Category Archives: admissions

admissions, college planning

Tips for Choosing the Right College

college

Choosing a college to go to can be difficult. If you make the wrong choice then this may have an impact on your education for the next few years of your life, but with a bit of research you can be sure to make the right decision.

Accreditation

It doesn’t matter what type of college you are looking to attend because you need to choose one that is accredited. There are various types of accreditation, and some of them include licenses and certificates too. It also helps to do some research as it will help you to understand where your chosen college excels. Quite often, the college will list any credentials they have on their site, so take note of them and then work out what each accreditation stands for. This way you can find out exactly what the college can offer you, and you can also get some valuable insight into how they work as well.

Reviews

One of the best ways for you to understand the quality of a school is to look up rankings and ratings. There are plenty of sites that have all of the information you need, and a lot of them are based on student experiences. You can find out more about a school’s culture, the faculties that are available and even the social life that people have on campus. Remember that going to college isn’t just about the educational facilities, it’s about the student experience too. If a college doesn’t show good reviews for a specific time period, that doesn’t mean that they haven’t turned things around since. Jerry Jellig for example, works with educational institutions to help them do this.

Academic Support

College can sometimes be a challenge, so it helps to know that you have some degree of academic support outside the classroom. Look up to see if your chosen college offers remedial courses in core subjects, and also find out if you have to pay for this.

Social

Do you like to meet up with new people? Or would you prefer more of a close-knit community? Either way, the environment of a school is very important. There is a high chance that you are going to be staying there for years, and you may even be living on or near campus too. A few years is a long time to be living in a community that does not suit your personality. Take the time to find out how many people attend your university, how far away you are from the social and entertainment facilities, and also see if there are any smaller areas around the college that you would rather stay at.

Extracurricular

Sports are often emphasised at college and this is great. If you’re not the sporting kind however then it helps to see if there are any other activities that you could take part in. Sometimes you need to unwind at the end of a long day, so if there are any particular extracurricular activities that you would like to take part in, or if there are any clubs that you would enjoy then take note when making your decision.

admissions

What do other parents think about college admissions?

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college admissions

You can talk to experts and read all the articles online, but nothing compares to listening to other parents and their experiences with college admissions.

Knowing there are other parents struggling with the same questions, problems and unexpected outcomes can help you feel less alone. But where do you find that information? There are two excellent Facebook groups to help: Paying for College 101 and Grown and Flown. With thousands of parents posting and commenting daily, you can ask any questions (even specific ones) and someone will most likely have the answer.

Parents have asked about testing, financial aid, homesickness, the college admissions process and much more. There are plenty of other parents available to offer their advice and non-judgmental help. According to a survey by Paying for College 101, “the most common words participants used to describe the admissions experience were “stressful,” “exhausting,” and “overwhelming.” Most parents can certainly relate to those feelings.

Other results of the survey include:

  • Most of the families responding (68%) were going through the college admissions process for the first time
  • 27% of students applied to 10 or more colleges
  • 39% applied to 1 to 5 schools
  • 34% applied to 6 to 9 schools
  • 42% of students were waitlisted
  • 17% of these students being waitlisted at 2 or more schools
  • 89% of responders received some form of financial aid. Of those receiving financial aid, 57% received only merit scholarships, 6% received financial aid based on need, and 37% received a combination of merit and need-based aid
  • 66% of responders were either OK, Satisfied or Very Satisfied with their financial aid offer
  • 62% of responders chose not to appeal their financial aid award
  • 56% of responders have a plan to pay for college
  • 24% aren’t sure if they have a plan
  • 20% do not have a plan.

For some specific responses and stories from three parents, you can follow this link: College Admissions Decisions & Financial Aid Survey For The Class Of 2023.

admissions, in the news, parenting

The Obsession with Brand Name Colleges

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brand name colleges

Unless you have been hiding under a rock for the last week or so, you’re probably aware of the college cheating scandal now known as #VarsityBlues. Some over-anxious parents found it necessary to pay what they call “bribes” to get their students into what they call “prestigious colleges”. My only question: when will this end?

When will parents stop worrying about WHERE their student goes to college versus WHY they go to college? It’s just as bad to dictate your student’s college choice as it is to assure they get in to the college of your choice.

This is nothing new. Parents have been “paying” for their students to go to brand name colleges for years. They donate huge amounts to colleges to secure a spot for their student. They pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to elite coaching companies to assure admission to an Ivy League university.

