Senior year can be a challenging time for even the most successful of students. In addition to their typical course load and activity schedule, seniors are also preparing for inevitable social changes upon graduation while completing applications that will determine their life trajectory for the next four years and beyond. Let’s allow that to sink in for a moment: the applications your child completes this fall could determine where they live for the next four years, what areas of study they can pursue, and what skills they can cultivate for their future career. The last thing anyone wants is to be submitting these applications frantically at the last minute or with a feeling of dread because there wasn’t a plan in place.
As parents, we of course want what is best for our children. Sometimes, however, we might not always have a clear picture of how we can help or know how to share our thoughts with our young adults. Whether your child is ready to take on the process single-handedly or could use guidance but doesn’t know what questions to ask, below are some topics that you should be sure to discuss to set them up for success this application cycle and beyond.
Have a Solid College List
When it comes to creating a college list you’ll see a lot of sources mention the need for a list that includes Reach, Target, and Safety schools. While having a list of schools with varying likelihoods of admittance is necessary to mitigate risk, it only takes into account one variable for considering where to apply. Creating a college list should identify places where one will thrive for the next four years.
Take the time to imagine what life would be like at each of the universities your child is considering and ask the tough questions – is this a manageable distance from home for me? How will I adapt to the physical environment of this location? Will the campus size feel “just right” for me? What will my daily life be like at this school (rooms, meals, academics, activities, social opportunities)? How do I genuinely see myself succeeding here? Oftentimes the college list creation process is boiled down to identifying schools that offer the major one wants to pursue or the social setting one dreams of, but in order to truly understand whether a school is a good fit it’s necessary to consider a wider range of criteria.
Start With a Strategy
Once you’ve decided where to apply, don’t underestimate the time needed to put your best foot forward on applications. College applications entail a variety of components. Transcripts, letters of recommendation, achievements and activity lists are essential to most applications; many also require responses to school specific questions, essays, standardized tests, and, at times, interviews or resumes. It’s important to stay organized to ensure each component can be prepared and submitted in a timely manner.
Set aside time with your child to determine each application’s deadline and requirements. Then, create a plan for completing each task. Even seemingly straightforward tasks can be approached strategically. When requesting letters of recommendation, for example, providing the writer with a resume or short bio will allow them to consider aspects of you that they might not otherwise be aware of. This minor act of preparation can significantly improve the quality of their letter by enabling the writer to customize it and avoid sounding generic. Additionally, activity lists should be crafted thoughtfully to convey specific, measurable individual contributions. Furthermore, setting up a timeline will allow your child to be intentional about drafting, editing, and finalizing components of their application instead of completing tasks at the last minute and submitting subpar content.
Work Smarter Not Harder When It Comes to Essays
Depending on what schools your child is applying for they may have a variety of essays to complete for their applications. Essays provide applicants an opportunity to make themselves memorable to the admissions office and share aspects of themselves that can’t be captured elsewhere. Though they are one of the most impactful components of one’s application, they can also be the most challenging to complete because many students don’t have experience writing about themselves. Applicants should take time to consider the following before diving into their essays: What personal characteristics do I want to convey to the reader? What are some examples from my life that demonstrate those characteristics? How can I show the reader who I am instead of telling them about myself?
In addition to determining personal experiences, it’s also important to streamline the writing process. College essays can require anywhere from 100 to over 600 word responses. The sheer amount of writing required can seem overwhelming at first. Fortunately, college application essays tend to focus on a few recurring themes: why school essays, why major essays, extracurricular activity essays, and community essays. By taking the time to review essay prompts all at once, it is possible to identify ones similar enough to be answered with the same personal anecdote. Instead of having to write over a dozen unique essays from scratch, one might find themselves focusing on four to five stories that can be adapted to various applications.
Before allowing your child to dive into the college applications without a plan, sit down to review what the process entails and help them develop a strategy. You’ll both be thankful you did so as your child clicks the “submit” button with confidence and ease ahead of the final deadline.
Self-Reflection
- Have you asked your child what schools they want to apply for and why?
- What other factors has your child considered beyond academics while creating their school list (ex., distance from home, weather differences, holiday plans, campus life, cost, etc.)?
- Does your child have a timeline for completing applications taking into account other senior year milestones (sports seasons, testing schedules, performances, etc.)?
- If your child’s applications require essays, have they considered what qualities they want to showcase to the reader and which life experiences embody those characteristics?
