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The college application process can be an exciting and stressful time for both students and parents. For your child, it may be one of the first times they have had to take action and make decisions that could have a lasting impact on their life.

As a result, you want to help guide your child and keep them accountable, but don’t want to push them too hard or do the work for them. For help on how to prepare your kids for college, here is a parent’s guide to college planning so you can support your child during the college application process without making the process even more stressful than it already is.

A Parent’s Guide to College Planning

It can be hard to know how much is too much, but things can also go south if you’re not involved at all. Here are some things to consider when preparing kids for college.

Avoid Taking Over the Process

It can be tempting to do what you’ve likely done countless times in your child’s life: step in and solve the problem for them. While there are certainly times in their life when that’s a good thing, it’s important to allow your child to take the helm.

On the flip side, you don’t necessarily want to be completely hands-off. You know your child, possibly better than they know themselves. If they’re prone to procrastination or might have a hard time talking about their strengths in an essay, you may want to take the opportunity to give them some guidance and gentle reminders.


💡 Quick Tip: You can fund your education with a low-rate, no-fee private student loan that covers all school-certified costs.

Listen to Your Child

While the ultimate goal is to get all their applications in on time, it’s important to remember that the process can be overwhelming. Your child is making some big decisions about their future and may need someone with whom they can talk things through.

It’s a good idea to take the time to listen to your child and be empathetic about their stress, fear, and anxiety. If possible, share your own experience and show that they can depend on you for ongoing support.

Know the Deadlines

Applying for college is serious business, and it’s unlikely colleges are going to accept late entries. While it’s important for your child to know when their applications are due, it’s also a good idea for you to have them on your calendar.

That way, you can follow up as the deadlines get closer just in case your child forgot. That said, you’ll want to be careful to avoid nagging or bringing it up too often.

Avoid Focusing on Just One School

Parents want the best for their children, and that may include wanting them to attend a specific school. Maybe you like the idea of having your child attend your alma mater, or you have your sights set on an Ivy League school.

It may not hurt to make a suggestion about which schools your child should consider. But having your child put all their eggs in one basket can make it difficult if they don’t get accepted or they want more options later on.

Visit Campuses

If your child’s top schools are close by, you may want to take a day off of work to visit each campus and meet with an admissions counselor. Being there and taking it in may help your child make the right decision about which school is the best fit.

If a college is far away, consider making a vacation out of it. Before you go, check with the colleges to see if they offer campus tours or college fairs where your student can get a better idea of the full experience.

Encourage Them to Work With a School Counselor

If your child has a designated counselor at school, encourage them to meet with their counselor and talk about the process. While you can give good advice, the counselor may be more in touch with which school might be a good fit based on what your child wants to study.

They may also be able to give your child a better idea of what college admissions officers are looking for in an application, which can give your child an advantage.

Recommended: College Planning Guide for High School Students

Let Your Child Do the Talking

It can be tempting to try to set up an appointment or communicate with prospective colleges on your child’s behalf. But by encouraging your child to do those things instead, you allow them to show initiative and independence, two traits that can give them a leg up on other candidates.

It will also give your child good practice, because they’ll likely need to do a lot more on their own in the coming years, and may not have you nearby to help.

Talk About Finances

In addition to providing support during the application process, knowing how to prepare your kids for college costs is essential. If you’ve been saving for your child’s college education, talk with them about how far it will go and what they can use the money for.

You may also want to talk to them about the different types of student loans, both federal and private, and how to make good decisions about borrowing for education and living expenses.

Encourage them to apply for scholarships and/or grants first, and to work during school to help reduce how much they may need to borrow.


💡 Quick Tip: Parents and sponsors with strong credit and income may find much lower rates on no-fee private parent student loans than federal parent PLUS loans. Federal PLUS loans also come with an origination fee.

