The cost of college has skyrocketed in the past decade. The average cost of college (tuition, plus room and board) in the United States is roughly $38,000. Less if your child stays in-state and goes to a public institution ($27,000 on average), and more if they attend school out of state ($45,000). [1] However, these averages often underestimate what many families actually pay. Flagship state universities—such as the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign—can exceed $40,000 per year for in-state students, and many out-of-state public universities now cost $50,000–$60,000 annually. Private universities frequently range from $70,000 to $80,000 per year or more. Given the high price tag for attendance, it is understandable that some parents may be hesitant to pay for additional college planning services. However, a college counselor can actually help parents– and students– save time and money in the long run. In this article, I will discuss how college coaches provide value by helping students choose both a college major and school that is right for them, while also helping them understand how much their education will cost.
Students who switch majors can waste money on credits that will ultimately not count towards their graduation
Most teenagers do not know what they want to do with the rest of their life. It is a tall order to ask an eighteen-year-old to choose a college major. Particularly since, most students have never studied or taken courses related to the majors they choose. Students often choose majors because they think it will be a path to wealth, or an adult has advised them to choose a certain major, or they think a particular topic sounds interesting. Students often heed this advice, only to begin taking classes and realize that the courses they are required to take to complete the major they have chosen are not the best fit for them.
The foregoing is why 80 percent of college students change their major at least once before graduation, and ten percent of college students change their major more than once. [2] And while it is true that college is a time for students to ‘explore their interests,’ we unfortunately live in a time where every single credit your student takes is expensive. Unnecessary credits are a luxury many students simply cannot afford. And if your child switches majors from, say, an accounting degree to a focus on graphic arts, there is a high chance that some of the early courses they took will not count towards the new degree. That means they will have to pay for additional credits and may have to take additional courses in the summer to graduate on time.
This is where college planning services can help avoid future costs. Admissions planning and college consulting helps students to choose a major which they will excel at. Coaching services strive to help students consider both the courses they will be taking at university and the career they will be pursuing once they graduate. College planning services strive to help students think carefully about the major they choose, so that they are not unpleasantly surprised when they begin taking courses at university.
The first step in working with a college planning service begins with administering an aptitude test to your student. I use the Highlands Ability Battery (HAB), which is an online test students can take from the comfort of their own home. The test comprises nineteen individual work samples that measure innate abilities such as verbal aptitude, inductive reasoning, visual speed, and more. Once your student finishes the test battery–which takes approximately three hours– I will schedule a time for the student to go over their results with me. Your student will receive a detailed report, and we will go over the results together. This report will provide a specific roadmap that will help your student understand their natural abilities and how those abilities can be applied to future careers. Through aptitude testing, students will learn if they are more extroverted or introverted, if they thrive working individually or in a team, if they are more generalists or specialists, how they approach problems, and more.
But getting your child’s aptitude results is just the beginning of successful college planning. Once your student understands their inherent strengths, it is time to explore potential career paths. During your child’s post-aptitude phone sessions, we will discuss careers that they are interested in, possible majors, and explore how the results of their aptitude test inform those goals. I will provide your child with worksheets and tools to help them further research careers they might be interested in. We will discuss their research and make a list of potential paths they might like to take, until we have narrowed their interests down to one option. Once your child has chosen a potential career, I will put them in contact with a professional in their field of interest. During this phone call, they may ask questions about what the day-to-day work looks like, what salary expectations are, the professional’s thoughts on future growth in the field, and what educational path is necessary to obtain this specific job. At the end of the phone call, your student should have a realistic idea of how to obtain their own goals.
But college planning does not just stop there.
Students often apply to colleges that are not a good fit, but transferring can result in lost credits and time
Once a student has chosen their major, it is time to choose a college. With more than 4,000 universities out there, most students do not have a full grasp of their options. They suffer from information overload and have no idea how to choose a school. Most students end up applying to schools that are near home or where their friends are applying. Or they think the campus is pretty. Or they have always been a fan of the football team. Or they have a “goal” school in mind that sounds prestigious. But the sad truth is, many teenagers choose colleges based on factors that have nothing to do with academics.
