A noted expert on postsecondary schools presented a series of dos and don’ts to La Jolla parents April 21 on matching their children to the right college at the right cost. Lynn O’Shaughnessy, author of the bestselling “The College Solution: A Guide for Everyone Looking for the Right School at the Right Price,” said there are money-saving steps parents can take before the child applies for college, such as noting the school’s available financial assistance and determining the actual cost of college, which often is weighted by unforeseen fees and premiums.
Scholarships, college versus university and need-based aid are vital considerations in calculating the ultimate cost of a degree, O’Shaughnessy said, adding that parents should never assume there are only a handful of suitable schools to complete a given major. O’Shaughnessy, who also writes a blog called “The College Solution” and put her own two children through college, encouraged parents to stay acquainted with pricing plans at potential schools, as pricing packages change every few years.
The talk, at La Jolla High School, was attended by about 150 parents.