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AMS Parent Survey

How did AMS get to be "The Solution of Choice?"

Asking Parent What They Think.
Giving Families What They Need.


When planning and paying for college, family opinions and priorities matter tremendously. AMS wants to know what our families think and need, so we ask. Each year, the AMS Parent Survey formally interviews families of college–bound freshmen about their views on the financial aid process.

What we've learned over the years has shaped AMS into "the Solution of Choice" for our students and families. Our latest 2006 survey was conducted by phone interviews with 400 parents of incoming freshmen.


A snapshot of what parents told us:
Survey says…

Location is the #1 priority for choosing a school (32.2%) across all income ranges when rating the following 4 factors:

  • Cost
  • Location
  • School's Admission Ranking
  • Scholarship Availablity

Yet, private–college parents at all income levels rank scholarship availabilty the highest (29.8%), followed by location (14.3%)


How to pay for college:

 

  • 93% of respondents are aware of the Federal Application for Federal Aid (FAFSA)
  • 83% have completed the FAFSA
  • 70% of respondent families were awarded some form of financial aid
  • 71% agreed that their student will have a job during the scool year (e.g. work study or off–campus job).
  • Although respondents rated the lender list as least important when choosing a lender, one–third of those taking a loan selected a school–recommended lender.


Information about paying for college:

 

  • Of 4 elements of financial aid information, respondents rates the following as "Most Important":


Honest assessment of cost over 4 years 39.2%
Basic information about loans and payments plans 33.0%
Benefits description of available loan options 14.2%
List of schools preferred lenders 4.0%

Responsibility and communication about paying for college

 

  • 52% of families did not begin discussing college costs until the student was in high school, and 17% initiated discussion the summer before college.
  • 71% consider paying for college a shared responsibility by students and parents


Opinion about the value of college

 

  • 55% of respondents perceive college to be "unaffordable", but ..
  • 84% agreed that a college education is necessary and worth thr cost because of the opportunity to get a better job and make more money.


The next annual AMS Parent Survey (for academic year 2007-2008) will be conducted in fall 2007, with results to be published in early 2008.

Source: The 2006–2007 AMS Parent Survey: Expectations and Perceptions of Financial Aid by Parents of Incoming Freshman.