Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:4 year graduation rate is a key metric in my opinion.

If you are worried your kid can’t graduate then maybe they are not college material. Graduation rate is only useful to determine the wealth of the students. Rich kids can finish and poor kids can’t.

No. It’s important even if you know your kid will graduate. Some schools are set up for the students to be able to finish in 4 years. Others have hard to get into major requirements only offered every other year, or make it hard to switch majors and still graduate in four years.

Schools with very similar demographics vary a huge amount in 4 year graduation rate even if their 6 year graduation rates are similar.

Anonymous wrote:4 year graduation rate is a key metric in my opinion.

If you are worried your kid can’t graduate then maybe they are not college material. Graduation rate is only useful to determine the wealth of the students. Rich kids can finish and poor kids can’t.

College is the best time make the best of where you are.

Go to the place you can afford & feels closest like a “home” and just grasp with both hands whatever opportunities that place offers.

Bloom where you’re planted.

4 year graduation rate is a key metric in my opinion.

https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/2024/12/20/ycbk-492-30-things-to-rank-when-building-your-college-list/

one he recently updated to classroom experience. Idk if there are any written resources but I'd say if you thought on half of these 30 criteria, it's pretty good (the podcaster I believe says the same thing).

When asking my 18 year old which college will make them happy, it’s the idea of weather, campus, school spirit, the food, and academics/resources/opportunities come after that.

Is that question overrated when it comes to make college decision?

The time to be logical is when choosing where to apply. For the final decision go with your gut feeling.

Ideally, I hope that college is a time/place where my child will grow and thrive. I think if a kid is happy, confident and successful, they will be able to take advantage of school resources, opportunities, and find their path forward to success...whatever that may be. There is a lot of conflicting messaging out there for kids- prestige, sports, school spirit, greek fun, etc. But, it's hard for kids to truly know. My kid chose a great, but pretty intense school. They are so excited and I am hopeful that they made the right choice! Good luck!

to worry about what you will study, how much you can stretch yourself given the school's relevant resources, and where you will find like-minded students.

It's a time to focus on academics and building a supportive community of teachers and peers around yourself, not on personal conveniences (weather, geography) and entertainment goals (champion sports teams, marginally different local amenities, cool factor).

My advice was think through the practicalities and go with gut/comfort level after that . I pointed out some pros and cons of my kid’s choices, but it was on my kid to think about it, pray on it, talk to others and do their own research, and ultimately make the decision. College choice is the first “adult” decision that many kids make. Like most adult decisions, nothing is perfect and they have to own it.

As parents, what’s on your list of criteria and how much weight each carries?

And what is/was your child’s decision criteria?

my DC is on the fence given the few options DC has. As a parent, I’d want to offer some support but is having a hard time given each options have its pros and cons

A few that we can think of
- major
- cost
- location
- school spirit

How would you complete the following sentence as a parent giving advice to kids:
- college is the time to ___________

Thanks.

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