut instinct, but I also think that college is what you make of it. I knew that I could survive anywhere, so it was the right decision for me to get a quality education for a good price. If tuition was not a concern, I would have chosen the school that I felt best complemented my personality, learning style and interests. (And I probably would have had a more positive collegiate experience.)
I suggest to students that they pick a dealbreaker quality. What one thing is most important to them? Be it cost, location, course offerings, etc. Then eliminate all schools that don’t fulfill the qualifications of their dealbreaker. What is left is generally a short list, so then I suggest that they trust their instincts and pick the school that feels right and fulfills their key requirement.”
This correspondent went on to pursue two graduate degrees, and is now an information specialist and reference librarian in Memphis.
Her strategy is an excellent one, and one that many students and parents don’t consider. There are literally thousands of colleges in the US, and hundreds of excellent ones. If money is a consideration, build your college list around that principal criterion. Many colleges are willing to pay top dollar (by giving substantial tuition discounts and scholarships) to well-qualified applicants.
Do NOT sell yourself short. If you have talents and academic abilities, be prepared to show them off during the admissions process. And depending on the audience for whom you are prepared to show off, you may get money thrown at you!
Continue your research: Understanding your full range of funding options is crucial before making any final decisions. If you seek professional help, schedule a free consultation with a counselor today.