Putting Your Child’s Needs First

Preparing kids for college is no easy task, especially if you feel like they’re dragging their feet. As you try to find the best way to support your child, take a step back and think about their needs versus your desires, and try to focus your encouragement based on their needs.

Doing this may require some patience, but it can help turn the process into a bonding experience rather than an alienating one.

It’s also important to have the money conversation. Teaching your child about the cost of college, as well as discussing options to finance their education, can help set them up for success for years to come.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

About the author

Julia Califano

Julia Califano is an award-winning journalist who covers banking, small business, personal loans, student loans, and other money issues for SoFi. She has over 20 years of experience writing about personal finance and lifestyle topics. Read full bio.

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College visits can be an important part of the school selection process, as parents and high schoolers tour campuses of interest. These visits provide a glimpse of the campus grounds, dorms, classrooms, and more, which can be vital info when deciding whether a school is a good fit or not. Also, the tours are typically led by current students who have insights about what life at the college is like.

But what exactly should you, as a parent, look for? What questions should you ask? The checklist that follows can help you get the most out of the experience.

How to Visit Colleges on Your Lists

Sometimes, students visit college campuses to decide whether or not to apply there. In other cases, they already believe that a particular college is a perfect match for their major and they want to investigate further.

Schedule Visits Strategically

Perhaps your child has applied to — or is interested in applying to — eight colleges. At a basic level, you’ll want to make sure you have enough time to visit a good number of them. How far they are located from your home and from each other will help to dictate how much time these visits will take. As part of this scheduling, you might ask yourself these questions:

•   Which of these campuses are most important to visit? Prioritize appropriately.

•   Which of these colleges are located near (or relatively close to) one another?

•   Do I want to have an informal visit, or do I want to be part of an official open house? If the latter, check as early as possible to see when these events are being held. Are there scheduling conflicts?

•   How much time will each visit take?

•   How can I space out these visits so we can be efficient without rushing through them?

•   What is most important to see and do during each visit?

Pro tip: Once you know that you’ll be visiting a college, you can review its website and social media pages to gather intelligence ahead of time and gain key context.

When Do Virtual College Visits Make Sense?

Perhaps, as just one example, there is a college that is more challenging to visit than others on your list. Maybe it’s a significant distance from your home, or perhaps you have scheduling conflicts or financial pressure that means an in-person visit isn’t looking realistic. In that case, consider going on a virtual tour.

By doing so, you may discover that this college isn’t as appealing as you’d originally thought (which might cause it to drop on your priority list) or it may make you realize that, yes, you need to make a physical tour happen.

One option is to check the college admissions website. You may be surprised to see how many have interactive video tours available.

As a related resource, YouTube has plenty of videos if you search for such terms as “college tours,” “college tour TV,” and other similar words.

Another idea for gaining information without setting foot on campus: You can use the Rate My Professors tool, too, to find information about who teaches at a particular school, noting that ratings are subjective and can be used, as just one example, by students who aren’t happy with grades received.


💡 Quick Tip: Parents and sponsors with strong credit and income may find much lower rates on no-fee private parent student loans than federal parent PLUS loans. Federal PLUS loans also come with an origination fee.

What to Bring to a College Visit

During college visits, you’ll likely be flooded with information and visual impressions, plus with thoughts, ideas, conversations, and more. So, it makes sense to bring something to help you capture all of this information to review later, as needed.

In this quest, your smartphone can be a real asset. You can use it to take pictures of intriguing places on campus or to remind you to ask questions about it. Take videos in the same way and/or record explanations given by college officials.

And, wonderful as technological devices are, don’t forget to bring old-fashioned pen and paper. You might also want to bring along a college visit planner, one where you can list crucial dates and deadlines.

Depending upon how long you’ll stay, make sure you bring enough comfortable, weather-appropriate clothing — and, perhaps most important of all, comfy shoes! You may be doing a whole lot of walking.

