Part One: Do your finance homework before making college visits
The car is packed and you’re ready to hit the road for a summer tour of colleges with your soon-to-be high school senior. While your student is checking out the majors offered, the size of the dorm rooms, and the quality of the food, you’re probably wondering about the price tag. Unfortunately, you can’t learn your exact “bottom line” at a college until your child’s senior year when he or she applies for college admission, scholarships, and financial aid. However, the initial college visit is a perfect time to collect information about financial aid and pricing practices, and to establish a general idea of the aid your student might receive.
First Step: Look at each college’s online resources
The first step is preparing for your visit. Research each college’s website to learn about the types of financial aid offered, including merit scholarships.
