Navigating the college admissions process is a journey for the entire family. As a parent, your role is to be a supporter, a guide, and a source of stability during a stressful time. Finding the right balance between being involved and letting your student take the lead can be challenging.
This guide offers tips for parents on how to be an effective partner in this process.
Your Role: The Supportive Co-Pilot
Your student is the pilot of this journey; you are the co-pilot. You can help them navigate, check their instruments, and offer advice, but they are the one flying the plane.
- Empower, Don't Push: Encourage your student to take ownership of their application. They should be the one filling out the forms, writing the essays, and communicating with admissions offices.
- Listen More, Talk Less: Create a space where your student can share their excitements and anxieties without judgment. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is just listen.
- Manage Your Own Anxiety: The process can be stressful for parents too. Try not to project your own fears or ambitions onto your child. This is their journey.
Key Areas for Parent Involvement
- The Financial Conversation: This is the most important area for your involvement.
- Be Honest and Early: Have a frank conversation about your family's financial situation and what you can realistically contribute long before they start building their college list.
- Use the Net Price Calculator Together: Sit down with your student and use the Net Price Calculator on a few college websites. This will ground your search in financial reality.
- Help with Financial Aid Forms: The FAFSA and CSS Profile can be complex. Help your student gather the necessary tax documents and information. Our guide to financial aid is a great starting point.
- Organization and Deadlines:
- The Family Calendar: Help set up a shared calendar with key deadlines for applications, standardized tests, and financial aid forms.
- Help with Proofreading: You can be a valuable second set of eyes for proofreading essays and applications. Focus on catching typos and grammatical errors, but avoid rewriting their essays. The student's voice must be their own.
- College Visits and The College List:
- The Logistics: Help with the logistics of planning college visits.
- The Strategic Sounding Board: Help your student think through their college list. Ask them questions about why they are interested in a particular school. Remind them to consider a balance of early decision and early action plans.
Letting Go
The college application process is your child's first major step into adulthood. Your goal is to help them build the skills and confidence they need to succeed independently. By acting as a supportive partner, you can help them navigate this complex process and prepare them for a successful transition to college and beyond.