Making Your College Decision

May 1st is this Friday... which means this is a big week for students who are making their final college decision.  Yes, it is true that there are many colleges who have extended this deadline, but with so many still holding steady with May 1st as their deadline to commit to attend that college, it is imperitive that students and families double check to make sure you don't miss a deadline.  In other words, whatever your first deadline is for declaring your decision, that essentially, by default, becomes your deadline for all of the colleges.

If you are on the wait list at a college, please understand that in that situation, you will still commit to one of your other colleges and then if you are fortunate enough to be selected to move off the wait list you can decide if you will be changing your mind and switching to the school where you had been waitlisted.  But you do not want to wait and hope that you will be pulled off the wait list and not commit to any school unless you are intending to take a gap year between high school and college.

The reality is that the coronavirus is having an impact on students and where they are choosing to go to college.  You may be struggling with what you thought you had your mind set on and are now revisiting that decision in light of these changing times.  If that you is you, I know this is stressful, but you will get through it!

Some of the factors I have heard from students/ parents related to their college choice and covid-19 include:

• Changes in finances.  Family finances may be in a very different spot today than they were 6 months ago.  This may impact what you and your family are able to pay for college.  You can reach out to the financial aid office of your college and ask for them to reconsider your situation and see if an override and the possibility of additional aid is an option.  But, sadly, you are not the only family in this situation so that may/ may not be possible.
• Distance matters.  Many students are re-thinking how far away from home they are comfortable being with stressful times like this.  Students who had been planning to move far away are now considering that a flight away from home may not be something they are as comfortable with any more.  
• Transfer options.  Some students due to finances or fears of moving into dorms in the fall have indicated that they are now considering taking the transfer route and starting at Columbus State so that they can take classes cheaper and can also attend as a commuter student vs having to live in a dorm.

Here is the reality.  We don't really know what the future will hold.  Truthfully, we never have.  We just always took for granted that things would keep going in the ways it always has and so this has thrown all of us for a loop.  If you are weighing your options for those reasons or for others, that is completely understandable.  It is important to have frank, honest conversations as a family about what your plans are and how it will work for your specific circumstances.

If you have a college that is sticking to the May 1st deadline and you truly need more time to make your final decision, you can ask them if there would be an option to extend the deadline for you to make that choice, but understand that their answer may be no.  Remember, if you want to talk it through with me, I am still here and am happy to listen!