Here are my 10 Tips to Parents Going Through the College Search…
1) Watch Baz Lurhman’s Sunscreen video. Here’s the link to it. (If you wish, feel free to click on it and then click back; I’ll wait.) Try to get your kid to watch it, but don’t force it on them.
2) Read “Oh the Places You Will Go“. Leave it in their room. Don’t say anything.
3) Buy tissues. (Sorry, probably should have led with that)
4) Say the word “perspective” 3 times. There are no magic answers, magic financial aid packages or guarantees. But there is plenty of good information, good people, good money and good intentions out there. Be wary of those who tell you the opposite.
5) Record your memories. Take pictures, videos and notes as you visit schools. “What school was that, again?” is never a good statement. Plus, you need something to put up on Facebook.
6) Trust your child. They probably are more worthy of that trust than you realize, but even if they’re not, it’s ultimately their life. (Your money, I know.)
7) Deal with that. Your money. Their life. Understand where you stand on this. Accept where your child stands.
8) Remember this one phrase. “A Match to Be Made, Not a Prize to Be Won.” Period. No, I said – period. Unless you want them to move back in…
9) Sit your child down. Look him or her straight in the eye. Look really serious for a moment. Then, crack a little smile and say, “Enjoy this. Keep the brochures from the colleges that excite you. Push the other 3,174 to the side. Recycling goes out on Wednesday.”
10) Let the process play out. That expensive school may offer a dynamite financial aid package. It might not. The reach school (oh,how I hate that phrase) might come through with an offer of admission. It might not. Those 2nd SATS might go up by 100 points. They might not. But let the process play out. For, believe it or not, your kid has brains in his head and feet in her shoes. And this is their chance to steer in the direction they choose.
But trust me on the sunscreen. (Link)
As always, I welcome your comments and questions. Please feel free to email me at info@cc4therestofus.com, call or text me at 908-403-3819, join me on Facebook on “College Counseling for the Rest of Us” and join me on Twitter at @MichaelCCR.
College Counseling for the Rest of Us 
Mar 25, 2011 @ 10:23:11
Another fabulous post Michael!
Mar 25, 2011 @ 10:47:28
Thank you, Barb!
Mar 26, 2011 @ 18:02:05
GREAT POST!! Michael, I can’t say enough about your advice to parents and students that are embroiled in the college admissions process!!! Love the “Sunscreen” video, gave me the chills even at 50 years old (I guess I’m we’re all just kids at heart…)! Thanks for sharing your unique, sincere and valuable college admissions experience with us, hope you don’t mind if I share on Twitter, Facebook and the like!
Mar 26, 2011 @ 22:33:51
John,
Thank you!!! And – certainly – you are welcome to share in any way you see fit. I notice that not every one who reads the blog clicks on the video; I would suggest to those folks to go back and click on the link. I really do mean it as a vital part of the post.
College Admissions Weekly Roundup April 2 2011-BragTag College Bound Blog | BragTag College Bound Blog
Apr 02, 2011 @ 08:39:30
Apr 24, 2011 @ 00:41:20
Michael,
Just came across your post, perfect timing to find this! Just had a parent contact me of what to do with the aspect of her daughter receiving an deferrment, and if she should appeal the decision or not, and what steps to take if so?
I’ll truly appreciate any advice you may have for this situation.
Thanks,
Laurie
Apr 24, 2011 @ 09:56:15
Laurie:
For a student deferred or a wait list candidate, an appeal is certainly appropriate, but keep these things in mind:
Any appeal should show three traits – keen interest in the college, added information not in the original application and courtesy. As an admissions officer, I want to see a polite student who is really interested in our school and has new information for me to argue his or her case to my Dean and/or Admission Committee.
Also, the family must understand that most students who are deferred or wait listed do NOT get taken off those lists. They need to be prepared for the very real possibility of no change in the student’s status. But, with the May 1 deposit deadline only a week away, an answer – good or bad – should not take long.
Hope this info helps. Contact me at info@cc4therestofus.com if you have more questions. Thanks!
Michael
Tips for Parents going through the College Application Process | The curious counsellor
May 02, 2016 @ 06:19:01