Economy impacts quality




 

 


With the state budget crisis having a major impact on the University of California and California State University, more families are considering out-of-state schools.

But public institutions in many states are under financial pressure as budgets are cut at the same time that more in-state students are applying to relatively low-priced public colleges.

Private colleges have also lost money as endowments have shrunk over the past year. Some private colleges could be in serious trouble if they don’t have enough students paying tuition.

So in addition to worrying about whether you have enough money to send your child to college, you have to wonder if the school will have enough money to provide a quality education.

One positive development is that many private colleges are keeping tuition increases to a minimum this year and offering more financial aid, both need- and merit-based, in order to remain viable alternatives to public schools.

Private colleges may look more appealing, especially if budget cuts at public schools make it difficult for students to get the classes they need to graduate in four years.

All of this means that whether you are considering public or private colleges, instate or outofstate schools, it is more important than ever to do your research. While some public universities, particularly those that limit outof-state enrollment, may now be out of reach, others could be more accessible.

Some excellent public schools are eager for more out-of-state students, whose higher tuition payments are increasingly important as these colleges can no longer count on state funding to maintain educational quality.

Students may also find they have more options at private colleges than in recent years. While the Ivies and some other elite schools received more applications this year and are likely to remain extremely competitive, a number of selective colleges saw decreases in applications, and as more families feel the impact of the economic downturn, applications could decline even more next year.

That doesn’t mean it will be easy to get into these schools. Amherst, Williams and Rice received enrollment deposits from a higher percentage of admitted students this year.

It may be that in a time when employment prospects are uncertain, families are willing to sacrifice to send their children to highly selective colleges in the hope that a diploma from an elite school will secure their future.

The state of the economy may impact admission prospects, but it’s even more important to know how financial pressures could affect the quality of the educational experience at a college.

If a school is increasing the size of the freshman class because it needs more tuition revenue, students could find larger classes and crowded triple dorm rooms. More classes might be taught by graduate students rather than full professors. Some classes and even whole departments could be eliminated.

If you are excited about a school’s linguistics major or the opportunity to receive a stipend for doing summer research on campus, you want to know that those programs will be there when you arrive.

Colleges could also make cuts in athletic programs, academic advising or health services.

On college visits, you can see if the buildings and grounds are well-maintained. Ask admissions officers how the economy is impacting the school.

Talking to students is always a great way to learn what’s really happening on campus. They can tell you if they have trouble getting into classes, if the library has started closing earlier and if it takes four weeks to get an appointment with a career adviser.

As always, the more information you have, the better prepared you are to make decisions about college.

Audrey Kahane, MS, MFA, is a private college admissions counselor in West Hills. She can be reached at (818) 704-7545 or audrey@audreykahane.com.

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