College may seem an eon away to high school seniors who are focused on that next big test or big game. But the time to think about choosing and paying for college is now. Some early-admissions and scholarship deadlines are right around the corner, if they haven’t passed already.
That’s not to say that students without a college pick are in big trouble. But college-bound seniors and their parents should act on the following advice from those in the know sooner rather than later.
Study money. Parents should be teaching their future freshmen how to budget. Karen Heimdahl, a financial counselor with Lutheran Social Services who counsels college students, suggests that parents let their children in on the family bill-paying and budgeting. “A lot of the problem is that parents don’t budget themselves,” she said.
Be wary of credit cards. As for handing a credit card to a teenager? Heimdahl says it depends on the maturity level of the teen and the level of parental commitment. Credit know-how doesn’t come with the card. It takes a responsible adult to teach the basics of interest rates and fees. But if teens aren’t taught before leaving the nest, when will they learn, and who will teach them?
Tour and tour some more. Guidance counselor Ellen Merlin of St. Paul Central High School suggests that college-bound kids tour plenty of schools. “If you’re on a family vacation, stop at a school,” Merlin said, even if there’s no way you’ll go there. Tours will help an individual pinpoint which attributes are most important in a school.
If you can’t afford to visit far-flung schools, grab a college guide or hit the Web. There are even DVDs of college tours from companies such as Collegiate Choice Walking Tours (www. collegiatechoice.com).
Consider your career. Although it might seem like putting the cart before the horse, it’s smart to consider your career plan when selecting a school, because some schools will be better equipped than others to prepare you for a certain job. Yes, with some colleges charging $40,000 a year, choosing a college isn’t just about awesome food in the cafeteria.
Minnesota businessman John Bendt, whose book “A Roadmap to Career Success” helps college-bound students think about careers, advises high-schoolers to also look at a college’s career planning resources, such as access to internships.
Career focus can also help students get out of college in four years. “If you’re indecisive and it takes more time, you’re obviously going to spend more,” he says.
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