Counselors from ZBTHS and New Tech hosted a college planning seminar on Jan. 24 featuring a panel of representatives from Illinois Institute of Technology, Illinois State, Loyola, Northern Michigan, Robert Morris and St. Francis.
The seminar offered parents and students valuable advice and instruction on how to develop a plan for local high school students to get into college.
Counselors Allison Zameck Lieberman from ZBTHS and Barry Goldman from New Tech explained how students and parents can investigate their options and listed many factors to consider in planning for college, a process that should begin as early as freshman year.
Graduation from middle school is the signal for both parents and students to start planning. Input from parents is absolutely essential, but the family discussion should be done with the student as the driver. “Think about what is important to you,” Zameck said. Parents also need to be up-front with their students about how much they will be able to pay for school, one college rep said, which might be a major consideration in the choice.
Be cautious in considering a school that your high school friends have selected. A student’s life usually changes dramatically during college years. You must make the call for yourself, the counselors said.
College-bound students should have list of 5-10 choices to apply to before your senior year begins. The list should include a mix of public and private schools, as well as a mix of admission risk categories — some that are a “reach,” and some that are “safe.”
A new factor to consider is an initiative called the Midwest Student Exchange, which is a consortium of schools that agree to charge out-of-state students a tuition that is less than their regular out-of-state rate, but more than the in-state rate.
Another new college planning innovation is the net price calculator, which is available on all college web sites. It estimates what a specific student’s tuition will be for that school.
However, tuition is only a part of the total cost of attending college, which also includes room and board, books, personal expenses and travel. All of those costs added up is the “sticker price” of a college education, but it’s only a guide, like the sticker amount at a car dealership.
“Don’t just look at the sticker price,” one college rep said, because you won’t know what the real cost will be until after your financial aid application is filed and the schools you apply to send a financial aid award letter. That will knock down the sticker price. The amount will be different for every school, so compare the award letters in determining your choice.
Pursue scholarships right away, Zameck advised, the earlier the better, even starting during your junior year. The counselors also advised to utilize the financial aid offices at the schools on your list. Just like at high school, they have counselors there to advise and guide you to maximize the financial aid you receive.
Adding to that point, one college rep suggested finding and contacting the college rep from the schools you are interested in. Every college and university has someone assigned to cover a region, he said, and they can be helpful in providing the legwork in filing an application.
Goldman strongly urged visiting the schools during the late spring and early summer as one of the primary steps in selecting the right school. Refer to the schools’ web sites to find out when they hold orientation days and open houses, he said. Another strategy that is highly beneficial is to call ahead and schedule an appointment for an individual visit of a campus.
Get acquainted with the web sites of ZBTHS and New Tech, Goldman advised, because all the scholarship and college prep information you need to successfully get into college is there. Learn how to navigate the site and get guidance from Student Services.