Also consider if you will need an umbrella. Or a warmer coat than what you would wear at home. Do you need gloves? Or will it be sunny and warm, requiring sunglasses and sunscreen? You’ll want to have these things on hand to make the visit as comfortable as possible. After all, you’re there to give your full attention to the tour, not your cold hands or soaked shoes.

Pro tip: Depending on your relationship with your child, you may want to take separate tours. You kid can go on one tour group and absorb information without your commentary swaying their opinion or without being embarrassed if you ask a lot of questions. Then you can compare notes after you’ve each seen the campus.

Key Questions to Ask

At some point during the tour, you’ll almost certainly be shown student housing options. Now is the time to ask about the range of dorm choices, how many students live on campus, what percentage of students live on campus versus off-campus, what apartment options exist for, say, juniors and seniors — and any other questions you or your child have about housing.

Other questions to consider:

•   How safe is this campus and the surrounding area?

•   What kind of security do you have?

•   What activities are available for students?

•   Who is allowed to have a car?

•   Where can they park?

•   What transportation options are available for students without a car?

What other questions to ask on a college tour? You can also ask about academics, ranging from sizes of classes, the use of teaching assistants, how much homework is assigned and how much time it typically takes to complete assignments, and more. How easy is it for students to get the classes they need? Is there an honors program? What kind of tutoring services are available?

You might also be curious about the following:

•   What college internship opportunities are available? How easy are they to obtain?

•   How many students study abroad? What opportunities are available?

•   What career services do you offer?

Recommended: What Can You Use Student Loans For?

Financial Issues to Explore

Of course, paying for college is often a key concern. This is an ideal time to get information about typical financial aid packages offered at each college. You might ask some questions of your tour guide or attend a financial aid session to inquire about:

•   What financial aid package can a typical freshman expect to receive at the college?

•   What mix of scholarships, grants, and loans can be expected, on average?

•   What work-study opportunities exist and how easy is it for a student to qualify?

•   If there is scholarship money set aside at a college for students, what are its parameters? Some, for example, may be set aside for female students or minority students.

•   What aid is available after freshman year?

•   Are enough classes offered at flexible times to help students graduate in under four years (and therefore potentially save significant sums of money)?

•   If your child doesn’t qualify for federal work-study, what other jobs are typically available on campus? Off-campus?

💡 Quick Tip: Parents and sponsors with strong credit and income may find much lower rates on no-fee private parent student loans than federal parent PLUS loans. Federal PLUS loans also come with an origination fee.

Financing College

It isn’t unusual for students to need to borrow money to pay for their education. Scholarships and grants are available to help qualified students reduce college expenses and, sometimes, parents may help their children out financially.

Students can get jobs while in college and use their savings to help pay expenses, of course. But if that isn’t enough, many students typically end up borrowing money, with the two main sources being federal student loans (from the government) and private student loans (from private lenders).

To qualify for federal funding, you and your child must fill out the FAFSA®. It can be wise to explore all federal aid options before turning to private student loans.

Recommended: Guide to Parent Student Loans

Parent Student Loans With SoFi

If private loans seem to be a potential path for you, see what SoFi offers. Parents should consider their own financial situation and needs (like retirement) as they consider such options as borrowing a parent student loan.

If you’ve exhausted all federal student aid options, no-fee private student loans from SoFi can help you pay for school. The online application process is easy, and you can see rates and terms in just minutes. Repayment plans are flexible, so you can find an option that works for your financial plan and budget.

About the author

Julia Califano

Julia Califano is an award-winning journalist who covers banking, small business, personal loans, student loans, and other money issues for SoFi. She has over 20 years of experience writing about personal finance and lifestyle topics. Read full bio.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Terms and conditions apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. SoFi Private Student loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, such as completion of a loan application and self-certification form, verification of application information, the student's at least half-time enrollment in a degree program at a SoFi-participating school, and, if applicable, a co-signer. In addition, borrowers must be U.S. citizens or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or American Samoa, and must meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements, including verification of sufficient income to support your ability to repay. Minimum loan amount is $1,000. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change. This information is current as of 4/22/2025 and is subject to change. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

Checking Your Rates: To check the rates and terms you may qualify for, SoFi conducts a soft credit pull that will not affect your credit score. However, if you choose a product and continue your application, we will request your full credit report from one or more consumer reporting agencies, which is considered a hard credit pull and may affect your credit.

