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Early College Planning
Planning financially.
How early is early? Before they're born is about right!... meaning how are you going to save for your child's education? It's tougher and tougher to keep in step with the costs of college and you, as parents, have the first obligation to provide as much as you can toward paying for college. There are tax-deferred, secure investment savings programs like North Dakota's College SAVE 529 Plan geared at helping you meet the costs of college that you need to check out! To find out the estimated costs of attendance for colleges in North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana and Wyoming, click here.
Selecting a college.
The reasons for selecting a particular school are as varied as the schools themselves. Possibly you are an alumnus, costs of attendance, scholarships available, great faculty, the courses fit your major, the average graduate obtains their degree in four years, or it's the "feel" of the campus. It's simply a matter of choice...easier said than done! Today's academia is brimming with choices:
- Two or four-year
- Private
- Public
- Men's or women's college
- Vocational
- Community
- Large or small campus
- Small town or large city
- And the newest-online courses!
So, where to begin...the ABC's!
- Schedule a meeting with your son or daughter's high school counselor. They are an invaluable source of information on planning for college.
- Visit your library and go out to the many college web sites that invite you on campus. You can request catalogs and other literature, plus viewing many campus scenarios without leaving your home. For a listing of colleges in North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, and Wyoming, click here.
- Contact College Information Service (CIS) with Student Loans of North Dakota/Bank of North Dakota for a handy junior
and senior year planning calendar. CIS has a variety of free pre-planning
for college information available to parents and students. You can reach
CIS at 1-800-554-2717.
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