6 tips to help your NC high school senior navigate College Decision Day
Spring is a hectic time for North Carolina high school seniors and their families, from final exams to proms to graduations. Adding to that stress for many is the deadline to make the final decision on where to go to college.
“College Decision Day,” as it has become known, is looming on May 1. And while no one wants to overload already-stressed students with unwanted advice, college admissions gurus do say there are some productive things you can contribute.
Here’s what to know about College Decision Day and how to help the seniors in your life make their big decision:
What is College Decision Day?
College Decision Day is the day by which most U.S. colleges and universities require high school seniors who applied “regular decision” to either accept or decline their acceptance.
For students who applied and were accepted to multiple schools, that means it’s a deadline for deciding which college or university to attend in the fall. It’s also typically the deadline for students to secure their spot with a deposit.
How to decide on a college
While choosing a college is a very personal decision, experts say there are things every student and their loved ones can consider to narrow down their choices, including:
Setting your priorities: Knowing what’s most important to your family about a school — from the size of the student population to Greek life options or research opportunities and more — can help you know what to evaluate as you compare schools, U.S News & World Report, known for its college rankings, advises.
Deciding, or deciding not to decide, on a major: If a student knows what they want to study, then it can be worthwhile to consider the rankings, faculty and professional connections a prospective school has in that field. But, Martha O’Connell, executive director of the non-profit college guide Colleges That Change Lives, writes for NPR that it’s also fine to come in undecided.
Visiting (or revisiting campuses): If it’s in your budget, U.S. News & World Report adds, visiting the campuses of your prospective schools can be helpful in the decision-making process. You’ll get a first-hand look at student life and the surrounding community, and you often have opportunities to ask questions of real students, professors and advisors. If travel is out of the question, you can look into schools’ virtual tour options.
Keeping an eye on what’s happening on and around campuses: Some students want to spend Saturdays in a massive football stadium cheering so loud they lose their voices. Others want to see an undiscovered band play at a dive bar or to listen to a lecture from a physicist. Some want all three. That’s why, O’Connell advises, you should take time to check out what events are happening on and around prospective campuses during the decision process, to get a feel for what opportunities you’ll have outside of academics. Social media and local and student media are great tools for keeping tabs on things.
Thinking through your budget: College is a major expense, often for students and their parents or guardians. It’s worthwhile then, U.S. News and World Report says, to compare the financial aid and scholarship offers you’ve received when comparing schools to see where you’re getting the best value. And make sure to think beyond tuition and factor in other costs such as housing, meal plans, transportation and fees.
- Remembering there are options beyond a four-year college: Some students, including some who’ve been accepted to one or more four-year institutions, don’t end up at one, and that’s OK, O’Connell writes. For various reasons, some students choose to work, travel, participate in service projects or take classes at a community college or trade school. These experiences can help them make money, save money and gain valuable life skills. Students who were accepted and eventually want to attend a four-year school can talk to that school about deferring their acceptance.
