Helping Your Teen Choose The Right School

By Dr Jenn Jamison

The process of choosing an institution of higher education begins as soon as you know your student’s career goals. They will probably have many ideas and desires, and they will likely have to assume - fully or in part - the responsibility for the costs, logistics, stress, etc.  associated with pursuing a degree or certificate. Thus, the pursuit of higher education is more of a partnership where your student is in the driver's seat and you are in the front passenger seat offering guidance and support as needed.

So many factors are involved in choosing a college, university, or other post-secondary education, so let’s jump right in.

Location:

There are colleges and universities everywhere, but not all higher education institutions offer every major. A simple online search can provide a list of  institutions that offer your student's desired major in their preferred locations. Examples include “nursing programs in Texas” and “engineering programs in California.” If your student is aiming to study at the top institution for a field in a specific location, they might add the word “best” to their search, e.g., “best psychology programs in Georgia.”

Quality of the institution:

After researching which institutions suit your student's criteria for location and major, go deeper into learning about each school.

To get a broad overview of an institution’s quality, go to US News & World Report and type in the institution on the search bar in the upper right-hand corner of the page. After you hit enter, you’ll be directed to the institution’s profile, rankings, and data page.  You can also view how the institution ranks in various categories and disciplines.  These rankings should not be held as the ultimate deciding factor as there are questions of the report’s validity, and if an institution does not rank “high,” that does not necessarily mean the institution is not quality or is not a good fit for your student. 

Quality can also be assessed by doing additional research online. Search for the institution’s name plus the department or program your student plans to be part of. See if there are any news articles or press releases that shed light on the program. Also, your student can contact the institution’s department or program of interest directly.  

Ask specific questions:

• Do actual tenured or tenure-track professors teach the majority of lecture courses in the program of interest or are most courses taught by adjunct faculty or graduate students?

• How large are class sizes in the department at each level (freshman - senior)?

• What are some of your recent alumni in the department/program  doing professionally?

• I plan to earn a degree in _______ and then go on to do ____________. How can your department/program prepare me for this specific path?

• What opportunities exist for students to develop outside of coursework?  Are there internships, undergraduate research experiences, etc.?  

• What sets your department/program apart from those at other institutions?

• Are there plentiful opportunities for students to cultivate mentoring relationships with professors in my discipline?

This last question is perhaps one of the most important.  Mentoring professors are likely to share insider wisdom and use their professional connections to help your student succeed. 

Fit:

All institutions, despite their quality, may not be a good fit for your student. This fit extends beyond academics alone. 

Academically

Is an institution a match for your student academically? If your student had all honors and AP classes in high school and is confident, they might feel right at home in a fiercely competitive and rigorous environment. Or, they could absolutely hate that and want to be at a great institution that has a more relaxed feel. Help your student to see the advantages and disadvantages of each institution they are considering, and share with them your thoughts regarding how they might cope at each institution. 

Socially

Visiting an institution before finalizing choices is always wise, if possible. How does your teen feel when walking the campus and brushing shoulders with existing students? Does your student feel like they can see and be themselves there? If it is important to them, does your student see others who they can possibly identify with culturally, racially, religiously, etc.? 

Also review an institution’s student organizations to see where your student could cultivate a sense of belonging as well as social and professional support by profession, race and culture, gender, etc. The National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) are just three examples of myriad professional organizations that have affiliated student clubs on many campuses.  

Wholly

Consider your student's specific needs and if the institution is equipped to support your student.  If your student requires neurodivergence support, learn how the institution supports such students and the institution's general attitudes about serving them.  Some institutions place the onus completely on students to advocate for themselves right away without the level and type of assistance your student may have received during high school, whereas other institutions guide students step-by-step as they empower them to be their own advocates.

Finances:

The topic of finances is one of the heaviest hitters when it comes to choosing a higher education institution.  Once your student receives acceptances and financial aid offers, you both will need to discuss your student's cost of attending each institution. 

Don't forget to estimate other costs outside of tuition, housing, and food. Costs for specific supplies for different classes beyond laboratory and technology fees plus books and online access codes to complete homework all add up. Include travel costs if your student will be far from home.  Multiply travel costs by how often they plan to come home (Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Summer, etc.)

Identify any gaps where costs exceed funding.  How will those gaps be handled, by you or by your student?  Will you provide direct financial assistance, and if so, how much can your student expect? If you cannot help at all, it is best if your student knows upfront so they can make the best choice for themselves financially.

If your student will address their funding gaps, will they need to work part- or full-time? Will they need to apply for loans and grants? If they apply for loans, help them calculate how much they would need to borrow annually and the total for all years in college (an institution’s Financial Aid Office can help you). Be honest with your student about loan repayment, and how student loans can remain part of their lives for 10-20 plus years barring any loan cancellations or obtaining employment where loans are repaid on their behalf.

Final thoughts:

Pursuing higher education is a big decision requiring the consideration of so many factors. Remember what works for another student may not be ideal for your student, even if both students have the same major and career goals. This journey is truly about what works best for your student.

About the author:

Dr. Jenn  is a higher education administrator. She previously served as an assistant and associate professor of chemistry for 10 years in Arkansas and Texas after completing her bachelor's, doctoral, and postdoctoral education at the University of Texas at Arlington, Rice University, and the Texas A&M Health Science Center's College of Medicine, respectively.