<p>There’s not only the peer pressure and prestige factors, but some colleges were deemed a step down from boarding school. Some colleges campuses and facilities don’t compare to what the student is used to.</p>
<p>Creative is right–BS campuses can make college campuses (and living away and relationship with professors, etc. many of what the tours tout) seem hohum to BS students. One thought on the “outside help.” At my D’s BS the college process kicks off in January of Junior year. That’s almost too late (course selections, EC-focuses, summer ops, etc). We have a neighbor who served as informal outside help to my D. The sole sum of what he charges several thousand per kid is about the students finding something to differentiate themselves (an interest, an EC a job. . . ) to give the kid a voice they can talk about, write about, stand out with. Wtih BS kids he says it is really important that they try to demonstrate this outside of the BS bubble too so they don’t seem spoon fed. He starts early and harps on this theme regularly. Especially at BSs, there are many many qualified kids on grades, tests, intelligence (more than can fill the classes many times over) and they all start to feel alike to college AOs. Yes, ChoatieMom. . .Got sidetracked by the class of 2013 college thread. As you can imagine, with D in early, I am much more relaxed now.</p>
<p>We did not opt for ED with any schools, although we were in the minority. My son asked me to review his essays for grammar and spelling. I may have suggested a correction or two, but mostly I came away happy at what a good writer he had become over four years. We did not need to supplement the college guidance office at all. They start working with the students during sophomore year so the whole process is well organized.</p>
<p>The choice of schools emerged from discussions between him and the college guidance office plus input from us on where he might have legacy hooks (primarily Penn, Princeton, Swarthmore and Bowdoin). Unfortunately, money ruled the day. Between the decimation of our 529 Plan - this was in 2008, the fact that he was our third and last kid, and the huge tuition discount we would receive at GWU where my wife worked, there was really no flexibility in choice. However, his interest was (is) international relations and GW has a Tier 1 program (Elliott School), so he ended up being a happy and challenged camper.</p>
<p>And may I add that there is nothing so sweet as making your last college tuition payment.</p>
<p>Oh how I envy you ThacherParent. We informed our children that in four years every one will be off the payroll and they’re on their own for grad school. 
And yes - i remember wondering if I was just “loaning” interest free money to Wall Street in 2008 when I looked at the market performance.</p>
<p>We didn’t opt for ED - what with a year abroad and college portfolio requirements the extra time to craft essays and projects was golden. But now I wish otherwise - the wait is just as bad as it was when we were going through the BS process. Although D seems to be pragmatic - she’s got a good mix of schools on her list she’s thrilled with. She already knows that with more than one child in college, the final decision may depend on the final “number.”</p>
<p>I have no doubt that most boarding school guidance counselors are excellent at advising students about which colleges are a good fit based on a student’s interests, grades, test scores, and other attributes. But for the many BS families on financial aid, a simple “Your student will have no problem getting admitted to College X!” does no good at all, unless the GC also knows that College X meets the full financial need of admitted applicants and, perhaps, also does it without including loans in the package.</p>
<p>So, what have your experiences been with getting good advice on college selection for families that are going to need help paying for it? Are the BS guidance counselors good at pointing families towards schools that meet full need, if the family qualifies for need-based aid? Are they good at identifying schools with good merit aid, for families that don’t qualify for need-based aid, but still need help footing the bill?</p>
<p>I’m not saying that I expect the GC to delve into my family finances and advise me to invest in X or not invest in Y in order to maximize my student’s financial aid eligibility. But I do expect the GC to know better than to point a low-income student towards School X when School X is notorious for not meeting financial need.</p>
<p>That financial piece of the puzzle is the missing piece for most public school guidance counselors, who oftentimes aren’t permitted to discuss finances with their students’ families. I’d like to think that BS guidance counselors do better, but since financial aid families are still the minority . . . maybe I’m mistaken.</p>
<p>What have your experiences been? Before finalizing a student’s college list, does the GC at your school ask families if they can actually afford any of the colleges on the list?</p>
<p>Good question, Dodgersmom. In our experience, the conversation about FA was somewhat, and intentionally, vague. The counselors knew when our D’s stats were going to draw more merit aid, but we didn’t get into details. Our D told us early on that FA was not a big part of the conversation. So when we created her list (together) we looked at schools with reputably good aid and then picked reaches and safeties and included FA in that list. While the college counselors agreed with our list, our D told us they would be reluctant to emphasize the FA discussion. We didn’t push it. In the end, our D was accepted ED to a school renowned for having excellent aid, and while it was a reach, she received more merit aid than we anticipated. Had she not been offered a viable package, we may well have withdrawn for FA reasons (and I got up-front approval from the college counselor to do so) but it’s a moot point now. I suppose we could have waited and weighed offers, but we are thrilled with her first choice so it has worked out. Kid two will be a whole new ballgame.</p>
<p>I am certain that if you clearly state your financial needs (FA, don’t qualify for FA but would like Merit Aid, etc.), your child’s college advisor will give you input and feedback. </p>
<p>During a meeting with college advisor, spouse and I indicated that we wouldn’t qualify for FA. College advisor specified which schools on our child’s list were likely to offer merit aid. </p>
<p>However, ascertaining which colleges meet full financial need, with or without loans, etc. is fairly easy to find on college websites. I think most colleges are very transparent on the their process and procedures. Another good source of info is each college’s common data set (CDS).</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’m not convinced. I’ve spoken to one GC who said that this was simply not her area of expertise . . . and students shouldn’t worry about taking out loans.</p>
<p>And the information parents need is only “easy to find” for parents sophisticated enough to know where to look.</p>
<p>Not to sound like a wise ass, but each college website I’ve visited has a page dedicated to financial aid with FAQs, etc. I encourage anyone who is not getting what info they need to also ask the head of the college placement office. At my kids’ school, they also have a college session specifically about financial aid.</p>
<p>We had a lot of help and guidance including our own workshop.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>That’s true, but how do you know which colleges to look at? Without guidance, how does someone new to the process know which schools offer automatic scholarships based purely on GPA and test scores? Heck, how does someone new to the process even know there is such a thing as automatic scholarships??? I think that’s where the GC’s need to step up and get involved.</p>
<p>A parent told me today that Exeter expects all students to have at least one “financial safety” on their college list. Do any of the other schools do the same?</p>
<p>Dodgersmom- yes, we were encouraged to apply to our home state universities. That way, you would have a financial safety even in case something happened to your personal finances (like you lost the college fund in a stock market crash or some similar disaster.) I wonder if the prep schools with a good percentage of students on financial aid are more tuned in to families who will also require aid for college? Anyway, it doesn’t hurt to ask your college counselor if you have concerns- it’s their job to help. Did you fill out a parent questionnaire? I can’t remember exactly how much they asked about concerns re financial aid, but I’m pretty sure it was on there somewhere.</p>