It’s never to early.

I found a great web site on helping parents prepare their junior high school children for college. The site gives a very generalized view of preparing for college.  Getting ready for college early gives information on why going to college is important, how to prepare and how to pay for college.

Another web site run by the government gives good information for high school students, their parents and teachers.  Go check it out.

Liberal Arts College Ranking: Top 10 (U.S News)

These liberal arts college are schools which emphasize undergraduate education and award least half of their degrees in the liberal arts field of study.

1. Amherst College: Amherst, MA.  Tuition: 37,640.  2007 enrollment: 1,685

2. Williams College: Williamstown, MA.  Tuition: 37,640. 2007 enrollment: 2,046

3. Swarthmore College: Swarthmore, PA. Tuition: 36,490  2007 enrollment: 1,491

4. Wellesley College: Wellesley, MA.  Tuition: 36,640.  2007 enrollment: 2,380

5. Middlebury College: Middlebury, VT.  Tuition: 49,210  2007 enrollment: 2,500

6. Bowdoin College: Brunswick, ME.  Tuition: 38,190  2007 enrollment: 1,716

6. Pomona College: Claremont, CA.  Tuition: 35,625  2007 enrollment: 1,547

8. Carleton College: Northfield, MN.  Tuition: 38,046  2007 enrollment: 2,005

9. Davidson College: Davidson, NC.  Tuition: 33,479  2007 enrollment: 1,674

10 Haverford College: Haverford, PA  Tuition: 37,525  2007 enrollment: 1,169

College Ranking and Selection

Well, Harvard is on top of the list.  Then come Princeton, Yale and so on.   Does it really matter how US News people rank the colleges in the US?  They do give us some objective data, the usual scores, acceptance rates and so on.  Rankings based on numbers alone can be misleading, in selecting the right college for your children, or yourself.  Studying at a top ranked schools can be challenging and rewarding.  Should you try to get into one the top ranked schools?

“Dropping the H-Bomb” is what the Harvard students call it when they let people know that they attend Harvard, and it sounds so cool.  Tons of people would do anything to be able to say it.  Am I trying to put my children into Harvard or Princeton?  Not really.  I want my children to attend a competitive school where they will get good education and have to work for it.  I want them to learn that hard work in school pays off with good grades and apply that later when they join the work force.  I want them to have the opportunities to really test their abilities and still do well. 

“A stretched mind never goes back to its original size.”  As my older son studies in high school, I want him to be prepared to do well in any college he goes.  I try to teach him how to study, how to manage his time, how to prepare for tests and etc.  I want him to make the best of his opportunities and his talents.  College should be the time to have fun, meet different people and also prepare for the future.  I want him to be ready for the right college that he chooses.  Where will he end up?  Harvard? Yale? UCLA? or???  I will let you know in about 3 years; so, keep reading!

Please, feel free to leave your comment.

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