# Map out a college search plan with my teen

A shared college-search timeline that splits tasks between teen and parent, sets cost limits early, and keeps the process low-stress.

- Topic: Learning & Teaching
- Framework: RTF
- Level: Standard
- Tags: Finance, Research, Plan, Fill-in Template
- Source: https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/prompts/map-out-a-college-search-plan-with-my-teen

## Prompt

```text
Help me and my teen plan the college search together.

**Teen's grade and graduation year:** [DETAILS]
**Interests, strengths, and possible fields:** [DETAILS]
**Academic picture:** [grades, course rigor, test plans, if known]
**What matters to them:** [size, distance, programs, campus life]
**Family budget and expectations:** [what we can contribute; open to loans?]
**Location/country:** [DETAILS]
**Other paths on the table:** [community college, gap year, trade school, work]

Give me:
1. A month-by-month timeline from now through decision day, split into: what my teen owns and how I support.
2. A list of questions to research for each college, including net price and aid, not just sticker price.
3. A comparison table template: School | Fit (academic, social) | Net cost after aid | Admission likelihood | Notes.
4. A family money conversation to have early: what we can pay, what we expect from my teen (savings, work, loans), and which schools are off the table on cost, before anyone falls in love with one.
5. Financial-aid steps to look into, kept general and marked [CONFIRM DEADLINES] since dates and forms change each year.
6. How to talk about it without taking over: conversation starters, how to handle disagreement, and protecting my teen's wellbeing during stressful months.

Do not invent admission rates, costs, or deadlines; mark them [CHECK OFFICIAL SOURCE]. For aid and loan decisions, suggest confirming with the school's financial aid office.
```

## What to fill in

- DETAILS
- grades, course rigor, test plans, if known
- size, distance, programs, campus life
- what we can contribute; open to loans?
- community college, gap year, trade school, work
- CONFIRM DEADLINES
- CHECK OFFICIAL SOURCE

Free to copy and use. From ThinkWithPrompt (https://www.thinkwithprompt.com/), a library of 2,663 curated AI prompts.