<p>Hello to all.I am a mother of 2 high schoolers(junior and freshman) and I'm doing research as to things to look for in a college.</p>
<p>It really depends what is important to you and your family.
We considered location, availability of public transportation, staff student ratio, atmosphere, cost/ aid, rigor, size, just for starters.</p>
<p>You have come to the right place. Although be warned, this website is like crack for parents of college bound students. 
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<p>General advice - take a look at the threads “stuck” (like with a little pin) at the top of some of the main forums. College Search & Selection and Financial Aid are a couple of good places to start. </p>
<p>Don’t stress too much about some of the posters out here with high stats – “I got a 36 on the ACT, but I got an A- in gym class – am I doomed to a community college?” I personally just stay away from the Ivy threads altogether.</p>
<p>If you don’t have a copy of the Fiske Guide to Colleges yet, that is a great resource to learn more about colleges. Ours is dog-eared & post-it filled.</p>
<p>Welcome! You may not know this, but once you have 15 posts you can also send private messages to posters to get more info/share details you don’t want to put out to the whole CC community/etc.</p>
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<p>I often tell people it’s like a vortex you just get sucked into… you know, fair warning!</p>
<p>^ yes, even for those whose kids are in college or have graduated. Agree about Fiske as a great starting point. Run the NPCs (projections of possible fin aid,) if you need that. And then really dig into college websites, for a deeper look at what they offer and how, plus what they value. And, remember to breathe. Good luck.</p>
<p>As a parent that went through this process last year, I would advise you to make the process about what your children need. Obviously, you should be involved in the process, but the process should be dictated by their interests. However, a lot of times children do not really understand the true financial commitment with certain institutions. This is where the parents need to step in and really should have a very frank discussion with the children about the costs of education.</p>
<p>A suggestion is to have your kids take a look at some local schools. It is nice to look at 1 large, 1 mid-size, and 1 small school, as it can give them an idea of the dynamics of different sizes. With our oldest D, I remember we were near a very large state school, so I just decided to drive through. She was very shy and did not like crowds, and her immediate response was that she could never feel comfortable at a school like that. On the other hand, our youngest son immediately loved the hustle and bustle of a very large school where he was playing a soccer tournament. Both kids ended up at schools similar in size to their initial likes (my son is actually starting this year at the school he first loved at the soccer tournament). Even if your kids have no interest in attending the schools that are near you, it can give you a starting point for what kind of atmosphere they may thrive in.</p>
<p>Have you taken a look at ASU - Go Devils!</p>
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<p>And parents of college students… and parents of college graduates…</p>
<p>I second intparent’s suggestion to get a copy of the Fiske Guide to Colleges. This fantastic book is IMO the very best place to start the college search process. And it’s second only to College Confidential in its addictive properties. Seriously, it’s a fun and fascinating read. </p>
<p>Welcome, curiousfuture. :)</p>