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However, I have friends that thrived there. They now have great careers at companies like Amazon, Oracle, and State Farm. It wasn't a bad school: It was just bad for me!
Fast forward a few years and I proceeded to have a wonderful experience at my last school. The average class size was 15, and I had straight A's the majority of my three years there. I connected well with faculty and staff, and know that even ten years later I could pick up the phone and most of them would help me on a moment's notice if I needed it. A more personal community, I found myself much more comfortable feeling like I wasn't just a number at the school, and loved that I was on a first-name basis with almost everyone I encountered.
But like me at my first school, many had a rough experience there.
If there's one thing I wish more families would understand, it's that it's not about a school being 'good' or 'bad' - it's about the environment being compatible with a student's wants and needs.
I have conversations in passing about the college search process all the time. Many of those conversations are with parents. When we get to the point where we discuss choosing a college, it almost always goes the same direction: Either the parent or someone close to the family stresses the important in getting into a 'good' school. They avoid even looking at the majority of colleges simply because they don't know the names of them or feel they're inferior without truly doing some research.
We can agree to disagree, but I feel this mentality is hurting a LOT of students.
Let's address the elephant in the room: In many ways, college has become very business-driven. Don't take my word for it. Look at this article from Lynn O'Shaughnessy that breaks down how college rankings actually work. So many people hold those rankings in high regard, and many people go to those schools simply for their reputation instead of taking a step back and asking themselves 'Is this truly what's best for me or my child?'
Don't get me wrong: Harvard/Duke/etc. are going to pop off the page of a resume, but at the end of the day, any good manager will tell you they're more interested in the person than where they actually came from!
There are so many great colleges you probably don't even know exist. The good news is, there are resources online to help you find those schools if you're willing to look.
Two stories as examples of why this matters:
1) I worked with a student with a 3.0 GPA and 20 ACT. Money was tight and they wanted a school that wasn't going to drown them in debt. Yet when I asked what schools they had looked at, they told me they thought School X was great and it was the only one they had looked at.
I did some research. The average metrics of accepted students was a 3.4 GPA and a 26 ACT. The average merit aid award was $22,000, and it was a $50,000 a year school. So - even if they were able to sweet talk the admissions to giving them the average merit aid package, the school would cost them $28,000 a year, or $112,000 for four years if they graduated on time.
We started looking at other schools after that.
2) I started working with a student who was in a similar situation. Money was tight, and they had narrowed it down to three schools. All three had accepted them and awarded merit aid.
One school was going to be $10,000 a year. The other was $16,000 a year. The third, their favorite, would be $42,000 a year.
Don't get me wrong: It's great to attend a school with all the bells and whistles. We have to remember the purpose of our dream school is to have it set us up for our dream life. Doing the math, they could get the same degree for $128,000 less by going to the first school. I asked the student if the third school justified the additional six figures in debt.
Within 10 seconds, we were down to two schools.
The next time you find yourself researching a school, think about the price tag that comes with it. Think about what you're getting for that price tag. Ask yourself if you may be able to find a school that provides the same experience for a fraction of the cost.
Make sure you're getting the most bang for your buck. If you need any help with this process, please contact ustoday!
I have sat with many families that were anxious about the process, and after a few hours I have always been able to calm their nerves. Don't get me wrong - I get the initial concern. I will keep saying the stats because it's important for people to take seriously: Studies show over 40% of students that enroll in college won't have a degree to show for it six years later. The average graduate takes 4.8 years to complete their degree. The average amount of additional debt a 5th year costs is $22,826.
There is good news though. It's never been easier to research schools. There is more data out there than ever before. You can locate contact information for an institution's faculty/staff anywhere the country in a matter of minutes.
So while the stakes are higher to attend college than ever before, the ability to research it has never been easier. Yes, it's more legwork in a time where most people are already stretched thin, but with a proper plan of attack, you can make it work around your schedule. It's truly never been easier to choose a school based on concrete data than ever before, and when we sit with families to make sure their wants and needs are properly understood, college can go back to being exciting instead of terrifying!
However, while I have a lot of information to share with families, there's one thing I haven't been able to solve: Many people are scared to come to the table and talk. The subject of college comes up, and everyone squirms, looking for a way out of the conversation. I get it - when we have a situation that's really important, and there isn't a lot of guidance, it's easy to feel uncomfortable talking about it.
But the information is out there. An uncomfortable subject can be made comfortable. For most of you, your kids are going to be looking at college whether you prepare yourself or not. I know what we can do to help with your process, so you can go into the next years not worried about becoming one of the above statistics.