And this is why so many students end up transferring schools. As of 2023, it was reported that thirteen percent of college students end up transferring schools, and of students who do transfer, forty-three percent transfer more than once.[3] When a student transfers schools, the credits they have already acquired may not be transferable to the new university. This can result in the student having to remain in school longer than they would have otherwise. It also requires your student to “start over” and learn a new campus and make new friends. This can be quite stressful.
With my college list-building services, I help students brainstorm several schools that are a good fit for their personality and career goals. Using the results of their aptitude test, I can help students determine what they are looking for in a school; for example, smaller classes and personalized attention versus a larger setting. I also help them consider what kind of activities they wish to partake in in school– are they looking to join the athletic program? Do they want to participate in Greek life? Perhaps they are looking for a school with a tight-knit community. By making a list of priorities, I can help students reject schools that do not fit with their values and priorities. I can also help students find schools that may not have been on their radar otherwise. The goal for all students should be to find a school that offers an academic program that meets their career needs as well as their personal values. By taking a more deliberate approach to applying to schools, I can help students reduce the chance of attending a university that is not the right fit for them. This helps reduce the risk of your student having to transfer later.
Admissions planning services can help students find scholarships and calculate their financial aid packages
It is not unusual for students to focus on the university they want to attend, without seriously considering how they will pay for it. Many students assume they can take out loans, which they easily pay back later, once they obtain a high-paying job. And while the 2023 College Board report still finds numerous advantages to a college education–higher paying jobs, lower rates of unemployment, higher rates of community engagement, better physical health[4]— the reality is, college is expensive, and the cost of attendance must be a factor in determining where your child attends. Unfortunately, navigating the financial aid process can be convoluted and confusing. This is why, as part of my admissions planning services, I offer assistance with navigating the financial aid process.
It is not unusual for students to graduate with an undergraduate degree, and six figures in loans. Many students do not understand how much their education is costing them. Between tuition, room, board, additional fees, and school supplies, the cost can quickly become more expensive than students and parents expect. My goal is to help students keep the cost of their education down as much as possible, and for them to know exactly how much their education will be, before they commit to a school.
I answer parents’ questions related to filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) form, and make sure they know when it needs to be completed. Many parents think that they will not qualify for aid because they “make too much money.” However, what many people do not realize, is that FASFA must be filled out in order for your student to be offered any kind of aid– including merit-based scholarships. Missing important deadlines can make your child ineligible for certain scholarships that are offered, both by the school and on the federal level.
Before your child applies to any university, I will help you and your child understand the financial implications for each school they are interested in. I will help your family estimate the amount of student aid, merit-based awards, and other additional scholarships your student might be eligible for. Knowing ahead of time how much money your student may need to pay out of pocket will let your student make informed decisions when applying to universities. I will help your student track deadlines to make sure that all important forms are filled out on time. I will also help your student search for and track any additional scholarship opportunities that they may be eligible for. I believe that students and parents should begin having financial discussions long before a student applies to any given school. This helps the student make realistic decisions, avoids wasting time on schools that are not affordable, and helps the student avoid taking on tens of thousands of dollars in debt when they may have had a more affordable option. By being able to compare and contrast financial aid packages, your family will have options when it comes to making this large financial commitment.
Contact us today and speak with a college planning consultant for a customized admissions planning quote
Where your child will go to college, and what major they will pursue is one of the biggest decisions they will ever have to make. College planning services can help students take a systematic approach to making this decision, which is based on their natural abilities and interests, as well as their goals and values. These coaching services are an investment in ensuring that your child makes an educated and mature decision. Coaching services can also help parents save tens of thousands of dollars further down the road, by making sure that every available financial package is explored. At Conscious College Planning, we put together a customized plan, based on the needs of each individual child. All of our coaching services are virtual, and are available to any student in the United States. We understand that the high school years are stressful, full of big decisions, and an overwhelming amount of information and deadlines to keep track of. We are here to help. Contact our team at Conscious College Planning today in order to get a quote for a customized planning package.
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References
[1] https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-college
[2] https://studentresearchgroup.com/statistics-about-changing-college-majors/
[3] https://nscresearchcenter.org/transfer-enrollment-and-pathways/
[4] https://research.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/education-paysmerit-basedforarents’2023.pdf