9 . MAKE A MASTER CALENDAR OF IMPORTANT DEADLINES. Deadlines rule the college admissions process. Buy a large calendar that you can put on the fridge or in another prominent place. Write in application deadlines, due dates for financial aid forms, dates for SAT, ACT, SAT Subject Tests, etc. 8 . FORGET WHAT “LOOKS GOOD” TO COLLEGES. It only looks good to the colleges if it looks good to the student.
7 . CREATE A FILING SYSTEM FOR COLLEGE INFORMATION. The sheer volume of information that you receive from colleges can be overwhelming. Keeping all of this material organized is an excellent way for parents to help without hurting during the college application process. Create a filing system where each individual college has its own folder and let your child work with you to file the information correctly.
6 . DON’T CALL THE ADMISSIONS OFFICES ON YOUR CHILD’S BEHALF. When parents repeatedly call admissions offices with questions that kids should be asking, it sends a message that the parents have more interest in that particular college than does their child. It is perfectly acceptable for your kids to seek answers to their questions during this process, but he or she should contact the colleges themselves.
5 . DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR ADVICE. The college admissions process can be very confusing, especially when your first child is applying and you have not yet been through the process. Talk to friends whose kids are in college, visit your child’s high school counselor, or call Collegewise in White Plains and Croton at (914) 285-8495.
4 . HAVE HONEST, FRANK DISCUSSIONS WITH YOUR CHILD ABOUT COLLEGE. The process of applying and selecting a college raises many sensitive issues. How far away from home is too far? What are your family’s financial limitations? Where will your child most likely be happy and successful? Tell your child what your concerns are, and listen to what he or she has to say in return. Both parties need to do a lot of listening during the entire process.
3 . PLAN COLLEGE VISITS. Before your child ultimately selects a college to attend, it is imperative that he or she visits potential colleges to get a feeling for the campus and the student body. Parents can be of great help in scheduling and planning these trips during the fall and winter.
2 . FORGET RESUME STUFFING. There is no prescribed list of activities (like community service) that look impressive to colleges. Students are better served spending their time doing what they enjoy.
1 . REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO COLLEGE, YOUR CHILD IS. In their efforts to be helpful and supportive, some parents unintentionally take over the application process for their kids. Finding a college where your child will be happy and successful is a team effort, but kids need to take charge of the process. As parents, your role is an incredibly important one. Your child needs you to listen, to be supportive, and to help in appropriate ways. By listening to each other and working together, you will make the process much more enjoyable and ultimately more successful.
Croton-on-Hudson resident Alex Weiner has taught, written for and counseled students on college admission & test preparation both domestically & internationally. He owns and runs Collegewise, and had been interviewed to discuss the college admissions process and standardized test preparation by The New York Times. While other kids spend their middle and high school years playing basketball or practicing the clarinet, Alex sat in his room memorizing the World Book Encyclopedia and the Oxford American Dictionary. In spite of this he got into college. You can contact him at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (914) 285-8495.
