Recently, in between class periods at Mt. Anthony Union High School, senior Brionna Bentley got a message. “Come to your advisor’s office. She has some news she wants to give you in person.”
It’s today’s equivalent of the “fat envelope”—a coveted college acceptance. Brionna has been fortunate to receive several so far, exceeding her expectations. “I didn’t think I’d get into so many schools,” she admits. “So I’m feeling optimistic.”
Brionna has every reason to be proud and hopeful as doors to next steps open for her. The question is, which door will she choose?
Pros and cons—but no right or wrong
Matt “Beagle” Bourgault, VSAC Outreach Counselor and Director of VSAC’s Talent Search Program, counsels all of his students—including his own two college-age kids—that there’s no “right” or “wrong” decision when it comes to choosing a school. “It can feel really high-stakes, and there’s no doubt, it’s an important decision. But it won’t determine the rest of your life,” he says.
Brionna, who plans to major in crime and legal studies with the goal of working in the legal field, applied to several New England liberal arts colleges and all of the Ivy League schools—“because, why not?” she says. If she gets into an Ivy, she says the offer would be hard to turn down, though she generally finds smaller schools more appealing.
In-person visits—which have given her a sense of a campus’s walkability and the feel of the dorm rooms—have been important in her decision-making process. Partially because of the great feeling she had when she visited, Colby-Sawyer College in New London, New Hampshire is her current first choice. “They have the classes and activities I want, and when I visited the campus, I fell in love.” She’s been accepted at Colby-Sawyer, though she’s waiting on all her admissions and financial aid information before making a commitment.
Some students, like Brionna, have an obvious front-runner based on that first impression. For others who don’t get into their top school or for whom the decision feels less clear, Bourgault encourages them to make a spreadsheet. Students can create their own, or VSAC has a template to help students compare financial aid offers. While that can help clarify pros and cons, he also says it’s rare that everything lines up. “There’s usually a compromise to be made somewhere. The thing to ask yourself is, which are the most important factors?”
While Bourgault appreciates Brionna’s hesitation in potentially turning down an Ivy League offer, he also believes that it’s the student—not the school—that deserves the focus. “What you get out of a school is what you put into it, so from that perspective, it’s much more about the fit and the attitude than it is about the name. The student who goes to a lesser-known college and connects with professors, joins clubs, and studies abroad comes out better off than the student who goes to a big-name school and doesn’t take advantage of all the opportunities.” He encourages students to keep that in mind if they don’t get in to the “best” school on their list, or if the associated price tag ends up being unaffordable. VSAC’s Financial Aid brochure can help sort out all the considerations.
“Sticker shock” and financial aid
Brionna will be the first in her family to go to college, and while the cost is worrisome, she and her parents also see it as a worthwhile investment. “Any college that isn’t a free ride is a big stretch, but we feel like it’s worth it because that education will help me get a good job. My family and I just keep taking deep breaths” and waiting for financial aid information and decisions about the dozen or so scholarships she’s applied to. “If I can reduce the amount I owe, even a little bit here and there, it’ll take so much off in the long run.”
Brionna is right on the money with this part, says Bourgault. He and VSAC’s team of outreach counselors advise students to fully understand the cost implications of each college before making any commitments. Final financial aid packages—which may arrive a few weeks later than acceptances—can cause the actual cost to vary significantly from the “sticker price.” What seemed to be the most expensive school could end up being the best deal if that college offers the most aid, he says. Students and families should look at the net cost.
Bourgault adds that most financial aid offers are only good for one year, but are generally consistent throughout the student’s two, three, or four years, as long as the family’s financial situation doesn’t change. For institutional merit-based aid, schools will often say that the package is good for four years if the student maintains a certain GPA.
And if the financial aid offer doesn’t seem right, Bourgault emphasizes, students can absolutely appeal it. “If it’s your top school, let them know you could attend if it were more affordable. And make sure they have your latest financial information. If your family has experienced significant financial shifts such as job changes, medical expenses, or the loss of a home since you filed your FAFSA, let the schools know.”
Finally, because the FAFSA has changed the way it factors in other college students in a family, education costs for siblings—whether it’s college or private high school—are definitely something students should share with schools as part of a financial aid appeal. Otherwise, the college may not be aware.
Loans should be the last option a student or family considers, since these will have to be repaid (unless the student is participating in one of Vermont’s forgivable loan programs in high-demand fields). The best deals for students, according to VSAC experts, are federal direct loans, especially subsidized federal direct loans, which do not accrue interest while the student is in school. (Unsubsidized federal direct loans, on the other hand, do accrue interest.)
There are also loans for parents of students. Parents should pause before accepting a federal PLUS family loan, which are frequently offered by schools as part of their financial aid packages. Before signing anything, families should shop around, since rates vary widely based on the amount borrowed, term length, credit rating, and more. VSAC’s Loan Education Guide may be helpful.
If students want to shave even more off their college bills, there’s still time to apply for some private scholarships and grants. VSAC offers over 150 funding opportunities and, while the deadline has passed to apply for VSAC-managed scholarships this year, the VSAC Scholarships Booklet lists dozens of other scholarships not managed by VSAC that have deadlines in March and beyond (start on page 50). In addition, students can apply for scholarships in the booklet each year they are attending school.
Still can’t decide?
Students still feeling torn may find it helpful to connect with alums from the schools they’re considering. (Colleges can help make those introductions and connections.) And families shouldn’t hesitate to set up a tour, or another tour. Seeing the school at a different time of year may help spur a decision.
Finally, Bourgault tells students to trust their gut—but don’t make it a gut-wrenching decision. “If you enroll somewhere and you really feel like you’ve made the wrong choice, you can always transfer. It’s never the end of the world.”
Just Starting Your College Decision Process?
If you provide guidance to a high school junior or senior, VSAC’s College and Career Pathways for students and families is March 8 at the University of Vermont. The event helps prepare high school students for next steps—identifying career interests, writing a college essay, navigating financial aid, and more. Registration is free but required; visit College and Career Pathways on the VSAC website for more information.
The Vermont Student Assistance Corp. was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 as a public nonprofit agency. We advocate for Vermont students and their families to ensure that they have the tools they need to achieve their education and training goals. We create opportunities for all Vermont students, but particularly for those—of any age—who believe that the doors to education are closed to them. Growing families save for education with VT529, Vermont’s official 529 savings program. To help Vermonters plan and pay for college or job training, our counselors work with students in nearly every Vermont middle school and high school, and are also available to work with adults. Our grant, scholarship, and workforce development programs create opportunity, help students re-skill or learn new skills, and grow the economy. VSAC’s loan and loan forgiveness programs provide competitive education financing to students and families. Find us at www.vsac.org or visit Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Comparing apples, oranges, and colleges.