The Tiger Mom approach

Years ago, there was quite an uproar among parents regarding a Wall Street Journal piece, “Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior” by Amy Chua, a professor at Yale University. In an excerpt from Chua’s new book “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother”, Chua writes about her quest to assure her children attend an Ivy League college:

Here are some things my daughters, Sophia and Louisa, were never allowed to do:

  • attend a sleepover
  • have a playdate
  • be in a school play
  • complain about not being in a school play
  • watch TV or play computer games
  • choose their own extracurricular activities
  • get any grade less than an A
  • not be the No. 1 student in every subject except gym and drama
  • play any instrument other than the piano or violin
  • not play the piano or violin.

Does that sound a bit harsh? It does to most parents. Although Ms. Chua does have a point when it comes to parenting without excuse, there are varying opinions concerning Ms. Chua’s attitude over the way Western parents do not take a strict approach in pushing their kids toward the “best” colleges.

What are the “best” colleges?

Many parents and educators will tell you they are the Ivies. Others will say they are the ones with the most selective admissions process. Many parents today will insist to paid college counselors that their student can only apply to these schools. It’s not about the fit, but it’s about bragging rights and prestige. Can I brag about my student on Facebook, to other parents and to my colleagues. You don’t believe? Just ask those people who do this for a living–I’ve heard this time and time again.

Are these selective colleges best for your student?

Many parents, college admissions counselors, and educators believe they do. They see these colleges as necessities in providing students with a good job after graduation, opening doors because of the alumni network, and the value of a college name when you venture out into the world.

Why pay for your student to attend a selective college?

You shouldn’t. If you feel the need to seek college counseling help, it should be from someone who has your student’s best interest at heart–not yours! One of my colleagues is so convinced of this, he placed this statement on his website:

“If you prefer personal coaching, I do NOT work with families whose only purpose is to get their child into an Ivy League school, or one that reflects the parent’s need to validate themselves through their children.”Https://www.studentbrandstrategy.com/about

What are the “best” colleges?

In my opinion, the “best” colleges are the ones that will give your student a good education at an affordable price: and one that your student chooses as a good fit for them. There are networking opportunities at every college AND the connections your child makes while in college can be made at any university. As in life, college is what you make of it. If your child takes advantage of the education, the networking opportunities, and works at internships during college, graduation will yield job opportunities. Not every family can afford an Ivy League education. Not every student (in spite of Amy Chua’s beliefs) wants or needs to go there. 

If you have to rely on a college name to get ahead in life then I fear you are missing the entire point of education.

San Diego Union Tribune
https://www.gocomics.com/stevebreen/2019/03/13

Here are additional articles that might add to the discussion and help us zero in on the real problem in college admissions:

Kids are the Victims of the Elite College Scandal

The Moral Wages of the College Admissions Mania

The Myth of American Meritocracy

admissions, college guidance, college planning, college prep, essays, financial aid, scholarships, test prep

Everything You Need to Know About College from 5 of the Best Experts

college

It’s a jungle out there–cluttered with all kinds of college advice. How does a parent hack through the massive amounts of advice and find what they need with confidence? It’s not easy. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of college help websites, Facebook groups, YouTube channels and more offering paid and unpaid advice about college.

There are five experts I turn to when I need added advice about all things college:

Debbie Schwartz-admissions/financial aid

Debbie Schwartz founded Road2College in 2016 to educate families about college admissions and empower smarter college financial decisions. Her facebook group has a huge following with parents and experts sharing advice about paying for college and finding colleges with the best merit aid.

Website: https://www.road2college.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/payingforcollege/

Monica Matthews-scholarships

With all the scholarship search sites and information out there, you need someone to help your student WIN the scholarships they are eligible for. Monica fits that bill. She successfully helped her son graduate debt-free with $100,000 worth of scholarships by using her unique method of packaging the scholarship application. She knows her stuff and she knows what you need to know to make the scholarship application process successful.

Website: https://how2winscholarships.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/How.To.Win.College.Scholarships/

Jodi Okun-financial aid

Perhaps the most complicated aspect of the college application process is financial aid. Jodi has experience in this area from working in a college’s financial aid department. She has advice related to the FAFSA, student loans, financing college and helping your student budget for college. If you have a financial aid question, Jodi knows the answer.

Website: http://collegefinancialaidadvisors.com/

Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/374562589403896/

Ethan Sawyer-college essays

I love Ethan’s information because he knows what he is talking about and much of it is free to anyone who takes the time to browse his website. He offers samples of essays, tips for writing them, brainstorming ideas and more. He also provides personalized help with the essay and web training for students as well. You can’t go wrong by using Ethan’s expertise and he even has a “pay what you can afford” option for his seminars. What could be better?

