Some stress in the college admissions process comes from families confusing a decision they make today with a different decision they’ll make later.
You can decide today to apply to a college you’re not entirely sure about. But you’ll decide later (if you get in) whether or not to actually attend. Separating those two decisions can go a long way towards reconciling parent and student disagreements about suitable college choices.
You can decide today to apply to a college that’s out of your family’s price range. You’ll decide later whether or not you can (or want) to swing the cost once you see your financial aid package.
You can decide today that you will apply for financial aid. You’ll decide later whether or not you will accept student loans that may be offered to you.
Don’t let the finality of tomorrow’s decisions paralyze you from making today’s temporary ones. Unless you apply under a binding early decision program, most decisions about the specific college you will attend, including how you’ll pay for it, are made later. But eliminating a college from your list, or deciding not to apply for financial aid, turns what could have been a temporary choice into a final one.
When in doubt about a decision for today, make the choice that leaves you with options tomorrow.