Finding the Right College: Tips for Success and Satisfaction in Higher Ed

Finding the right college can feel overwhelming. From the time kids enter high school, thoughts of “What’s next?” become increasingly important. As your children (and you) begin the search, many questions may come to mind. How do I find the right college for me? Do I want a large university or small college? Close to home or far away? How can I look beyond big name schools to discover a gem I might not have heard of? What do I need to do now to increase my odds of getting in and getting a scholarship or financial aid? How do I prepare an application that stands out from the crowd?   Finding answers can feel daunting. However, there are so many more resources available today — from online college tours to knowledgeable college counselors. Gone are the days of the inches thick guide to all the colleges! Tune in as Mary Hill, Director of College Counseling and Academic Planning at St. Paul Academy and Summit School, addresses many common questions about finding the right college in this informative and important discussion. With college choices on the horizon for Erin’s kids, she and Grandma Marti were soaking up everything this guest had to offer!     WHERE ARE YOU IN THE PROCESS OF FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE?   What do you and your children know or think about college or other higher ed options that might work? What practical tips and resources did you learn about in this Mom Enough discussion that could help you and your kids find the right college match for them?     MORE RESOURCES FOR PARENTS OF KIDS WHO ARE GETTING READY FOR COLLEGE:   ❉ HOW COLLEGE MAKES OR BREAKS US: A CONVERSATION WITH AUTHOR PAUL TOUGH.  Best-selling author, Paul Tough, digs deeply into big ideas, and that certainly is true in his latest book, The Years that Matter Most: How College Makes or Breaks Us. Listen to hear some of what he learned from spending six years exploring colleges in 21 states. He joins Marti & Erin in this podcast to discuss highlights of what he learned and to offer action steps for college admissions, alumni, and public officials who make decisions on higher education funding.   ❉ PARENTING COLLEGE STUDENTS: A FREE ONLINE RESOURCE FOR ALL PARENTS. Parenting college students is a new phase of parenting! Jodi Dworkin and Marjorie Savage, from Family Social Science in the U of M’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), developed a rich new website, Parenting College Students, to help parents of college students wherever they are.