Hoverings

Far too many families treat the college application and acceptance process for their first child in the same way they approached impending childbirth for that child. So much attention is focused on the “getting in” process that scant bandwidth is left over for the family to concentrate on a successful college transition.  This is analogous to the manner in which many couples focus so much on the birthing of their child that they pay too little notice to what to do to operate as a successful family once they return home from the hospital.

Major news organizations are reporting the 32% increase in college costs approved by regents for the university system in California as a “fee” increase, when it is really a “tuition” increase.  At colleges and universities across the country, “tuition” is the word used to describe what one generally pays for the privilege of taking classes, while “fees” are the add-on charges for the health center, student activities and other non-academic items.  For some reason, in California, the regents tag what is generally understood as “tuition” with the more innocuous &nbsp

In this week’s column, I will raise with you a very basic issue that is of concern to each and every current or future college parent – the physical and mental health of your son or daughter.

While I am certainly not a health-care professional myself (college-level chemistry did me in on that score), we at College Parents of America are dedicated to finding and providing to you the very best medical information as it relates to preparing your teen for the college years.

The National Commission on the Cost of Higher Education reports that the cost of higher education has risen dramatically. Between 1987 and 1996, the cost of attending public institutions rose by 132 percent, and the cost for private institutions increased by 99 percent both during a period of relatively low inflation with a modest 52 percent increase in family disposable income.