by Robin Tidwell

Created on: April 19, 2008   Last Updated: January 24, 2009

Success in college can be measured many different ways: social, athletic, academic and, sometimes, it can simply serve as a thinking arena (albeit an expensive one). Success in college frequently begins in high school, as the type of school one attends can predict a particular outcome. Good study habits in high school lead to good grades, which in turn affects the college to which one will be accepted.

High school is a transition time where kids need to learn many things. Above all, academics should be stressed. If one learns the basics, the three Rs if you will, and one accumulates good study habits and absorbs the fundamentals of responsibility and accountability, one can have a successful high school career. This is the foundation for success in college. All employment and extracurricular activities aside, a basic education is key. If the high school in question does not provide this, one must strive for knowledge on his own; many schools are not up to par in preparing kids for graduation, let alone college.

When choosing a college, many individuals pass up the opportunities available at private universities and colleges. True, most are smaller than state-run institutions, but there are advantages there as well smaller class size, more personal attention, and so forth. The cost difference can be negligible, as private colleges often have more resources regarding financial aid. When my daughter went off to college just a few years ago, the state university tuition was $10,000 and our cost, after financial aid, was $5000; at the private college she attended, the initial cost was $22,000, but after all grants were totaled, we only paid $2000.

Truthfully, college costs have little do with one's accomplishments while enrolled, but much to do with future financial success; if one's loans are astronomical, even what lenders consider a "small" monthly payment can cause hardship. Entry-level positions, for the most part, typically pay much less than a recent college graduate will expect, and one's financial records can affect credit, insurance rates, mortgage approval, and many other things down the road.

Aside from the financial aspects of college attendance, and the entire preparatory experience which actually begins long before admission, there are many questions that an aspiring student must answer:

To live in the dorms, or rent an apartment? Kids are often anxious to "grow up" and play house, but living in the dorms for at least a couple years will ensure one's involvement

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