Finding a Good College Fit

I think I've heard enough about finding a college that is a good fit for our kids. I've been hearing lectures about it and read discussions online about it.

What a good fit means is pretty simple if you just stop and brainstorm. Here are some in random order that get discussed as vital to consider:

* has the major you wish to pursue

* has options for minors you wish to pursue (options if you change your mind)

* academic rigor you can handle

* costs what you can afford

* city vs. countryside

* college sports you want to do

* clubs and other things available that you want to do

* is swanky enough for your kid (dorm size, fitness centers, food in dining hall) -- I use that term   intentionally as it seems that some teens and their parents put that as a high priority. I don't.

* social life - party school (I will withhold my opinions on this category as it could occupy an entire blog post and perhaps should)

Much of this my oldest son and I do not know at this point in time. It is too early for us.

What seems a good fit for my son now when he's in ninth grade may not be a good fit when he is a senior and applying to colleges. So why even think about this now?

What rigor of education he can handle is not known yet. It is no good to get admitted to a college that the freshman flunks out of as it is too rigorous for their abilities. I'm a realist. I want my kids to thrive and do well where they attend college. I don't care about my kids getting into brand name colleges with rigor if they can't handle the work load!

I also am aware that my son's interest in a college major may change. For now he says engineering so I am helping him get there. If he changes his mind that will be fine with me, then he will change his plans accordingly.

I don't even know what our finances will be, with this economy who knows? We're saving all we are able (which sometimes is zilch) and even thinking about the next house we buy in our new state, we are thinking about buying a smaller home so as to have more disposable income to save for college tuition.

For now I am shooting for the stars and will be happy if my kids land on the moon. We're trying to supply academic rigor and have real learning happening here with mastery of content in the most interesting and engaging way as possible given the hoops that must be jumped through. I'd rather have my kids over-prepared for what they wind up doing than be underprepared with closed doors due to poor planning on my part.

And as I have written about at length recently my son is dealing with Lyme Disease induced brain injury and he is receiving medical treatments to help heal it, so he's working only at partial capacity right now.

I think we are in a good place and I don't need to put mental energy to wondering what college is a good fit for my son. He's only in ninth grade, for goodness sake. I'm closing the chapter on thinking about college choices and focusing on parenting and homeschooling both of my kids, that's taking perhaps already too much of my energy.