GOING ON A COLLEGE TRIP? REMEMBER THESE 3 TIPS
KNOW THE NUMBERS
With spring break on the horizon for many students, we have a strong recommendation for the parents of juniors out there: Visit some colleges. Now is the time for your student to get serious about their college education, and using this break to show them what a campus is like can make the search more tangible for them. If you can swing such a trip, here are some tips to keep in mind. NARROW THE SEARCH Many parents and guardians make the mistake of visiting far too many schools. This can overwhelm students and make the college process even more expensive and time-consuming. It’s best to have an idea of the schools your junior is most interested in and has a good chance of being accepted to. Other factors to keep in mind are whether your student wants to go to a rural school or be in the city. Do they care about being at a college with a nationally ranked sports team? What sort of student culture do they feel comfortable in? These can help narrow your search to schools that most interest your junior.
Part of this scouting trip should be to chat with college financial aid officers to get a better idea of what you might expect to pay should your student attend their school. You should ask if their institution has a ceiling on the maximum amount of financial aid a student can qualify for, what percentage of an average student’s financial need is met, and whether the school has a policy of packaging outside scholarships into a financial aid package. If they are vague about these answers, it may be best to consider an alternate school. STEP BACK Conversations with financial aid officers aside, parents and guardians should let their student take the lead on these tours. After all, they might be calling this campus home for the next four years — you want them to ask questions relevant to their interests. These trips are a great opportunity for your junior to really get a feel for college life, and letting them take the reins is a great way to introduce them to the independence and personal responsibility they’ll soon have.
HAVE A LAUGH
PESTO CHICKEN WITH BLISTERED TOMATOES
INGREDIENTS • 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil, divided • 4 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, pounded to a 1-inch thickness • Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted • 6 tbsp spinach pesto • 2 cups cherry tomatoes • 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced • 1 tsp red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup whole-wheat panko • 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese DIRECTIONS 1. In a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil. 2. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and add it to pan. Cook chicken for 5 minutes on each side, then remove pan from heat. 3. In a bowl, combine panko, Parmesan cheese, and butter. 4. Spread pesto over chicken and top with panko mixture. 5. Broil chicken for 2 minutes on high heat until browned. 6. In a skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. 7. Add tomatoes and cook for 6 minutes. 8. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. 9. Season tomato mixture with salt and pepper, and add red wine vinegar. 10. Serve tomatoes with broiled chicken.
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