Hi everyone! My name is Lindsay, and I’m a senior majoring in Journalism and Political Science. Today, I’m talking about how my parents helped me in the college admission process.
College admission season is always a tricky and stressful time for students and parents. However, parents can be an amazing resource for applying to college. In fact, I would never have applied to USC if my mother hadn’t recommended it, and now I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else! Here are some ways students can utilize their parents, and some best practices for parents looking to help.
Financial resource
As a high school student, you likely aren’t in charge of your own finances, including paying bills, thinking about the cost of food and housing, and applying for loans or credit. Additionally, a lot of students will also be dependent on their parents, who likely know a lot more about their family’s financial situation, to pay for their college tuition. This is why your parents are the best people to help research what scholarships match your financial circumstances, how much money the FAFSA will likely give you, and whether applying for loans is a smart choice for you.
In my case, I was a National Merit Scholar, and my mom spent time looking into what colleges offered scholarships and free rides based on this designation. USC offers a $20,000 scholarship to National Merit Scholars—which helped a lot when we were looking at whether we could meet the school’s sticker price!
Proof-reading applications (plus editing essays!)
It’s not always easy having your parents critique you. This is especially true when it comes to a piece of writing you’ve spent weeks bearing your soul for: college essays. However, as a journalism major, one of my mottos is that having another set of eyes on your writing is never a bad thing. My parents helped immensely with helping me fine tune my essays to sound more professional, succinct, and confident. (Just make sure your essay is still authentically you!)
It’s also great to have people as a soundboard for your ideas. My parents helped guide me on what I should include in my application that they, and an admissions officer, would find impressive. My parents helped me talk through what I felt best represented me on everything from my activities to my essay topics. This allowed me to hear multiple perspectives and get out of my own head.
Timeline strategizing
My mother also helped me a lot by researching what colleges had early action and early decision, and whether I wanted to utilize those options. While I took over scheduling my own time with essays and applications (tracking them through a spreadsheet), many students may want more involvement from their parents to help them stay on track. It’s all about working out the system that is best for both of you.
But don’t be afraid to push back against your parents when you need to! Ultimately, despite my mom thinking it was smarter to apply to a binding early action program, I wanted to see what my options were before making any decisions. That was definitely the best choice for my personal college journey. My mom helped give me the resources and information but, ultimately, I made the final decision.
And this wouldn’t be a complete guide without asking my mother for her perspective. Here’s what she said for other parents:
Parents have to be willing to put in the time and effort that it takes to learn the college application process. I probably spent more than 30 hours helping my daughter fill out her applications, researching scholarships, and analyzing early decision and early action options.
It’s important that students and parents also recognize the type of relationship they have. It’s much easier for a student to fight with their parents than a qualified stranger, such as a college counselor. Make sure students are willing to hear you (their parents) out, and make sure you (as parents) can collaborate and communicate with your students.
At the end of the day, every family’s role in the college admission process will look a little different. Whether your parents are helping you research schools, proofread essays, or simply cheering you on, having their support can make the process feel a little less overwhelming. Remember that this is your college journey, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. Working together, communicating openly, and finding a balance that works for your family can make all the difference.