The U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003–04 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, reports that over 80% of students stay in their home state for college. That’s a lot of kids. And we all know why many students choose to stay in-state: scholarships, lower tuition, proximity to family. But what about the out-of-state option? Why would you want to leave home for school? And what are the implications of such a decision? Let’s find out!

The Wild Blue Yonder
Most of us spend the younger part of our lives in the same town. So getting attached to a place is understandable. It’s convenient and familiar…and safe. But experiencing new places and cultures provides an education your kids won’t find in books. Talk with them about opening a wider net when considering colleges and entertain every possibility. And before they think about all the reasons why they can’t, just remind them that they won’t know unless they try.

Out-of-State Advantage
For all the talk about how in-state schools are less expensive, there are some things that an in-state option won’t be able to provide. Getting experience in different parts of the country or world is an excellent resume´ booster. It shows a diverse work history and makes for great conversation. This is especially true when it comes to long-term career goals. For example, someone looking to study fashion would likely want to go to where the fashion industry is thriving. This is the ideal situation to get the kind of internship that will help your children once they graduate. The earlier they can start networking within the industry of their choice the better. This is also true of other occupations–from science to filmmaking, where they go to school can make a difference in the success they’ll attain after college.

Other Considerations
Living and working independently of their parents is a tremendous learning experience that will help students transition from high school to college. After all, no one is going to be looking over their shoulder to make sure they did their homework. The independent nature of college is the perfect complement to an independent lifestyle that takes them away from the comfort of home. For those prospective students whose occupations are going to take them out-of-state then the choice has already been made. But for those kids who are still on the fence, we suggest you sit down with them and explore the out-of-state option and consider the robust life experience that comes with it.

When it comes time to choose a college or university, an increasing amount of students are looking close to home. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2003–04 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study, over 80% of students stay in their home state for college. Though many college-bound high school graduates dream of getting away and being on their own, the advantages of remaining in-state may be too good to pass up. If your children are looking at both out-of-state and in-state schools, we’ve put together some information to help you talk with them about their choice.

The Tuition Solution
If you’re helping your children with college tuition but your resources are limited, you may want to have talk with them about affordability. And when it comes to affordability you can’t beat an in-state school. The College Board reports that the national average tuition and fees at four-year public institution in 2007-08 is $6,185 for in-state students and $16,640 for out-of-state students. That’s an enormous financial difference that could leave you or your kids wrestling with loan debt for many years to come. Though the in-state path is the most affordable, to get that kind of discounted education your kids will have to prove residency.

A Home Not-So-Far-Away from Home
According to statistics released from the College Board, the average cost of room and board is $7,400. However, this does not take into account the advantages that in-state students have in the way of options. Although the dream of getting out on their own is both exciting and courageous, your kids may want to stick around the ranch a little while longer. If you’re looking to ease the financial burden, you could offer them the option of living at home. Let them know that saving this extra money could help finance a study abroad program; graduate school; or if they’re a film student, making a short film. You’ll want to sit and talk with them about their long-term goals and objectives when they’re considering the close-to-home option.

A Few Good Considerations
There are a number of other considerations to take into account when weighing the in-state and out-of-state option. Students with relatives who are unable to travel or have an illness may want to stay close. That also goes for the students, themselves. Those with health issues would benefit from having you nearby. Remind your kids to look at their career ambitions. If they’re seeking to work in an industry that has a strong presence in their home state, remaining in-state would open up opportunities for networking with potential employers and getting internships. Then there are the costs above tuition, fees, room, and board. Students who attend a school out-of-state will incur more expenses in the long run. Traveling back and forth over holidays and summers isn’t cheap and will add up. Further, state tuition is not only less expensive it comes with the potential for additional scholarships. The College Board reports that the average full-time student at a public four-year school receives about $3,600 in grants and tax benefits. That’s no small change. There is also the possibility of transferring from a two-year school to a four-year college. This will cut down the time your children need to spend at a more expensive university, while also providing an abbreviated version of the out-of-state college experience. This is especially helpful in situations where the program or major your child wants is not offered at an in-state school.