Website: www.collegeessayguy.com

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CollegeEssayGuy/

Jenn Cohen-test prep

If you have a learning disabled student or simply a student who can’t seem to focus on preparing for standardized tests, Jenn is the expert. Her unique method of coaching not only helps prepare your student for the test, but she helps them learn study habits to help with more than test prep. Jenn has the training and the experience to help your student do their best on any of the standardized tests. Plus, she’s a Duke alumini and proud of it!

Website: http://www.launchpadeducation.com/

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LaunchPadEducation/

Disclaimer: I don’t receive any fee or commission for recommending these experts. These are simply my own “go to” experts when I have a question or need to collaborate in any of these areas of college prep. I trust them implicitly and you can too!

admissions, college guidance, college planning

5 Tips to Avoid Being a College Dropout

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college dropout

The National Center for Education Statistics requisitioned a study that followed the attainment and persistence rates of a nationally representative sample of 19,000 American students, following them over the past six years.

The report found that within six years of enrollment:

  • 35 percent of students had not received any type of degree and were no longer enrolled at any institution
  • 46 percent of students who initially enrolled in two-year institutions did not receive any type of degree and were no longer enrolled at any institution
  • 50 percent of students who enrolled in a four-year college did not attain a degree from that college

These statistics show that there is a significant amount of students who enter college and do not attain a degree. What can be done to assure that you don’t become one of those college dropout statistics?

1. Research colleges and majors before applying—It’s just plain smart to do the research and know why and where you want to go to college. Refine your list of choices to include the colleges that offer the academic program that suits your interests and the college setting and faculty that you feel most comfortable with and could see yourself flourishing in that environment.

2. Study the cost of attendance and know your financial aid options—Before you choose a college, make sure you can pay for it and that you’re comfortable with repaying any loans you secure to finance it. Verify that your scholarships will be available for the course of your enrollment and what requirements need to be met to keep them. Do some calculations that show you the true cost of attendance using college cost calculators.

3. Find the “perfect fit” college—If you feel like you fit at the college you are attending, you will be more likely to stay and complete your degree. That perfect fit means that you want to be there AND the college values you and wants you there as well.

4. Be invested in the process—If college is your goal, you need to be invested in the process. Contribute to the education financially and you will be more likely to stay invested and complete the process. Going just for the sake of going or because you think it’s what you are supposed to do will not keep you there.

5. Be realistic about obstacles and get help if necessary—College, like life, will have its own set of obstacles. When you encounter them, get help. Seek advice from a mentor or another student. Get tutoring if you find you’re struggling with your classes. Speak with a professor if you need clarification or assistance on projects. Use your RA (Resident Assistant) to help resolve roommate conflicts.

Before you make such a large investment, the wise consumer will do the research and be realistic about what is required to finance the education, while admitting that you will face obstacles along the way.

admissions, college guidance, college planning, college prep

The Perfect College List

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college list

Did you know there are more than 4,000 four-year colleges and universities in the United States? That can make choosing a college overwhelming. But there is a college to fit your dreams – and finding it starts with the right list of schools where you plan to apply.

Your college list is the basis for every decision regarding college. Without a good list, it’s impossible to make a clearly logical and well-informed college choice. You should begin your college list during your junior year of high school. By the beginning of your senior year, you should have a final list for college applications.

The “Fit” Questions

How do you start a dream list? A good college list should have three “fit” criteria: financial fit, academic fit and emotional fit. Consider each school by asking these “fit” questions:

  • Financial Fit-Does the college fit into your family’s budget?
  • Academic Fit-Does the college fit into your academic aspirations?
  • Emotional Fit-Can you see yourself attending college there?

Seven More Questions to Use as a Reality Check

Once you’ve answered the “fit” questions, dig deep and ask yourself these questions:

  • Are you choosing a college to follow a boyfriend or girlfriend?
  • Are you choosing a college to follow a best friend?
  • Are you choosing a college because you follow the sports team?
  • Are you choosing a college because it’s “fun”?
  • Are you choosing a college because of location?
  • Are you choosing a college because of its reputation?
  • Are you choosing a college based on someone else’s opinion?

Divide Your College List Into These Categories

Once you’ve answered all those questions, you’re ready to begin your list, which should always include the Dream Team, the Best Bets and some Sure Things (also known as reach schools, best fit schools and safety schools).

