College Admissions Without Regret: Find the Right College Fit and Build a Plan to Pay for It
5 Key Takeaways
1. The best college isn't necessarily the most prestigious one.
Look beyond rankings and acceptance rates. Campus community, friendships, activities, and a student's sense of belonging can play an important role in helping them thrive and ultimately graduate.
2. Protect retirement before aggressively funding college.
Ann's priority order is emergency savings, then retirement, then college savings. Students have many college price points and funding options, while parents have far fewer alternatives for funding retirement.
3. Don't let a huge college savings target paralyze you.
Parents don't necessarily need four years of college expenses saved before freshman year. Families can combine savings, current cash flow, scholarships and financial aid, student contributions or loans, and a college choice that fits their budget.
4. Use estimated net prices to build an affordable college list.
Sticker prices alone do not show what your family might pay. Use colleges’ net price calculators to bring estimated costs into the college search before applications go out.
5. Tell your teen what your family can contribute before applications begin.
Explain what you can realistically pay and how college fits alongside other family goals. That gives your student a clear financial boundary when considering schools.
