Jake and Ramit

With an enrollment deadline looming, important decisions must be made. After months, if not years, of researching options and “shopping” for the best fit, it is time to determine which opportunity represents the best investment

Months ago, as you engaged in the grueling task of completing the financial aid applications, it was the promise of the “just reward” that kept you going. Now that the award letters are in hand, you are left wondering, “What does it all mean?” A young woman shared with us the financial aid award letters she had received from 10 different colleges

While selective colleges and universities have historically maintained Wait-Lists as “insurance policies” against coming up “short” of their enrollment goals through Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Admission, the WL has taken on a more strategic look in recent years. The number of students offered WL status at a given college will often match the number of students it admits in Regular Decision. While the initial ordering of students on Wait-Lists typically reflects the relative academic strengths of the students, other agendas (athletic recruitment, alumni connections, the need to “balance The data won’t reveal, however, that only 500 of the 2,000 chose to remain “active” on the WL or that admission officers might have contacted 100 students (or more! ) before they got commitments from 20.

Even the “best” college (by acclaim) won’t help you reach your goals if getting through four years at that school is likely to be a struggle academically. Using your priorities as a guide, it’s time to examine more closely the colleges that accepted you, including those that might not have been at the top of your list. If you have academic support needs, talk with the coordinator of the Special Needs Support Center or the Writing Center. In comparing financial aid awards, ask the admitting institutions to project the likely student debt over four years.