This past year was my first experience as a parent in the college admissions process. I’ve always told families that senior year will be a crazy roller coaster of a ride, but wow, I had no idea just how true this was until I lived it myself.
Here are my takeaways for parents:
- The application process can be complicated. Many schools act like they are the only school your student is applying to (even though they know this is not the case) and impose their own special way of doing things. The key is to read everything in the application, contact each school’s Admissions office with questions, and allow plenty of time to meet all expectations (i.e. interviews, transcripts ahead of the deadline, official test scores, video submissions, etc.).
- Have your credit card ready. Unless a student has a coupon for a waived application fee, schools charge from $50-$90 for each application. For example, applying to six of the nine UC schools will cost $480. There are lots of other small expenses too including fees to send your transcripts from institutions other than your high school (community college, online coursework, etc.) and fees to send SAT or ACT test scores to each school that requires them.
- Finally, and most importantly - be ready for surprises. Schools that your student was convinced they’d drop anything to attend may lose their luster by the time admissions decisions come out, regardless of whether that decision is an acceptance or a denial. Instead, schools your student may have barely heard of at the beginning of the process could become front runners, and with an acceptance, even the chosen path. A senior’s understanding of what they want in a college experience can change significantly between the fall and spring, so applying to a wide variety of options is critical.
My best advice: Hold on, lend your love and support, and enjoy the ride!
I help students and their families achieve balance and confidence throughout the college admission process as they discover and apply to colleges that best reflect their personal, academic and financial needs and goals.