What can we do to bring you to the conversation?
The best four years of your life. That's what everyone told me.
College was cheaper. Loans were favorable, and anyone could get them. I remember my sophomore year, one of my teachers actually spent one day telling us how we should take out MORE money than we needed from a student loan. His argument was that the rates were so good, you could buy a car with that money for far cheaper rates than you would an auto loan.
In 2018, times have changed. Don't let the title fool you: While you shouldn't fear the college search process, you should be concerned. The stakes are higher. Tuition (and student debt) are rising. Transfer rates are increasing, and the biggest elephant in the room in my opinion is that almost half the kids that are enrolling in college leave without having a degree to show for it.
That's a lot of bad news. So: Why shouldn't we be afraid?
My answer: You've never had more resources at your disposal to avoid the pitfalls so many students are experiencing.
You simply have to put in a little more legwork. But with the power of the internet and email, it's never been more time-efficient!
Most families I assist are pretty anxious when we first sit down. I've had parents and students actually in tears as they share with me how scared they are about making the wrong choice. Add in the fact that many times, the student and parents have different perspectives on the best route to take (something I experienced personally - more on that in another blog!), and it can be really uncomfortable.
But two hours later, it's handshakes and all smiles and I walk out the door.
I feel there are two main factors on where the fear comes from: 1) Families don't know where to start. There simply is not a lot of education on the subject. Counselors at schools are slammed and can only give so much individual attention to students. Most college guidance companies and recruiting agencies are more interested in teaching how to 'get accepted into an elite school/program' instead of helping kids find the RIGHT school. 2) "We don't have enough time" - parents and students are over-extended more than ever. I have had so many people look at me and say they wish they could just pay for someone to handle the process for them - and in many cases, people do!
Could you imagine giving a car salesman a budget and letting them buy your car?
How about putting an offer on every house and seeing who accepts?
Or perhaps this one will hit harder: You wouldn't want your child to find their significant other by raising their hand in front of hundreds of people and yelling out 'WHO WANTS TO DATE ME?'
We need to be selective with our schools. We need to stop acting like a student is lucky when a school accepts them. We need to empower families with the tools so that it isn't scary and as stressful to go through their college search process.
When students figure out the why behind the what (what do I want to do after I graduate college, and what school will give me the best path to achieve that?), use FREE websites to find schools that match that criteria, and build relationships at those schools to ensure they're unlocking as much merit aid as possible, the process can actually be fun. The key is to put the student in a position so that when they commit to a school, they've done their due diligence to know that it's the best fit at the best price. And if done correctly, they CAN be the best four years of a student's life!
If you or your child needs help with their search, please contact usand we'll be happy to assist you!
I have been working with students and their families this
fall and while everyone’s situation is unique, a lot of the same questions come
up regarding how to go about the process. Today, we’ll talk about five things
that will help students find the right fit, all while separating themselves
from the pack in a time-efficient manner!
1. DON’T be a ‘Stealth Applicant’
Simply put, a Stealth Applicant is someone whose first contact with an institution is when they apply to the school.
Most colleges have an equation that will award merit aid based on their GPA, test scores, and other criteria. However, very rarely is the school awarding ALL the merit aid that a student is eligible to receive. When a school gets a stealth applicant’s information, they have no idea if they’re genuinely interested in the school or if they’re one of many on the student’s list!
By building a relationship with people at the school before applying and asking the right questions, a student is less likely to leave merit aid on the table. This can literally save students thousands on their college education!
2. DO write personal emails. (DON’T send form letters)
When I coached college athletics, I would receive roughly 50 emails a day from potential recruits. The majority of these emails were too generic – take my name and the school’s name out, and it could be sent to anyone (and in some cases, they forgot to change out the previous coach/school name).
The letters that got my attention were the ones where the athlete clearly had done some research on my school. “I saw your school offered X, and that’s important to me because of Y”. The more I felt like I was on a short-list of schools, the more likely I was to invest time into that athlete.
The process is similar with other staff at institutions. Given that faculty/staff receive a large amount of emails, making yours unique will help you have a better chance of getting their attention!
3. DON’T judge schools exclusively by ‘what John/Jane said’
When I spend time getting to know students, sometimes what their interests are may align with things I know certain schools offer. I’m always surprised when they say they’re not interested in that school because of something a friend told them – but they’ve never actually researched the school themselves!
