This is What to Consider When Accepting a College Admissions Offer
Here's what you should think about when your child receives that coveted (and exciting!) college admissions offer.
Get can’t-miss family activities sent to you!
Get the Best Family Activities
Look to the future.
The way a high school senior understands and anticipates their experience at a particular college may not always hold true as they progress through the years as a student at that institution. It is important for teens to consider how a particular college may bolster or limit future opportunities in potential areas of interest. For example, one school may offer more relevant internship opportunities in a particular field or career of interest (due to its location or alumni network) than other schools.
Prioritize balance.
When choosing which college to attend, students may feel bombarded with the opinions and recommendations of others, often creating more confusion than clarity. It’s important to take in and value such input, particularly from parents or others who may be supporting students in attending college. However, aim for balance. Look to select a school that offers balances the students desires (such as school climate or social life) with a parent’s likely dissimilar priorities (such as cost, location, or school ranking). In assessing other outside opinions, try not to give too much weight to singular anecdotes unless they can be supported by your own research—consider them as part of a holistic collection of information about the college.
Take a breath.
With time crunches and deposit deadlines, these decisions can often feel rushed and add undue pressure to students, potentially impacting their mental and emotional well-being. Parents should take note of signs of stress and anxiety, and encourage their child to take the necessary time to rest, regroup, and gradually chip away at the decision-making process. This final step on the road to college should be an experience students enjoy, as opposed to stressing about making the “right” choice.
Using an informed, methodological approach that combines a collection of quantitative and qualitative information, students and families can more intentionally make this momentous decision. Just remember: Your child’s college choice is just one of many decisions they’ll make along their life journey.
