What We Do

Introduction

Choosing a college has become more and more like buying a house. It has now become the most expensive personal decision that most families will ever make, especially if they plan to send more than one child to college. Like buying a house, the choice of college has emotional and personal choices as well as a long term financial commitment. Choosing the wrong school can be a costly mistake.

It was not always this way. In 1978, when I entered Rutgers, an excellent state school, tuition, fees, room and board cost less than $3,000. I took out a student loan for half the bill. Scholarships, part-time work and my parents help covered the rest. Back then everyone qualified for an interest-subsidized student loan. I graduated with a liberal arts degree and a debt that was equal to less than six months pay at a very low salary.

Today, a year at Rutgers can cost $24,000, more than a quarter to a third of a wages of a upper middle income family, and that’s before considering incidentals such as books, a laptop computer and transportation home. The Federal student loans are means-tested; not all families qualify for interest subsidies. It is not uncommon to graduate from Rutgers with more than $20,000 in debt, and that is often more than a recent graduate would earn after six months at a very good salary.

I don’t make this comparison to disparage Rutgers. In fact, it turned out to be a very good investment. I got a first-rate education in two majors, Political Science and Urban Planning and got into some excellent schools to pursue a master’s degree that I had never dreamed of attending as a college freshman.  I also liked that I could have a car at school to go to work or home when I needed. Most state schools don’t offer than convenience to freshmen or sophomores. And Rutgers, unlike many big state schools, offers plenty of on-campus living options. I lived in a nearly new apartment during my last two years for less than I would have spent to move off campus. In closing, I found my “best fit,” though I didn’t know it until I was halfway through my college education.

Since finishing my first masters degree, I have worked with schools for nearly 20 years, first as an urban economic development professional then later as a senior software marketing executive. I’ve learned how they do business and how they try to help their students succeed. I’m ready to put my knowledge to work for you.

College Research Services: The ‘Seven C’s’ of Choosing a College

There are ‘Seven C’s’ to choosing a college, four to consider before you visit any school:

• Competition: What does it take to get in?
• Completion: How likely are you to graduate?
• Cost: How much can you afford?
• Curriculum: What classes must you take?

Through classes and personal consultations I will help you use the ‘Seven C’s’ to save time in sorting through different educational options to help you find the best fit and help you save money by finding your best values.

Sometimes your best value will be a state school, like Rutgers. Other times it may be a private college or university that has the academics and lifestyle your student wants, while also providing enough financial aid to make it more affordable.

Free Resources

Educated Quest provides resources, including some you are not likely to find on other college sites, to help students and their families make a well-informed college choice.

Our content will include:

• Detailed college profiles from a family-oriented perspective about public colleges and universities.
• White papers about issues of interest in areas such as admissions, college towns, financial aid, housing and tuition and fees.
• Journeys to college documented by high school seniors, college freshmen and sophomores and their parents.
• Links to related resources that you may find invaluable.

Questions about Educated Quest and Your College Search

Is it possible to do the research on my own?

Yes, many students and their families do the work on their own and end up with a successful experience. That’s why we offer classes: to help you profile and assess your educational options. There are many resources on the Internet, mainly free, but they are scattered about and some are more relevant than others. We tell you how to find and use them.

However, some students and their families may appreciate additional assistance and/or opinions about colleges to consider.

Should I speak with my guidance counselor during my search?

Yes. They may be responsible for coordinating your letters of recommendations as well as sending official transcripts to the schools of your choice. They have also worked with students who may have considered the same schools.  Many use a system called Naviance that will tell you where former students have gone to college; that can be insightful as well.  S/he may also have good relationships with admissions officers at the schools you are considering. Our input and resources are meant to help you work with guidance counselors, not compete with them.

Couldn’t the guidance counselor do everything you do?

Maybe, if they have the time and resources to do the research to find the school(s) that might be the best fit as opposed to those that have the strongest brand recognition or the greatest familiarity to them. A high school guidance counselor has many responsibilities beyond the college search. Our intention is not to compete with guidance counselors, but to provide information they can use to help you.

Do you rank schools in your writing and personalized custom research?

Sometimes; but consider a student who will need financial aid. S/he may be presented a list of eight to ten schools, all of which match his/her interests in terms of Comforts, Community and Connections. The schools where a student has a fair chance of gaining admission that have also been historically proven capable of meeting financial need are likely to rank higher in our view than those that do not.

What We Do Not Do

Educated Quest does not contact schools on behalf of students to ascertain their chances for admission. This is a role traditionally filled by high school guidance counselors who have access to the student’s academic and disciplinary records, and have an inside knowledge of how current and former students have fared at different colleges.

Educated Quest does not prepare applications for admission or financial aid on behalf of any student. The application for admission, including essays, is the responsibility of the student. S/he should make every effort to stand out from other applicants, but also to be professional. Spelling and grammatical mistakes, as well as weak commitments to a school and its academic programs, are frequently grounds to be denied admission. While schools have a median range of grades and test scores, those that attract the most applicants want to know what you can offer that others cannot.

Educated Quest does not warrant that students will be accepted or will receive financial aid to attend any school on any student’s short list. This is the responsibility of the student and their family working with the college admissions offices and high school guidance counselors.

Educated Quest does not book campus tours. Students and their families should arrange these directly with the school(s).