My first school wasn’t a good fit for me, but many of my friends thrived there. I had a great experience at my final institution, but many others didn’t. It’s not about a school being ‘good’ or ‘bad’ – it’s about compatibility with what YOU want.
It’s great to get feedback from friends and family – be sure to come to your own conclusions!
4. DO use local schools as a simple way to experience college environments
5. DON’T invest to visit schools without having a pre-existing relationship with them
These somewhat go hand-in-hand, so we’ll discuss them together.
There are over 3800 colleges spread throughout the country, and the culture at each one can vary. There is plenty of information online on each school. Getting a feel for the campus is important too!
So, for those people that may want to go far away for school, how do we assess this in a time and financially efficient manner?
Using my area as an example, we have big schools such as Northwestern, Northern Illinois, and Depaul. We also have smaller schools like Elmhurst and North Central College. In between would be Lewis. We also have about 20 community colleges in a 20-mile radius.
While many locations won’t have the school density that we do in the Chicagoland area, there are still typically a variety of colleges in a driving-radius. Whether one plans on attending or not, going to local schools to see what type of college appeals to them is a great way for students to figure that part of their equation out in a time-efficient manner.
For those that are interested in a school that will require
airfare and hotels, there’s nothing wrong with that – but be sure to build relationships
at that school and make sure the important things are in place. Many people
travel across the country only to learn they’re no longer interested in the
school based on information they could have obtained through email/phone
conversations (Athletes – this is REALLY important for you. If the coach isn’t
showing interest based on film, don’t waste your time and money!)
I hope this helps! If you need any additional help with your college search process, contact us today!
I am always shocked at how many people have never even heard of the FAFSA when I poll the audience at various speaking engagements. To make things simple, here are some articles to help you in your quest to get every penny of federal aid you're entitled to receive!
1. Why Every Student Should Fill Out the FAFSA
This article from CNBC is from last year, but it's a simple breakdown on why everyone shoul d fill it out. One shocking statistic was that only 44% of high school graduates completed a FAFSA in 2014.
2. 7 Things You'll Need Before You Fill Out the 2019-2020 FAFSA Form
This article comes from Homeroom, the official blog of the U.S. Department of Education. It tells you all the things you should have handy before starting the application process. At the bottom, you'll see a link to the website to start your application as well as phone apps you can use to fill out the FAFSA.
Bonus article: How to Fill Out the FAFSA Form When You Have More Than One Child In College ,
3. 11 Common FAFSA Mistakes
Lynn O'Shaughnessy is the founder of The College Solution, a great resource for families beginning to think about their college search process. This specific article helps families with filing the FAFSA efficiently, as there are things you can report/not report that will affect your EFC and ultimately your award package.
Bonus Article: Expected Family Contribution: 10 Things to Know
4. Applying for college financial aid is finally going to be easier
This article goes into detail about the new app that can be used to fill out the FAFSA as well as some of the perks it offers versus the website application. Take a look and see if the app is a better option for you!
5. 5 Things to Do After Filing Your FAFSA Form
Another post from Homeroom, this blog details what steps to take after finishing your application. Some topics include applying for scholarships, what to look for with your aid offers, and more!
Many states are first-come first-serve with their aid, so don't delay on filling out your application! If you're feeling overwhelmed with the college search process as a whole, Contact Us Today!
Before reading this, make sure you’ve caught up with the first five questions from yesterday’s blog !
Yesterday's content was related to finding the right cultural fit. Today, we’re going to talk about assessing cost vs. value when looking at schools as well as initiating contact with schools. With student debt figures trending in the wrong direction , it’s more important than ever that students are comparing colleges and their costs to make sure they’re getting more bang for their buck!
6. Will my GPA and test scores separate me from my peers?
One of the biggest mistakes I see families make is applying to schools primarily based on ‘prestige’. Don’t get me wrong: Schools like Harvard and Duke can pop out on a resume. At the end of the day, employers are going to be more concerned about whether or not you can get the job done!
If you apply to a school where your GPA and test scores are better than the average applicant to that school, your merit aid package will reflect that. However, applying to a school where you’re above average is a great way to get a college education for a better price.
Remember: The purpose of a dream school is to set you up for your dream life. Coming out of school with less debt is a big part of being able to live the way you want upon graduation!
7. Financially, what schools make the most sense?
Everyone’s situation is unique regarding what they have saved up to pay for college, what their future career will potentially pay, and what attending a school will cost them.
You wouldn’t buy a Mercedes if you only had the budget for a Nissan (for the record, I love my Sentra – that’s not a knock on Nissan 😊). You couldn’t get the mortgage for a 400k house if you could only afford to pay half of it.
