Planning ahead can lower college application stress

Special to Village News

For most families, the college application process is a major source of anxiety. But it doesn’t have to be extra stressful if a family takes enough time to address the many questions and issues related to college applications.

A starting point for most families should be the financial issues. A college education is an expensive investment. Parents and their student need to talk realistically about how that education will be paid for and what schools are affordable.

Are scholarships a possibility? How about work-study programs or an off-campus job? Will there have to be...