Thankfully, the Internet provides parents a new channel for narrowing down the choices. The site also runs stories on finding study-abroad programs and offers discussion forums where you can post questions. You can take virtual tours of colleges, check out financial aid and even apply online. Many campuses offer online tours. At the very least, you can learn about entry requirements, tuition costs and other details.
Some colleges even offer online courses, which are generally cheaper than regular classroom courses.
These may be particularly good for some basic requirements like English 101. Another cool trend is that more colleges will actually let students apply for admission online. The Internet can also help you navigate through the financial aid jungle. It walks you and your child through the types of aid as well as explains the ins and outs of applying for financial aid. It also has calculators to help your family figure out how much money it will need.