Savings Race 5: Dabneys tour CSU

WILBERFORCE, Ohio (WDTN) - When the time comes to choose a college, for most parents, it's all about the bottom line.

They want to know how much it will cost and what their student will get in return.

It doesn't matter which school or major, one of the first stops on a college tour are the offices of admissions and financial aid.

"I think it's always important to look into every option that you may have," said Nichole Dabney, Brandon's mother.

The Dabneys are touring Central State University, but before they put on the Marauders maroon and gold, they have to make sure CSU is something they can afford.

"When I look at schools, I look at the money that you have to put into it and what scholarships they have to offer to take care of some of the money," said Brandon.

"At 18, it's kind of hard to articulate your needs, but when you have things laid out for you, when you have a school such as Central State that you can come to and they hold your hand and guide you through the process of getting into college, it's wonderful to hear all the opportunities that they have," said Nichole.

Brandon's just looking for the right fit to help him reach his career goals.  "I would like to graduate and become an engineer with my own engineering firm.

But along the way, he's also learned he's bringing with him something that's already as good as gold, his exceptional grades.

"We've always taught our kids that having good grades is the equivalent of being able to write your own ticket. What we mean by that is that there will always be an abundance of opportunities when you keep your grades up."

Brandon's hard work throughout high school is paying off, but his parents say he's learning another lasting lesson through the Savings Race.

"With a budget, just be persistent with that budget, even if you come into some financial issues or medical issues or just life in general.  It's always important to either revisit that budget or make some changes to it," said Chris Dabney, Brandon's father.

Five teams are competing for the $10,000 grand prize college scholarship.  Watch every Tuesday on 2 News at 5:30 for an update.  Savings Race 5: College Edition is a paid partnership with Wright-Patt Credit Union.