College application season is stressful for families. Not only is it time-consuming, but the many components of the application process can be overwhelming, especially for first-time applicants. Parents play a pivotal role; although you want your son/daughter to handle the process, having a few handy tips up your sleeve is helpful in case they run into any problems. As a mom who is currently in the process of helping her son apply to colleges, I’ve learned a lot of tips and tricks to make this process smooth and bump-free! So, without further delay, here are my tips for helping your child during the college application process.
DO:
- Start early. I can’t stress this enough. Every step of the application process has deadlines and waiting until the last minute will result in a poor presentation of his/her efforts. Set up a meeting with the school college counselor to get information. He or she is undoubtedly your best resource!
- Not all colleges offer the same programs, so narrowing choices down to those offering their preferred field of study is paramount. Parents should be privy to the admission requirements, including financial aid information, and required documents.
- Encourage a second opinion. When your child has been busy writing up those admissions essays, chances are their eyes have glazed over a few times and their revising skills are not up to par. Local community colleges have writing centers offering expert writing tips! The Stone Writing Center at Del Mar College (I work there!) is a great resource for all your writing needs, and it is open to the community!
DON’T:
- Wait till the last minute. Make sure they allow enough time for admissions essays, gathering proper documentation, research, and planning. Waiting until the last minute will not only be stressful on them, but it may result in lapsed deadlines.
- Send duplicates of the same essay. The criteria will vary by college, so the main focus is to allow their writing to be a reflection of who they are. Let their personality shine through.
- Rush the recommendation writers. Keep in mind that these letters are going to come from teachers, and they will have other students requesting recommendations as well. Your child will also most likely choose the teacher(s) that they’ve made an impression on, so the teacher will want to write a top-notch recommendation!
The most important part of all, mom, is to let your child take the reins. Be there for support, just in case any questions come up – they will come to you for help. As difficult as it is (believe me, I know), this is their first step to freedom. Have fun with it, and with them!
Did these tips for the college application process help? What other advice can you offer? Let us know in the comments!
