Where does the time go? As a parent, you probably remember vividly when your son or daughter said their first word or took their first steps. Suddenly, you blinked and now that son or daughter has been applying to colleges. Now it’s time for that all important decision, one that’s even more important than the average person realizes. Which college or university will your child attend?
I say that it is more important than most people realize because the college your child chooses will dramatically shape their future. And there are differences between colleges. Significant differences in fact. A lot of people base this decision totally on cost. In principle, this is certainly not a bad idea, but cheaper doesn’t always mean better … and in most cases, it is not. Your child will get an education wherever they go, but is there any value added to that education? Does it prepare them for reality?
Many people are also leery of taking out a loan to help pay for college. I am certain that you would not want your child to have little or no job prospects after college. That’s why taking out a loan may be in their best interests. To get a house someday, they will have to take out a mortgage. To qualify for a mortgage, they will need a job. To get the right job, the proper education (or, in our case, experiential education) is necessary. College is not only a financial commitment but an investment in the future – your child’s future.
Over the past few years, the demand for an education at the University of New Haven has risen dramatically. By the end of the spring, we will have received about 10,000 applications for the fall semester. We have only accepted about 45% of those applicants so far – this number will continue to decrease as many of our programs are already filling up with accepted students.
So what now? If your son or daughter has definitely decided that they will attend UNH, then you must submit an enrollment commitment fee. To ensure that your student keeps their Early Action I acceptance benefits, the deposit should be paid no later than January 31. The required deposit is $200 for a commuter student and $400 for a resident student. The deposit is refundable up until May 1. In keeping with our theme of students first, UNH does offer several options for incoming students. Students wishing to combine their classroom and residential life experiences can apply for one of our Living Learning Communities (LLCs). In these LLCs, students live in a section of one of our residence halls with other students in their area of academic study. For more information, please visit www.newhaven.edu/livinglearning .
For those students wishing to live in a guaranteed double room for the fall, we offer this as an option. It is limited to the first 300 students who pay a $1,000 non-refundable deposit ($400 is the regular residential student deposit). The additional $600, due by May 1, on top of the regular housing deposit is not in addition to your tuition bill – it is applied towards the tuition bill. It is just higher to ensure that a student is actually planning to attend UNH – due mainly to limited capacity and the high demand for housing.
Finally, attend one of our Early Registration Days. This will allow new freshmen to register in March, April, May or June for their classes. This is a one day program and runs from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Freshmen will also attend a 2 day summer orientation program with an optional parent program. Students can choose to attend the program in either June or July. Transfer students must attend one of our Transfer Transition and Registration Days. Make sure that your deposit is paid before you register for an Early Registration Day or a Transfer Transition and Registration Day.
It’s such a great time to be attending the University of New Haven! We continue to expand and improve our academic offerings, our facilities, and our student programming. It all adds up to a value that is unrivaled. We hope to welcome your son or daughter to the UNH family soon!
