Are you helping your teenagers think about college? If so, how? What is the biggest determining factor when deciding if and where your teenager should go to college?

My youngest sister just graduated from college and is going to Yale this year. She is a fencer (think swashbuckling swords) and is extremely excited. The entire family played a large role in helping decide where she should go to school. Suffice to say, maybe to large a role. Still, in the end, she had her choice of schools to pick and that seemed, in her eyes, the best choice. Once she made that decision, it was our job to back her up and tell her that she was going to do great. As long as you have the resources to help your kids get into college, I think the most important thing is to be behind their decision 100% and give them the encouragement they need to succeed during that first year (usually the toughtest).

I am not pushing the issue. Not everyone is cut out for college. But the option is there if they want to pursue it. We do encourage good grades and such to help with getting into one if they ever should want to.

I believe it is hard to understand how much can come from college, but one thing is certain; you won't get any of it without attending. I thing the basic degree should get hammered out if at all possible. YOu have a lot more options in life that way.

My parents did not push the issue, but I wish they had for both myself and for my brother. Now, later in life we both see the value of having a college education and the importance of going right from high school. Like ScarletsDad indicated, there is so much beyond the education. It is really a transition into adulthood and exposes you to so many different life experiences. Plus, going as an adult, I have found that I do what needs to get done and really feel that I miss out on the pure education element. Now that I am a mom, I have no idea when I will be able to fit my pursuit of a college degree back into my schedule. In all, I plan to strongly encourage my son but not force him to go – he has to want it to get the benefits.