Scholarships | Great College Advice

Which College to Choose? Follow the Money! (or, the Road To Rhodes)

As I explained in a previous post, I recently asked a group of friends and acquaintances about their experiences in selecting a college or university.
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!
Mark Montgomery
Montgomery Educational Consulting

Congress Seeks Expanding Role in Controlling College Tuition Increases

An article today in Inside Higher Ed announces that the House Education and Labor Committee released draft legislation to more closely monitor and control skyrocketing tuition increases at state institutions of higher learning.
You should read the entire article, but here’s a quick excerpt:

The expanded federal role is clearest in the realm of college costs and prices. Like companion legislation already passed by the Senate and previous versions of the Higher Ed Act legislation drafted by Republicans in the previous Congress, the House Democratsâ€™ bill would require greatly increased reporting about how colleges spend their money, and create â€œHigher Education Price Increase Watch Listsâ€ of institutions that increase their tuitions above the average for their peers.
Each institution on the lists â€” which would essentially serve as a â€œHall of Shameâ€ for colleges â€” would be required to create a â€œquality efficiency task forceâ€ that must analyze the ways in which the institution is operating â€œmore expensively [than its peers] to produce a similar resultâ€ and figure out how to cut its costs.

While it is clear that the price of tuition has been increasing, in part this is because state legislatures (including ours here in Colorado) have been strangling the universities by reducing state support. Will the states support further federal intervention in higher education? Will they assert that this is an unconstitutional interference in a legislative arena that is the primary responsibility of the states?
While I understand the frustration with price increases, and while I agree that there is a compelling national interest in improving our K-12 school system (thus warranting some interventions along the lines of No Child Left Behind), I do not see that there is a compelling national interest in holding down tuition rates.
That said, I do see that the Feds can play an important role in providing greater access to higher education through an expanded Pell Grant program, which is part of the proposed legislation.
Mark Montgomery
Montgomery Educational Consulting
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Sports Recruiting Visits to Colleges: Questions That Need Answers

A couple of my current clients are in the midst of athletic recruiting, and are visiting colleges. I always recommend that they be prepared to ask some pointed questions of coaches, admissions officers, and other students when they make the visit.
The list of questions below comes from a book on sports recruiting that I particularly like, and that I recommend to all my clients who hope to play college sports. It’s called The Sports Scholarships Insider’s Guide, by Dion Wheeler, published by Sourcebooks, Inc.
The questions are divided in to four categories: Athletic, Academic, Legal, and Financial.

Athletic