Supporting Your Student’s College Search
Parents & Families,
Congrats on reaching this big milestone! This is an exciting time for both you and your college-bound student, and I know you’ve played a big role in getting them to this point.
As a supportive parent, I’m sure you’re eager to help your student navigate this new and somewhat uncertain phase of life. I also recognize that it can be hard to know when to step in, or how to best guide them through the inevitable highs and lows of this process.
That’s where this post comes in! After almost two decades in college admissions, I’ve had the chance to collect some reliable, time-tested advice on this very topic. While you’ll never be expected to have all the answers, I hope the tips listed below offer a solid place to start when it comes to staying involved and informed throughout your student’s college search.
Brainstorm what’s important together
When it comes to college priorities, what’s important to your student might differ from what’s important to you. Maybe your student would prioritize an urban campus with a strong music program, while you’d seek out an affordable school with impressive job placement rates.
I’d encourage you to have an open dialogue about the top 2-3 things that matter most to them, and the top 2-3 things that matter most to you. You don’t have to agree on it all, but talking it out will help your student build a well-rounded list that includes both practical and personal considerations.
Plan your visits
This might sound like an obvious one, but the timing of these visits could be an important factor in your student’s decision making process. If possible, plan to visit each school on your student’s list before starting the application process. This could weed out those schools that might not feel like a great fit, and offer some insight into what each institution is looking for when it comes to application requirements and major deadlines.
After your student has applied and been accepted, you’ll want to visit their top few schools a second time. Having that admit letter in hand is sure to change their perspective, and will generate a whole new list of questions that need answers prior to making a decision.
Keep track of deadlines
While we want your student to take ownership of their college applications, we also recognize that senior year can get hectic. Work with them to build a calendar just for important college-related dates and deadlines. This should include all the big application and aid deadlines, along with the dates of planned visits or on-campus events. Hang it on your fridge, or somewhere both you and your student will see it often.
Meet with real, relevant people
At RMC, we recognize how important it is to hear from the people who will be helping guide your child through this new phase of life. So while it’s not something you’re guaranteed to find at all the schools on your list, we’ll work to get you connected to our professors and support staff right from the start.
Meaningful conversations with people who share your student’s interests will offer a level of insight (and instill a sense of confidence!) that will go far beyond the information listed on a college website, or even what’s offered during a campus tour.
Sign up for mailing lists
Plenty of schools will offer parents and families the chance to request information about the college, upcoming admissions events, and big deadline reminders. These schools want to communicate with you, and are eager to share more about the things that matter to you as a parent—so take advantage!
Pro tip: create a new email address to use when signing up for college communications. This will spare your personal inbox from clutter, and will lower the chances of missing anything important.
