Technology

The Parent-Student Relationship In College Searches

April 27, 2023620 views0

The college search and admissions process can feel just as stressful for a parent as it does for their child. Especially considering the fact that most parents will see this time as an opportunity for their child to take their first steps into adulthood. This leaves parents feeling unsure how to offer assistance throughout this process. You probably don’t want to overdo it, but you do want to help: What should you do? Helping appropriately can be done in a couple of ways. One example being helping to narrow down the options with your child. Everyone benefits from a sounding board, so be available to talk to your child about options and how to rule some out. Listen carefully. Hold back on giving advice. Try to figure out together which schools best fit your child’s desires, goals and passions. In this process, it’s also totally appropriate to talk about costs, although you’ll want to keep in mind that financial aid and scholarships can potentially bring those costs down. Another option is providing the means to arrange college visits and tours. Once you know which schools your child wants to target, you can set up these visits. Nothing substitutes for walking a campus in person and getting a feel for its vibe, so making this possible for your child is a huge asset. Depending on the schools’ locations, you might knock all the visits out in one weekend or week, or you may need to set up a couple trips over a longer period of time. Either way, getting all of that planned and booked is a great help to your child in deciding which school is right for them. To learn more about how to better partner with your child throughout this process, please see the infographic shared alongside this post for more information.