This category is usually more important to the parents than the students, however I do encourage my parents to be open with their student regarding the financial aspect of college. So often in the high school I saw students committing to schools without talking to their parents only to find out in April that their parents couldn’t (or wouldn’t) pay for college. These students oftentimes had to turn to private loans (if they could qualify) or abandon their dream of attending that school and having to settle for a community college. I work with my families to understand the Cost of Attendance of schools they are considering and their Expected Family Contribution. I educate my families on HOPE/Zell Miller, Academic Common Market, how to find schools with the best merit aid, and schools that meet full financial need. We consider things like the graduation rate, job placement rate for the student’s intended major, and the average starting salary in the field. If loans are necessary, we discuss the different options, and I explain the various repayment options the student will have. I believe that college is a great investment, but also one that should not be taken lightly in terms of cost.