The Dream Team

Your dream colleges should be a reach but not impossible. Those colleges have very low acceptance rates. I’m all for dreaming, but when it comes to a college list, practicality and logic reign.

The Best Bets

The colleges on this part of the list are colleges that would put you at the top of the applicant pool.  It’s not all about the money, but money sure does make the final decision easier.

The Sure Things

Carefully consider the choices and make sure that these colleges are colleges you really want to attend. It will relieve pressure and stress if they offer you admission.

Consider This Important College Data

Now that you know which colleges to put on your college list, how do you choose the right ones? What criteria do you use to populate your list? Where do you find the best information, or statistics, to help you make your list?

Two good sources for college statistics are College Navigator and College Data. These two resources will help you make an informed college choice. Numbers aren’t everything, but consider these important stats when you are looking at schools

Rankings

Never rely solely on one set of rankings. Use the comparison tools to make a wise college choice.

Financial aid percentages

If you need financial aid, a college with a low percentage of merit aid should be eliminated from your list.

Acceptance rates

Look for colleges with high acceptance rates. Better yet, look for the colleges where you would be a top applicant in the applicant pool. This translates into more merit aid in the financial aid package.

Faculty-student ratio

If you’re looking at a big school, consider the size of the program that interests you. You may get more personalized attention in a major with fewer students.

Freshman retention rate

If schools you’re considering have a low freshman retention rate, there’s a reason. Some colleges do a great job of taking care of their freshmen; some don’t.

Graduation rate

When you research the college, look up their graduation rates. Low rates could be a red flag.

Average indebtedness

If the average student indebtedness is high, and you need financial aid, this college might not make the final list.

Percentage of students employed after graduation

Colleges with a high percentage of unemployed graduates should be avoided by students who need to incur high student loan debt.

Other Important Stuff to Think About

  • Study styles: Are you more comfortable in a structured class or doing independent study?
  • Money: Your budget plays a huge factor in the decision process.
  • Size: Do you want small class sizes, or does it matter?
  • Location: Do you want to go away to college or stay close by or even live at home?
  • Extracurriculars: Are there activities that are crucial to having a positive college experience (for example, working on a campus newspaper, participating in intramural sports, studying abroad)?
  • Academics: Is there a specific major you are interested in, or will a liberal arts degree do?
  • Career focus:  Do you need to consider a school that offers specialized degrees like culinary arts or fashion design?
  • Sports: Does the school have a huge sports program, or do sports have little impact on your decision?
  • Competitive or noncompetitive: Do you have the resume that will ensure acceptance to a competitive college like Stanford or Princeton?
  • Specialized programs: Do you want to work in a specific field?

As you can easily see, there’s more to refining a college list than picking a college with Greek life or college sports rankings. It’s a place you will call home, and you need to feel comfortable there. Once you’ve determined that a college meets all your criteria, add it to the list. It’s a keeper!

For details on each category and more information on how to populate your college list, read the original article written for TeenLife Magazine: How to Put Together a College List that Finds the Perfect Fit.

admissions, college guidance, college planning, college prep

5 Ways NOT to Choose a College

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choose a collegeThere are thousands of potential choices for rising seniors, hundreds of influences on the paths they take in choosing colleges for consideration. How can they best sift through it all to find the right fit for them? And perhaps even more importantly – what SHOULDN’T they do?  Bob Allen, President, Green Mountain College, weighs in:

Top 5 Ways NOT to Choose a College 

  1. Limit yourself to just a couple of search terms. Size, location and a “big bucket” term such as “liberal arts” don’t go far enough to finding the right place to (ideally) spend the next four years of your education!
  2. Choose based on sports teams – unless you’re entering on a sports scholarship, a school’s successful team doesn’t equate to your academic success. You might be better off cheering that team from afar!
  3. Get distracted by facilities – who doesn’t like a fancy dining hall? But in the end, are your meals really what you want to remember best from your education?
  4. Cave in to peer pressure – don’t just default to the school where your friends are going. College is the time to let your individuality shine, to figure out what you really want in a career (which might not be the same as your high school clique).
  5. Rely on limited, or not credible, rankings – there are more and more rankings lists popping up each year. Do your research – if the list isn’t from an organization you (or your parents or guidance counselor) recognize as an authority in your area(s) of interest, disregard it. And, keep a wary eye even on the “elder statesmen” of rankings; some have not been updated to include newer areas of study, such as sustainability.

