Six expert tips for preparing for college.
Planning for college, from saving for tuition to finding the right school and getting in, may feel daunting. But with the right know-how, it doesn’t have to be, says Stuart Canzeri, founder of Peachtree College Planning in Dunwoody. He is an independent educational consultant who helps parents and high school kids navigate the whole process, including identifying a financial strategy. “If you want to find the best schools for your student, you have to understand the FACTS: the financial, academic, career, timeline and social fit. There’s not just one school that’s a good fit,” Canzeri says. Here, he offers up five top tips for college prep.
1. Early Action
For early decision candidates, colleges are looking for kids who are a perfect fit for their schools and who can pay tuition in full. “When you go early decision, you’re saying, ‘You’re my one and only. Let’s get married,’” Canzeri says. So if you apply early decision, be ready for that commitment and to lose your negotiating power (yes, you can negotiate financial awards).
2. Financial Strategy
“The biggest myth out there is you make too much money to qualify for any aid,” Canzeri says. “There may be merit-based aid or discounting available.” What’s more, he encourages parents to explore tax-saving strategies that may be available to them.
3. Start Saving
As soon as you can, put money away for your child’s college tuition. “Unfortunately, most people don’t start until they feel the pain around junior year. Understanding the financial landscape and building an admissions strategy off of that is important,” Canzeri says.
4. Visitation Plan
Instead of spending a few thousand dollars to tour schools around the country, start locally. Go visit schools in Georgia, from Mercer University to Georgia Tech, to get a feel for different types of campus environments. “Ask your student for the three things they like and don’t like about those campuses, then you can look for similar schools elsewhere,” says Canzeri, who recommends applying to seven to 14 colleges to give the student the most negotiating power. “Schools might not give you their best offer first.”
5. ACT vs. SAT
Canzeri suggests taking a diagnostic test before taking the ACT or SAT admissions tests to pick which one is best for your high schooler. “A lot of merit scholarships are based on these scores,” Canzeri says. He doesn’t recommend taking both as many often do and instead focusing on one.
6. Grow Extracurriculars
There was a time when colleges wanted to see a “jack-of-all-trades” candidate involved in all the things. These days, Canzeri says, they want to see more depth and thoughtful focus in a candidate’s extracurricular profile in junior and senior years. “Take time in freshman and sophomore years to figure out what they like or don’t like and explore strengths and interests.”
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