The In-State Debate
The Project on Student Debt found that the average student loan debt nationwide was a whopping $19,646 for 2006 graduates. Depending on your son or daughter’s career aspirations, this level of debt could take ten years or more to repay. Though their choice to remain in-state may not wholly eliminate a need for student loans, it will reduce the amount needed to borrow. Recommend that they make a list of their top choices and price them out. Have them consider what could open up if they choose to remain closer to home. Is it worth the other advantages that an out-of-state school could offer? In the end, it comes down to where they believe they’ll get the best education for the career of their choice.

When the time comes for your kids to start thinking about college, the biggest decision they’ll face is where to go. With so many schools to choose from in the United States and around the globe, the selection process of what schools to even apply for will be time-consuming. There are a variety of factors parents and students should take into account when deciding where to apply. In the following article we’ll give you a quick primer on what to tell your kids to look for before putting pen to application.

The Early Bird
With so many schools out there, parents need to urge their college-bound kiddies to start their search early. Junior year would be good, if not before. Keep in mind, students need to give themselves enough time to sort through potential colleges, narrow down the list, gather research information, and assess each school – and you’ll no doubt want to be involved in the process, which will no doubt have an affect on the length of time the search will take. The initial list of schools will likely be quite long, so you’ll definitely want to advise your teens to whittle it down to a more agreeable number by using a criteria and list of priorities that reflect what they want from their prospective college.

The First Cut
The Princeton Review’s 2007 “College Hopes & Worries Survey” Report found that 52% of students apply to five to eight colleges. To get to that number students will first need to create the criteria we talked about earlier. First and foremost, find out if your kids know what kind of career they want to pursue. This will be a huge factor in narrowing down the list to those institutions that specialize in their area of study. If they aren’t sure what they want to do there’s no need to pressure them to choose, rather send them to a career assessment test online to get a broad sense of potential career goals or ambitions. Though students can always change their course of study, it’s important they have a general idea of the kinds of subjects they’re interested in and which schools offer the best programs. The next elements to look for are the types of degrees a school offers, the majors and minors, and how easy it is to switch majors if necessary. In addition, advise them to find out what kinds of graduate opportunities are available. Does the college offer graduate degrees in their chosen field?

Location, Location, Location
For some parents and children the location of the school is of utmost importance. If your kids want to move far from home and you want them to stay close, look for schools that could be a good compromise; in other words, those colleges that enable your kids to visit without travel expenses being too costly. Also, remind them to consider climate when making their decision; after all, they’re going to spend four or more years in this locale so they’ll want to take the weather into account. Other location considerations include employment or internship opportunities that match career field, level of crime, and overall cost of living. Your kids may be open to a school that’s closer if it will allow them to live more comfortably.

Schooling Yourself
Beyond the overarching concerns like career and climate, there are more specific points to take into account when sorting through potential destinations. Make sure students consider the kinds of groups and clubs on campus to see if they match their interests. Social life is a big part of college, so definitely look into the reputation of the school from a socializing standpoint. Is it a party school, or a more conservative environment?

The size of the school is another matter they’ll want to examine. Check out the student to teacher ratio and the number of full-time faculty. Is it a large research institution or a small school that encourages professors to focus on teaching? If athletics are important to your kids, take a closer look at the college’s athletic program. This is also a good time to learn about any special services or unique benefits. For example, Abilene Christian University gives all of its incoming freshmen an Apple iPhone.

Next you’ll want to review the cost of tuition and housing with your children. Compare the expense of schools and take financial support into account. What schools will offer the most financial aid? Are there strings attached? Have them examine the freshmen retention rate to see if the school loses a lot of students after the first year. Also consider the average SAT score of those students who are accepted so your teen can determine if they’ve got the scores to make it in before they spend copious amounts of time on an application.

The Final Countdown
Once the list gets down to five to ten different schools, it’ll be time to rank the picks. You may want to visit a few campuses with your child to help them determine the school that will be their first choice. Encourage them to continue to gather information by talking with current students, analyzing the courses offered, and crunching the numbers. But no matter the criteria, it’ll likely come down to instinct. Help them evaluate all of the information and empower