It is that time of year when your senior/ transfer students is learning where he or she got in to college. It can be very exciting and very stressful. That’s why I wanted to put together this list of things to consider when comparing admissions offers.

1.) How is the school ranked for your child’s major?

For most, we go to college with a goal in mind: a career. We want to get add another level of education to our resume in order to find our place in the world, post school. That said, look to see how your child’s future college ties in with his or her career goals. If your child’s major at a potential school is renowned for that major and has a great transition rate to the work force or to graduate school, that is something to consider. It shows that the education at that school and in a particular program will have a higher return on investment.

2.) What are the school’s matriculation percentages?

When you send your child to school, you want him or her to graduate. By looking into your potential college’s matriculation percentages, you can see how that school engages its student population. You’ll get a better idea of how the school performs in retaining its students and supporting them through graduation.

3.) What financial aid award (if any) have you been granted?

If you are in the top 10-15% of admitted freshmen, many colleges (not all) will offer you some sort of merit-based or institutional-based aid. Did your child get an award? You want to know how badly the school desires your student because it can save you money AND it can show you where your child could rank on campus. If your child is a high performing student in comparison to the rest of the freshmen class, then your child may have a great potential to thrive at that school academically.

Hope this helps! If you want to learn more about how College Planning Experts can help you, call us at (661)295-9946.