When choosing a college, don’t focus on the name-recognition of the school. Focus on what the value vs. cost is for you!
8. Who can I talk to at a school to get more information?
A large percentage of students are ‘stealth-applicants’ – they apply to schools without contacting a single member of the institution. This essentially guarantees you’ll pay the ‘sticker price’ for a school!
Reaching out to the head of your field of study, the admissions department, an athletics coach, or anyone else is a huge asset when trying to cut costs. Every school is unique with their grants and scholarships, and the more you build relationships at the school, the more likely you are to uncover every penny you’re entitled to receive. Make sure to visit a school’s site to find contact information for people that can help you apply efficiently!
9. I get so nervous when talking to people: What should I say when I contact schools?
Introduce yourself. Have a fact about the school that on why it interests you (good program for your field of study, positive feedback from alumni that’s friend or family, etc.). Explain you’re looking to learn more about the application process and that you’re looking for any and all information on how to apply for scholarships and grants.
You aren’t the first and won’t be the last person that calls without a lot of
knowledge about what to do – ask the right questions and let them guide you in
the right direction!
10. I am trying to figure out what I want to do and nothing’s getting my attention. What do I do?
Just keep breathing! I tell my students all the time: It’s OK not to have all the answers at this point. The key is making sure the gears are always turning. Research 10-15 minutes a night by going to school websites and review various programs they offer. Some will interest you, others may not. The more you continue to look, the more you’ll start recognizing what keeps your attention and what doesn’t. If you do this for a month or two, you’ll be much more self-aware than you were when you started!I wish you all luck – have a great weekend!
Do you need help with your college search process? Are there topics you’d like to see us cover in upcoming blog posts? Contact us today !
The numbers don’t lie: Almost
half the kids that enroll in college are not completing their degrees. One
of the biggest reasons for this is students are choosing colleges based on very
narrow parameters.
I didn’t want to write too much in one piece, so I’ll be sharing five questions
today and five questions tomorrow. Here are some things students should ask themselves
as they begin thinking about attending college:
1. What are my goals upon graduating from college?
College has never been more expensive. If you’re going to invest in your education, you should know what it should be going towards. If you’re going to attend a 4-year institution, do you know what the purpose is for your investment?
2. What research have I done to answer Question #1?
“I just thought it would be cool.”
“Someone I know does it and said I should look into it”
“I’ve always been good at it.”
These are all answers I have had from kids when I’ve asked them about why they
chose their major. Some people have never actually gotten a first-hand look at
the field they’re going to college to pursue!
If you haven’t, try to shadow someone in your potential career field! Whether
it’s as simple as a one-day thing, or an internship, getting a first-hand look
at EVERYTHING that goes into a job will help you realize if it truly interests
you. While college will give you tools to be able to perform your job, one
thing that is missing from the education is seeing some of the
behind-the-scenes tasks. It’s a great way to network with local companies, and
it will help assess how you feel about the day-to-day tasks of a position.
3. What is a typical entry-level salary for someone in that field?
Most jobs aren’t lucrative from the start. Salary.com indicates that about half of entry-level positions pay less than $50,000 a year , yet many students take on substantial debt for their education. It’s important to know what you’re likely to make upon graduating, so you can make sure you’re not taking on more debt than you’ll be able to handle!
4. What type of environment best fits my needs?
While I struggled at a big state school, many of my friends
thrived there. I did well at a private institution, but many people struggled
with it.
It’s not about schools being ‘good’ or ‘bad’. It’s about being compatible with
the type of environment you thrive in. Some people prefer large communities,
others want small class sizes. Before you start looking at schools, it’s good
to have an idea of what type of culture you thrive in!
5. What schools are near me that I can visit to get a feel for the college experience?
I live in the Chicagoland area. Many students want to leave the state for their education, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, for families with a tight budget, it’s difficult to visit a lot of schools that require airfare/hotel/etc.Locally, I always tell people to visit schools with different type of campuses. You have Loyola/Depaul/Northwestern as large city schools, North Central College/Elmhurst for smaller schools, and Lewis University for something in between. For community colleges, you have about two dozen in a 25-mile radius. All of these are within driving distance, and so people can get a feel for the campuses for minimal cost.
While not every area has that many colleges in a small area, at worst most locations have a few colleges within driving distances. Before someone is going to make a large investment to visit the school, they should make sure that they’ve been on a campus of similar size and found themselves interested!