While choosing a college is never easy, it’s possible to find the perfect fit. Don’t be blinded by the glitz and glamour of a campus or the college name. Names makes the news; but colleges that offer excellent educations are everywhere.  Look for the college that fits your academic, financial and social needs.

____________________________________

Green Mountain College is recognized for its work in preparing the next generation of sustainability professionals more than any other college in the country (see here for details). 

admissions, college guidance, college planning, college prep, essays

Prepping for the College Application

college applicationBefore your student hits submit on his college application, he has work to do. Summer is a good time for juniors and seniors to start prepping and looking towards the future.

Which colleges belong on your list

A good college list should have three “fit” criteria: financial fit, academic fit, and emotional fit. Once your student has a tentative list, ask if they have all three criteria before finalizing the list.

Financial Fit

Does the college fit into your family’s budget? If the college doesn’t fit financially, cross it off the list. While you should never consider a college solely based on the sticker price, you should certainly examine what will happen if your student is accepted and doesn’t receive any financial aid. Remember when factoring in cost, don’t forget about the add-ons like traveling expenses or meal plans. They can add up and have a substantial effect on your budget.

Academic Fit

Does the college fit into your student’s academic aspirations? This might seem like a no-brainer, but the education is a key factor in attending college. Cross the college off the list if it doesn’t fit into your student’s academic learning style. For instance, is your student looking for smaller class sizes and strong relationships with his professors? A larger university won’t offer this.

Emotional fit

Can your student see himself attending college there? When he visited the campus, did it “feel” right and did he have a rapport with the students he came in contact with? You might think college shouldn’t be an emotional decision, but it is. After all, they will be spending at least four years of their lives there. If they don’t fit into the social climate they will be miserable.

Positioning

Another thing to consider is positioning. Is your student positioned well with the other applicants, especially if you are looking for merit aid? Are their scores, grades, and achievements good enough to put them at the top of the applicant pool?

As you can easily see, there’s more to refining a college list than picking a college with Greek life or college sports rankings. It’s a place your student will call home and he needs to feel comfortable there. Once you’ve determined if the college has all three criteria, add it to the final list.

Which part of the college application is most important?

Any admissions officer will tell you that the essay is the most important part of the college application. The essay is your student’s “introduction” to the college and an opportunity to reveal the true person behind all the data on the application. They should spend time crafting the essay and painting the best picture possible for admissions officers reading their essay.

In addition to the essay, an important detail to remember is verifying that all items requested by the college are included in the application. That means recommendation letters, supplemental essays, transcripts and standardized test scores. An incomplete essay can be a red flag to admissions officers and could land your student’s application in the rejection pile.

When should your student apply?

Colleges post their admissions deadlines on their websites and within the Common App if they are one of the schools using it. But their deadline should not be your student’s deadline. Their application should arrive early—before the deadline. Applications that arrive early are first in line: first in line for review and first in line for financial aid. It stands to reason that applications that arrive early, before all the thousands of others applying on the deadline, will get greater attention.

Once the application is complete, proofed and verified that all forms and supplements are attached, submit it. Don’t wait until the last minute. Make sure your student has plenty of time to review all the components of the application before submitting it.

If you are applying regular decision, ED (Early Decision) or EA (Early Action), plan on submitting it at least two weeks in advance of the deadline. This puts you at the head of the pack and allows for any technical difficulties that could pop up. Waiting until the last minute on a college application is playing with fire.

With rolling admission, submit the application as soon as it’s complete. Most rolling admissions schools have a limited number of student slots, and as they judge and accept applications, those slots get filled. If you apply too late, then there’s a good chance all the slots may be filled, and you’ll be out of luck.

Schools with rolling admissions offer important options and opportunities that static deadlines don’t. Rolling admissions schools will accept and examine applications as they are sent in, instead of waiting to judge all applications concurrently. Schools with rolling admissions can be great for late admissions, or for finding out early whether or not you are accepted, so you can change your plan accordingly.

What’s next?

After the applications are submitted, you wait. Your student waits for the colleges to respond with offers of admission or no offer of admission. Waiting can be stressful. But the benefit of finishing early allows your and your student the freedom to relax, knowing that everything related to the application is complete.

admissions, college planning, college prep

Prepping for the College Application

college application

The Common App is now available for juniors to sign up and start preparing for the fall college application season. With more and more students applying Early Decision or Early Action, juniors are already making their college lists and getting ready to apply during their first semester of senior year.