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Non affiliation: SoFi isn’t affiliated with any of the companies highlighted in this article.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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There is no one right path to take in life and that includes how someone decides to pursue an education after high school. Attending a four year university isn’t necessarily the best option for some and they may want to consider other options that can help them prepare for a fruitful career.

Let’s examine how trade school vs community college works for prospective students considering those options.

What Is Community College?

Community colleges serve their local community by offering affordable higher education options that can either lead to transferring to a four year university, obtaining an Associate of Arts (AA) or Associate of Science (AS) degree, learning a trade, or finding personal fulfillment by taking a class or two for fun.

Students may also choose to attend community college before transferring to a university to pursue a Bachelor of Science (BS) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree because doing so can save them a lot of money on tuition by transferring course credits from their community college to a university.

How It Works

Students who attend community college can choose from a wide variety of classes to take. Some may focus on academic courses so they can earn lower division credits that can transfer to a four year university. Others may decide to pursue technical certificates that prepare them for specific career paths. Or a student can take a mix of both styles of classes. One major benefit of community college is that the classes are affordable, so students can test out different areas of interest.

What You Learn and How You Learn It

What a student learns and how they learn it at a community college depends on the types of classes they choose to take. For example, a student pursuing lower division credits that transfer to a university may take a math or English class in a traditional classroom setting that involves lectures, homework, and exams. A student pursuing a career as an auto mechanic would instead take classes that combine lectures and homework with hands-on learning opportunities in an auto mechanic workshop setting.

What Is Trade School?

Trade schools are a type of school that students can attend if they are interested in focused training programs that can prepare them for a specific skilled trade or industry. Students work towards developing technical abilities such as operating, building, fixing, and maintaining mechanical systems.

Some examples of careers that can follow trade school include:

•   Welder

•   Construction worker

•   Auto mechanic

•   HVAC technician

•   Blacksmith

•   Electrician

It’s worth noting that some community colleges offer training in similar subjects to trade schools.

How It Works

Some trade schools focus on a specific training program, such as plumbing, whereas other trade schools may offer multiple training programs like HVAC and welding training. Even if a trade school offers multiple areas of study, they generally don’t overlap and each program has its own curriculum and teachers.

What You Learn and How You Learn It

At trade schools, students learn specialized trade skills that prepare them for mechanical careers, such as working as a construction worker or blacksmith. This type of education requires attending lectures and studying course materials, but also more hands-on demonstrations and training.

Trade School vs Community College

To better understand how a trade school vs. community college works, it helps to understand the similarities and differences of these two options.

Similarities

When it comes to trade schools vs. community colleges, these are some of the similarities these two types of schools can have.

•   Learning environment. Because community colleges offer similar courses to trade schools, both take a hybrid approach when it comes to trade subjects like HVAC repair. Students tend to learn these skills in both a classroom and workshop setting.

•   Timeframe. While some community college degrees can take as long as two years to earn (such as with an AA), the technical training programs at a community college are still more in line with how long it takes to graduate from a trade or technical school (usually a year) whereas a university takes four years to complete.

Differences

Of course, there are also some community college vs. trade school differences worth being aware of.

•   Course options. Even though community colleges do offer trade courses, they also offer academic courses — with instruction taking place entirely in a classroom — with the aim of helping students transfer to a four year university.

•   Cost. Usually, trade schools cost more to attend than a community college. Though, this may vary based on factors like the type and length of the program.

Pros and Cons of Trade School

Now let’s examine the pros and cons of attending trade school.