That wraps up today’s blog – come back tomorrow for questions 6-10 😊 If you have any other questions about your college search process, or a topic you’d like us to cover moving forward, contact us today !
Some kids do have a clear-cut vision, but more often than not, I get two responses: To get a degree, or they freeze altogether and don't know what to say.
A degree is very important. However, investing six figures into an education with no clear-cut goal at the end of it is as risky of an investment as you can take on at the age of 18.
It's fair to be in high school and still unsure about what you want to do with your life. It's important to get the gears turning sooner rather than later to try and figure it out.
It's also important to make sure that YOU, the high school student, are the one determining your "Why". Your parents and peers aren't going to be the ones spending that four (or more) years on that campus. I've always advocated for families to help research how to apply intelligently/research grants and scholarships, but when it comes to figuring out the purpose for college, the student needs to be the driving force.
When it comes to your "Why", there's no wrong answer - but it should be the primary factor in your college search. If you're passionate about a career that starts at $30,000, you probably don't want to take a significant amount of debt to get a degree in that field. If you're not sure what you want to do, community college is an EXCELLENT choice and I'll be speaking about the benefits of that in a future blog. If you're interested in a field that pays well, you should consider getting an internship and getting some experience to make sure that's something that you're truly invested in.
Choose your "Why" wisely. Contact Us today if you have any questions about the college search process!
Think about that: Despite tuition costs being higher than ever, more than 2 out of 5 students that go to college will receive no return on investment.
It's not all bad news though. We plan on dedicating ourselves to changing those statistics. We know it can be done!
Think about the way people purchase their homes. They know the primary reasons for their purchase: Is it location? Do they need more space because they're adding one to their family? What mortgage payment is in their budget? The list goes on - and then they inspect every home that interests them carefully until they find the one .
How about the way we purchase cars? Perhaps we have a long commute and need better gas mileage. That expanding family we talked about for a home means it's time for a mini-van. Whatever the reason may be, we educate ourselves on the models that best fit our needs. We test drive the car, assess if the car payments are within our means, and when we're handed the keys, we know we made the best decision possible for us.
One last example: Finding 'the one'. You know what you want in a significant other. Looks, personality, relationship bonds - we want someone that's truly compatible for who we are. We wouldn't want our sons and daughters to put themselves in front of hundreds of candidates, say 'who wants to date me?' and see who gets back to them.
Yet, that's how many kids are looking for colleges.
I started realizing this five years ago as a college liaison for a youth sports club. I had previously coached collegiate volleyball at various levels. I had also worked in admissions for my alma mater. When I first started sitting with families, I thought the primary role for me would be to assess talent and give guidance for how to find programs that matched their abilities.
What I found was that so many families had NO idea what to do for their college search process. I had kids with below-average athleticism thinking they were going to get an athletic scholarship and that was the extent of their thoughts on college. There were kids looking at 6-figure educations with no clear-cut goals or careers in mind. There were families who had financial restrictions only looking at schools with a hefty price tag. Most of all, there were families that simply had no idea where to start, and were frozen in fear of making the wrong choice.
What I also found was that when given the proper guidance, these families all were able to find a fit that made sense for their specific situation. I found that kids may not have all the answers initially, but given the tools they could get to that point. I found that while many families approached our meetings with a lot of insecurities and doubts, it only took an hour or two to get them properly educated and excited for their college search process.
That's why we started Before College Consulting. It's truly never been easier to research institutions and build relationships with their staff and faculty. There are so many free resources out there to help students learn more about the 3800 schools in the country, and we're excited to help make those tools common knowledge to everyone that needs them.
We want to educate students on things they should be asking themselves before even looking at schools, such as what career they choose to pursue after graduation, and what can they afford to spend depending on starting salaries for that field. We want to give parents resources to make sure they're filling out the FAFSA properly (as well as teach the families that don't know FAFSA about it, since every single family should be filling it out!) and to learn do's and don'ts with paying for college. We want to help counselors make their jobs easier by making sure they have every tool possible to guide their students in a time-efficient manner. We want to go to companies, big or small, and educate the workforce on how they can make sure their kids are dotting their i's and crossing their t's to make sure they find the best school at the best price for them.
It's as simple as this: If you or someone you know is stressed or unsure of the best way to conduct a college search process, we want to help.
So if you're stressed about what to do after high school for yourself or your children, don't worry - we can get you where you want to be! Contact Us to learn more about the process and get on track to find the best school for you at the best price. We promise you'll be pleased with the results!
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