Which colleges belong on your list

A good college list should have three “fit” criteria: financial fit, academic fit, and emotional fit. Once your student has a tentative list, ask if they have all three criteria before finalizing the list.

Continue reading Prepping for the College Application →
admissions, college apps, college guidance, college planning, college prep

Surviving the College Application

college applicationYou might not think the college application requires survival skills, but it does. It’s stressful and it’s no surprise the middle name of college-bound teens is “stress”. According to a recent survey, 76 percent of college-bound students say they are stressed. If you live with one, you’re stressed too; and not just you, but your family as well. Granted, there are plenty of reasons to be stressed. And plenty of reasons why it’s impossible to avoid feeling stress (try as you might). Surviving the college application requires tenacity on the parent’s part as well.

Following are 6 stressful college application tasks and how to survive them:

The Grades

Grades mean everything. Your student’s GPA is one of the most important components of the college application (if not THE most important). It’s understandable that your child will stress over receiving B’s instead of A’s on their papers. They know that the college they want to attend looks at grades, classes, and GPA’s carefully before making an offer of admission.

What can you do? Create a positive study environment and don’t add to the pressure. If you see them struggling, get help. Let them know that all you expect from them is they do their best, nothing more.

The College Visits

Any parent who has been on a college visit with their teen will attest to the emotional roller coaster that often ensues. Your child may balk at the thought of getting out of the car, cringe at the fact that his/her parents are there along with them, and freak knowing they have an interview scheduled.

What can you do? Take a chill pill before you head out and remember your child is most likely terrified. This is a huge step for them and emotions are going to play a big part in the visits, even though you might see it as a critical step in the plan. Give them the freedom to express those emotions.

The Standardized Tests

Testing in itself is stressful. But standardized tests are incredibly stressful. It’s a timed test that affects the outcome of offers of admission. Scores are compared with other students and some consider them to be bragging material. They feel a low score means less options for college; a high score opens more doors.

What can you do? Under no circumstances should you nag your student about studying. Help them study. Encourage them to study. Provide tutoring. If the pressure is off, they will do better on the tests. Too much pressure (especially from parents) with students who are stressed already, will affect their ability to focus and relax on test day.

The College Choices

Making decisions is stressful without the added pressure of the impact of this one decision on your child’s future. They may act calm, cool and collected, but they feel the pressure to make the right college choices. The schools they choose will be evaluating them on their merit and overall success academically.

What can you do? Let them make their own choices. Guide but do not put your foot down and tell them they can only attend your alma mater or a college close to home. They need to make the choice themselves because they will be attending the college for the next four years. If they don’t like it, they won’t be happy and stay when struggles come.

The Money

Money concerns always produce mounds of stress. With the economy in disarray, that stress is compounded when families are trying to pay for college. When deciding on college choices, money should always be a factor. If your student knows what you can afford to contribute and what is expected of them, the stress will be minimal. Keep them in the dark and there could be added stress and disappointment when they apply to a school that is not financially doable.

According to The Princeton Review’s 2013 “College Hopes & Worries Survey”—an annual poll of college applicants and parents of applicants—stress levels are up while cost remains a driving factor in college selection. In fact, 79 percent said the state of the economy has affected their decisions about college—up 4 percent from 2012.

What can you do? Make time to talk about money with your child. Hoping your student will get a full ride scholarship is not realistic. You need to plan for the worst (little or no aid) and hope for the best (multiple scholarships and merit aid). If the college choices fall into your family’s ability to pay, when the financial aid award arrives it will be a much more pleasant experience. Especially if lack of money to pay does not affect the final decision.

The Waiting

This is probably the most stressful time in your child’s life, which means it is stressful for the parents as well. One student put it simply:

Because as decision day draws closer, and the (rather strong) possibility of rejection becomes more and more pronounced, I can’t help but think that my process, that my life, is entirely out of my hands. I know it’s irrational — I know that I’m still the one who will make the ultimate decision, that I’m the one who will decide what my future holds. But that’s my point — I’m not rational anymore. I’m just afraid.

What can you do? Celebrate the accomplishment of applying and provide distractions during the months of waiting. Reiterate that you will be proud of them and no matter what the outcome it’s not the end of the world. Rejection is tough on these teens, but strong parent support can help them see that there are always options available and sometimes disappointments turn into blessings.

The ultimate goal is to have a stress free household and to avoid freaking out, thus surviving the application process unscathed. This might be impossible, but keeping the “freaking” to a minimum will help your student reduce their stress. Stay calm and breathe. It will all be over soon.