You and your child may be worried about what school she will get into and how your family will afford the cost of higher education. This is a time in your child's life when the adoption will have some payoffs and may offer her a few advantages other students cannot access.

As the parent of an adopted child, you have some avenues of assistance available to you that other parents do not. There are a wide variety of college scholarships and tuition waivers available for children who are adopted, who have spent time in foster care, or who were in an orphanage. Talk with your child's high school guidance counselor and Google the words “adoption scholarship” to find information.

Depending on your child's circumstances, the adoption may be helpful in college admissions. Adoption itself is not so unusual these days, but a child who was adopted at an older age, spent time in foster care, or who lived in an orphanage for a time has special circumstances which may interest college admissions staff and present an advantage. Additionally, a child who is of a minority race, other nationality, or has special needs will also get attention because colleges strive to create diverse student bodies.