Pros and Cons of Community College

Before attending community college, some students may want to consider the benefits and disadvantages of doing so.

Choosing for Yourself

After comparing the trade school vs community college pros and cons, prospective students can make a decision about which path forward seems like the best fit for them based on their personal and professional goals, financial situation, and lifestyle. Thinking about what career they want to pursue and which education option can prepare them for that career is a great place to start.

The Takeaway

Again — there is no one right education path to pursue. While some may be set on earning a Bachelor’s degree and may find that community college is a great stepping stone for them, others may feel that a trade school can adequately prepare them for the career of their choice. In some cases, community college can prepare a student to further their academic career or to work in a trade, but trade schools also offer specialized training programs that some prospective students may find appealing.

Community college students may be able to qualify for federal student aid to help them pay for their education. Students who face funding gaps, might consider private student loans. Though, keep in mind these loans don’t offer the same protections as federal student loans.

If private student loans seem like a fit for your financial situation, consider SoFi. While SoFi’s private student loans aren’t available to community college students, they could be an option for those transferring to a four year program.

3 Student Loan Tips

1.    Can’t cover your school bills? If you’ve exhausted all federal aid options, private student loans can fill gaps in need, up to the school’s cost of attendance, which includes tuition, books, housing, meals, transportation, and personal expenses.

2.    Even if you don’t think you qualify for financial aid, you should fill out the FAFSA® form. Many schools require it for merit-based scholarships, too. You can submit it as early as Oct. 1.

3.    Would-be borrowers will want to understand the different types of student loans peppering the landscape: private student loans, federal Direct subsidized and unsubsidized loans, Direct PLUS loans, and more.

Private student loans from SoFi loans have zero-fees and qualifying borrowers can secure competitive interest rates.

FAQ

Do community college or trade school graduates make more?

Because community college and trade schools both offer degrees and certificates that lead to mechanical jobs, graduates of both types of schools stand to earn the same income. Some students who pursue a higher education after community college, such as a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate degree can have increased earning potential.

Which trades that you learn at trade school pay the best?

There are many trades that pay well, but a few of the best paying trade jobs include working as a transportation, storage and distribution manager (median annual salary of $98,230), an elevator/escalator installer and repairer (median annual salary of $97,860), and a nuclear power reactor operator (median annual salary of $94,970).

Is trade school or community college cheaper?

When it comes to the cost of community college vs trade school, generally community college costs less to attend on an annual basis ($3,800 per year for tuition and fees) than trade school ($5,000 to $15,000 for three to 18 months), but students may need to attend community college longer than trade school, which can make the costs rise.

About the author

Jacqueline DeMarco

Jacqueline DeMarco is a freelance writer who specializes in financial topics. Her first job out of college was in the financial industry, and it was there she gained a passion for helping others understand tricky financial topics. Read full bio.

SoFi Loan Products
SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS #696891 (Member FDIC). For additional product-specific legal and licensing information, see SoFi.com/legal. Equal Housing Lender.

Terms and conditions apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. SoFi Private Student loans are subject to program terms and restrictions, such as completion of a loan application and self-certification form, verification of application information, the student's at least half-time enrollment in a degree program at a SoFi-participating school, and, if applicable, a co-signer. In addition, borrowers must be U.S. citizens or other eligible status, be residing in the U.S., Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or American Samoa, and must meet SoFi’s underwriting requirements, including verification of sufficient income to support your ability to repay. Minimum loan amount is $1,000. See SoFi.com/eligibility for more information. Lowest rates reserved for the most creditworthy borrowers. SoFi reserves the right to modify eligibility criteria at any time. This information is subject to change. This information is current as of 4/22/2025 and is subject to change. SoFi Private Student loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. NMLS #696891 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org).

Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.

Third-Party Brand Mentions: No brands, products, or companies mentioned are affiliated with SoFi, nor do they endorse or sponsor this article. Third-party trademarks referenced herein are property of their respective owners.

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