As a parent, you may feel helpless throughout the college application, admissions and college transition processes. The good news is that you no longer have to feel that way!
There are things parents can do to help high schoolers and soon-to-be-college students prepare for their next phase in life. After all, they will always need you – whether they express it or not.
We have suggestions of what you, as a parent, can help your student with during the month of May, whether they're currently a high school junior or a high school senior.
If you’re the parent of a high school junior
Assist your student in creating a list of the above factors and begin researching institutions that fit the criteria. From there, your student can begin to decide which colleges your family might like to visit and learn more about.
They can start to decide which colleges they would consider applying to and consider as contenders for college choices.
-- November: Apply for a FSA ID online so you can help your student with daunting financial aid forms.
-- January: Help your student complete the FAFSA.
-- March: Financial aid award letters begin to arrive. Help your student decipher what the letters are saying and contacting the schools if you have any questions or concerns. Be sure to make comparisons between different offers as well.
If you’re the parent of a high school junior
(next year’s high school senior):
1. Discuss Colleges
Have a casual discussion with your student regarding what he or she is looking for in a college in terms of academics, social and campus lifestyle.2. College Lists & Research
3. Recommendation Letters
Encourage your student to talk to teachers that he or she has a positive relationship with about potential letters of recommendation. Many colleges require these or, at the very least, recommend students submit them. Teachers can become very overwhelmed with requests during college application season so now is a great time to do so.4. College Applications & Essays
Help your student complete their first college application and an outline or rough draft of their essay – even if it’s just for practice.5. Make Your Calendar
It seems far away now, but make notes on your calendar for the following:-- November: Apply for a FSA ID online so you can help your student with daunting financial aid forms.
-- January: Help your student complete the FAFSA.
-- March: Financial aid award letters begin to arrive. Help your student decipher what the letters are saying and contacting the schools if you have any questions or concerns. Be sure to make comparisons between different offers as well.