As the parent of an upcoming senior, I have a lot of questions regarding sending my daughter to college. While it is still about a year away, the planning has to start now or opportunities will be missed.

Going on campus tours, evaluating majors, filling out admission applications, and searching for scholarships is top priority. These are decisions that must be taken seriously and with caution, especially with the changing dynamics of the college environment because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The other elephant in the room is the massive student loan debt crisis we are facing in the United States. According to Forbes, there are around 45 million borrowers with a massive $1.6 trillion dollar student loan debt. U.S. Student loan debt is now the second highest consumer debt category - behind only mortgage debt - and higher than both credit cards and auto loans. Student loans are very easy to qualify for and the effect on the parents or students financial future is not always understood.

As parents or guardians, how are we supposed to navigate all of these fears and decisions? Knowing when and if a student loan should be taken or if one college vs. another is the right choice.