Finding Your Student's College

• Why do you want to attend college?
• What are your goals for college?
• What would you like to study?
• Where do you want to go to college? Do you want to be close to home, or venture to a new city, new state or even a new country?
• In what type of environment would you like to live? Rural? Suburban? Urban?
• Would you like to go to a school with a large or small student enrollment?
• Would you prefer to attend a public or private school?
• And finally, a question to ask yourself: How much can you realistically afford to pay for college? Consider potential financial aid, and determine which colleges you can afford. 

Once your student has decided on the type of college to attend, use our College Criteria List, college Web sites and admissions brochures to help narrow the list of potential colleges. Our Handbook of Illinois Postsecondary Institutions contains up-to-date admission and financial aid information about most Illinois colleges, and can serve as a resource for students and their families as they plan for college. A campus visit can also helpful in the decision-making process. If time or resources aren’t available to visit all of the colleges your student is considering, many schools now have virtual tours available online. Or, contact the admissions offices to request a video tour be sent to your home

If you are able to make a campus visit, be sure to maximize your time there. Call the admissions office at least two weeks ahead of time to schedule an appointment. Work with a representative to set up times to sit in on a class, meet with a professor, and take a guided tour of campus. Many schools also have additional activities designed just for parents. If possible, plan your visit for a day when classes are in session. If you visit campus when everyone is away for Spring Break, you won't get a true picture of the academic and social atmosphere. If you are visiting more than one college, taking notes and pictures may help you and your student remember what you liked and didn't like about each campus.

During your visit, pick up copies of college and local newspapers, if they are available. These will offer you even more information about the school and surrounding community. Don't confine yourself to just the campus. Explore the neighborhood. Things like public transportation, a nearby grocery store, and safety may not seem important to your student, but as a parent, you probably have a different opinion of what’s important when evaluating a campus.

Refer your student to the College Zone Student Section  — for help finding and applying to college.