Has the time come for you to wave your not-so-little one off to college. If so, you will want to ensure everything is sorted before they venture off to start their new life. It can be a bit of a minefield knowing which one to choose. If they come to you asking for advice about courses or colleges then sit down with them and reassure them that you are always there when they need you. Here are four things to consider when your child is applying for colleges.
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Courses
First and foremost which career path does your child want to go down? This will determine which course or courses they need to complete to get there. If they are not sure what they want to be when they leave college or which route to follow then you can only give them advice and perhaps arrange for them to speak to a careers advisor. There are many advisors around, the colleges they are thinking about will have someone for them to speak to. They might be wanting to join the same course as their friends, this should be allowed and encouraged especially if they haven’t decided what to do yet. They could have an idea of what they want to study but aren’t 100% sure about it yet. The advisors and yourself can guide them into this decision or steer them away from it. You could say well you can try that course and if you don’t like it then opt for a different one.
College
Once you have had a discussion about the courses your child wants to do it is time to decide on the college. This could be a nearby college close to home or a far away from one that requires accommodation to be sorted at a later date. Listen to your child and their opinions and choices on where they would like to go. There may be a very good reason for this, it may be that it is the only college that offers their course or because they want to be close to their friends. This is quite common especially if your child has been around their friends since elementary school.
If your child can’t decide on a college, be sure to go and take a visit to them to see which one is the best fit for your child. At the end of the day, they need to feel confident and comfortable there as they may be spending a few years studying. Colleges will often have open days throughout the year so you can get a feel for it and speak to the tutors. Some colleges might be too large for your child and they can feel overwhelmed, if they state they don’t want to go to one then don’t pressure them into it.
Funds
While college in the states can be one of the most expensive things to pay for, it is well worth it in the end. Your child will have an amazing college degree and graduate with flying colors if they put their mind to it. There is help available if you are from a low-income family, one such example is a scholarship to one of the prestigious colleges. You can also apply for financial aid which knocks some of the dollars off the final price tag.
Equipment
Once your child has secured a place at a college of their choice you need to ensure they have everything they need to attend and succeed. When you get all the paperwork through, the college may include a list of stationery and course books your child needs. These can be picked up from supermarkets and second-hand book stores. Remember, you don’t need to buy your child brand new books. Your child might also need a laptop or PC to do their studying and learning. Again, this doesn’t have to be brand new, you can pick up perfectly working laptops from thrift stores and electrical stores. If this is the route you go down be sure to wipe off everything before giving it to your child to use. A simple search of cleanmymac will give you top tips and tricks on how to wipe it clean.
Accommodation
Finally, one important factor about going to college is where your child will stay. There are a few different options for this and it all depends on how close they are to campus. The first option is they stay at home with you and travel to school each day, this only works if you are located near to the grounds. Another option is they stay on campus in the dorms, this works if they are able to share a room with someone they know and get along with. A final option is they stay off-site in their own place, perhaps a studio, and travel to school each day. Find the option that works best for your child and make sure they are safe and sound before the start of school.
