| Applying to college is at once exciting and | | | | it on time rather than scrambling at the last |
| daunting. Where do you want to go? What do | | | | minute. |
| you want to study? How are you going to pay | | | | 2. Recommendation Letters. |
| for it? And then there are the interviews, essays, | | | | These gems are one of the most important parts |
| and teacher recommendations. All of this on top | | | | of an application, so remind your student to start |
| of the regular load of schoolwork, sports, | | | | thinking about which teachers to pick way ahead |
| activities, and yes, a social life (we are talking | | | | of time - consider setting an email reminder to |
| about teenagers here). How can you help as a | | | | ask her about which teachers she has chosen to |
| parent? What can you do to get your teen set | | | | ask the last week in September. Then, once the |
| on the right path? | | | | teachers are selected, be sure your student gets |
| Sarah on "it's not your application" "Parents want | | | | them a recommendation form right away. They'll |
| to help their kids as much as they can. You gave | | | | appreciate the extra time (since they have so |
| them their first push on the swings and helped | | | | many to write) and you'll probably get a better |
| them with their addition, so it's only natural that | | | | letter (since they won't be writing ten at the |
| you want to help them with their college | | | | same time). |
| application process, but there's only so much you | | | | 3. First Drafts are Never Final. |
| can do. You have to remember that it's their | | | | Sure, the grades and the teacher |
| responsibility and their project and while you can | | | | recommendation letters are vital to the |
| guide them, you can't take full control. The most | | | | application, but the essay is where your child can |
| supportive thing you can do is to have them | | | | really tell the admissions office where they shine. |
| formally "book time" on your calendar for | | | | Encourage your child to start writing his/her essay |
| proofreading essays (build in two proofreading | | | | with plenty of time, but don't nag them about it, |
| work sessions) and finalizing financial aid | | | | as that will have the opposite effect. Consider |
| applications. It gives them deadlines to work to | | | | engaging the whole family: have each person |
| that won't upend your life." | | | | write a few sentences each day about the |
| Alicia on "teaching a good lesson" "I have many | | | | person applying for college (and have them write |
| years before I have to worry about going | | | | a few sentences each day about themselves - |
| through this with my daughter, but I see some of | | | | for the "personal statement"). Go over them |
| my friends who are in the thick of it now and, | | | | together each night at dinner, or before bed. It will |
| from the outside looking in, I'm planning to look at | | | | provide the applicant with multiple inputs for their |
| it as one (potentially last) great big lesson to teach | | | | own work, uncover important themes, and |
| her. If I take over, what kind of lesson does that | | | | hopefully demonstrate the benefits of doing a little |
| give her? I don't want her going off to college | | | | bit each day rather than sitting down at crunch |
| without the skills necessary to take charge of her | | | | time to bang something out. |
| life and by shepherding the whole process, I'd be | | | | 4. Financial Aid. |
| doing that." | | | | Tuition, room and board, books - it all costs so |
| Here are three ways to help with the process: | | | | much these days. Financial aid is a necessity for |
| 1. Plan, Plan, Plan and Mark it All in a Calendar. | | | | most applicants, but it is an undertaking in itself. |
| Have your teenager sit down at the beginning of | | | | Again, plan for deadlines way in advance to avoid |
| the year with a marker and calendar and compile | | | | the last minute shuffle. We recommend having |
| all of the important dates and deadlines for school | | | | your student put together a shared Google |
| and for college applications. Once they are done, | | | | calendar that details what aid forms need to be |
| sit down with them and have them go over their | | | | submitted, and when - and set up alerts for all |
| plan of attack with you. If they have a sense of | | | | deadlines. Then they can share the calendar (and |
| when things are due and what needs to get done | | | | alerts) with all who need to be kept in the loop. |
| when, they'll have a much better chance of doing | | | | |